Bee A Magician wins Elitlopp Playoff via disqualification

from the Meadowlands Media Relations Dept

Almost immediately after Resolve crossed the finish line 4-1/4 lengths in front of runner-up Bee A Magician in the inaugural $150,000 Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff on Sunday (May 8) at the Meadowlands, his number “4” began to blink on the infield toteboard with the word “Inquiry.”

Resolve, driven and trained by two-time Elitlopp champion Ake Svanstedt, had just scorched a field of top-class trotters in 1:51.2, but had clearly gone inside three pylons turning into the stretch. After a lengthy judges’ inquiry, Resolve was disqualified and placed ninth while Bee A Magician was elevated to the victory.

Gural Hanover finished third and was placed second while longshot Obrigado was elevated to third. The winner paid $7.20 and keyed a $2 exacta worth $46.60. The $2 trifecta paid $882.80.

The victory was the second of the season in two starts for Bee A Magician, a 6-year-old daughter of Kadabra-Beehive. Owned by Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee, the Richard “Nifty” Norman trainee has now banked $3,803,615 in her career.

Lisa photo

Trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman takes a marathon jog to bring Bee A Magician back to the winner’s circle after she was placed first in the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff.

Svanstedt had the barefooted Resolve fired up off the starting gate, racing through the opening quarter-mile in :27.2. John Campbell had the favorite, JL Cruze, comfortably away in the pocket, but was not content to follow Resolve. Campbell aggressively moved JL Cruze to the outside and took the lead through a taxing :54.3 half-mile.

At that point, Svanstedt pulled the pocket and re-took the lead through three-quarters in 1:23.1. JL Cruze offered no resistance, eventually finishing sixth, but placed ninth for his own pylon violation.

Leaving the final turn and turning into the stretch, Resolve went inside three pylons before Svanstedt could straighten his course. Resolve finished 4-1/4 lengths in front of Bee A Magician, but ultimately was disqualified.

Following the race, Markus Myron, Christer Haggstrom, and Mats Lagerholm from Solvalla Racecourse in Sweden, home of The Elitlopp, presented the trophy and extended an invitation to the race to David McDuffee, co-owner of Bee A Magician.

“It is certainly a great honor to receive the invitation and I will speak with the other owners before we make a final decision,” said McDuffee during a winner’s circle interview.

“Resolve went a tremendous mile,” said winning driver Brian Sears. “I was very impressed with him. My mare raced well, but I thought she was still a little soft in only her second start of the season.”

Despite the disqualification, Resolve was also extended an invitation to The Elitlopp on May 29.

After all the placings, the complete order of finish for the race was as follows: Bee A Magician (second placed first), Gural Hanover (third placed second), Obrigado (fourth placed third), Crazy Wow (fifth placed fourth), Shake It Cerry (seventh placed sixth placed fifth), DW’s NY Yank (eighth placed seventh placed sixth), Wind Of The North (ninth placed eighth placed seventh), Resolve (first placed ninth placed eighth) and JL Cruze (sixth placed fifth placed ninth).

Always B Miki, Gallie Bythe Beach victorious in Opens

Mother’s Day at the Meadowlands wasn’t all about the Mack Lobell Elitlopp Playoff as Always B Miki and Gallie Bythe Beach were winners in the co-features on the Sunday matinee program’s undercard.

Making his second start of the year, Always B Miki scored decisively in the $25,000 Open Handicap Pace for trainer Jimmy Takter.

After making the top in a leisurely opening quarter that was timed in :27.4, the field raced in a straight line past the half in :55. The 5-year-old son of Always A Virgin, who was four-for-four a year ago, reached the three-quarters in 1:22.1 before sprinting home in :27 to record a 2-3/4 length, never-an-anxious-moment victory in 1:49.1 with David Miller at the lines. McArdles Lightning was second with Doctor Butch third.

As the 1-9 post-time choice, Always B Miki returned $2.10 to win for owners Bluewood Stable, Roll The Dice Stable and Christina Takter and now has 19 wins in 37 career starts.

Gallie Bythe Beach sat fourth to the three-eighths and was brushed to the top before the half by driver Tim Tetrick and maintained the lead from there to win the $25,000 Open Pace for fillies and mares by a hard-fought neck over Aniston Seelster. Empress Deo was third.

Sent postward as the 7-1 fourth choice, Gallie Bythe Beach returned $16.80 to her backers and covered the mile in 1:50.2 for owner Fashion Farms. The Jim Campbell trainee now has 16 wins in 57 career starts.

Sheeza Shark N, the 3-5 favorite who entered the race perfect in three starts at the Big M since shipping in from New Zealand, went an ideal second-over trip but did not fire in the stretch.