Meadowlands: Bee Forever upsets in Valley Victory

Bee Forever, the Muscle Hill first foal out of the brilliant mare Bee A Magician, called on some of that big pedigree tonight in the $398,650 Valley Victory for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters at the Meadowlands, and he delivered a powerful rally off dull cover to win in 1:54.

Driven by Victor Kirby, the Nifty Norman-trained Bee Forever landed in ninth from post seven while Incommunicado (Scott Zeron) left out from post three, then yielded to Dee's Red Delicous (Corey Callahan) after the 27 4/5 opening quarter. Once the pace settled, driver Bob McClure moved Breeders Crown champion On A Streak two-wide from fourth, and he pressed on past Dee's Red Delicous beyond the 55 4/5 half.

On the far turn, Peter Haughton Memorial winner Zenith Stride (Brian Sears) was sent first-up from the fifth position, and he moved up quickly to challenge On A Streak before the 1:25 1/5 three-quarters. While those two were tussling on the lead, Type A (Yannick Gingras), who had been two-wide throughout from post seven, couldn't keep up to the cover of Zenith Stride, and that impacted Bee Forever's chances as he was third-over. Kirby had no choice but to move his charge three-deep before three-quarters, and he had over five lengths to make up at that point.

In the lane On A Streak put away Zenith Stride and looked to set sail for the wire, but Bee Forever was in top gear, and despite not being the smoothest-looking, Kirby held Bee Forever and he kept moving forward, catching and passing On A Streak late to win by a neck. Delayed Hanover (Ake Svanstedt) also closed well to go from sixth to third in the last quarter, followed by Dee's Red Delicous and Jula Muscle Pack (George Napolitano Jr.).

"I appreciate and thank Nifty and the connections for giving me the chance and sticking with me," said Kirby. "One of the first things he told me the first night I drove him was, 'Look, this colt can trot really fast, but he's very green, and he needs to be taught.' That first night he said, 'I don't care where you finish as long as he's going forward at the end.' Every week he's gotten progressively better, and I'm sure people saw in the last start in the Kindergarten, if I shake free, he wins that. Tonight, I just knew to get open space, and it worked out.

"I was a little skeptical about following (Type A), nothing against that colt at all, but I didn't know how far he would take me. He didn't take me very far, and I had to move way too early in the turn, but thankfully the big fella had enough trot and got it done. I think you're going to hear a lot from him next year. I'd like my name to be associated with it, it may not be, but either way, that's a tribute to Nifty and his crew. They've done a great job with him, and I'm just thankful to be along for the ride."

Norman, who was the conditioner of Bee A Magician, handles the training of Bee Forever, who is a gelding, for owners/breeder Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman, and David McDuffee, who also owned Bee A Magician. Bee Forever has a record of 2-1-2 from nine tries, and he pushed his earnings to $240,986. Sent off at 14-1, Bee Forever paid $30.60 to win.

"It was like a fairy tale. It was awesome. Vic's done a great job with him. He's just a baby, and he's learning his way, but he's getting better all the time."