Scioto: Bee A Magician digs in for Charlie Hill victory

Driver Brian Sears had to wake Bee A Magician up a bit after slow fractions in the Charlie Hill Memorial at Scioto Downs on Saturday night, but she responded like the champion she is to pick up the victory in 1:53 3/5.

After being looped from the gate in a 28-second opening quarter by DW’s NY Yank, Bee A Magician methodically moved to the front past the stands the first time. The 2013 Horse of the Year was able to set a slow half in 57 2/5 as fellow leaver Natural Herbie clogged the outer flow which included Lindy’s Tru Grit, Obrigado and Southwind Pepino.

The pace hardly picked up as Bee A Magician cruised past three quarters in 1:26 1/5 while the competition fanned wide behind her trying to make headway. In the stretch, Sears went to the whip and the Richard Norman trainee dug down deep to fend off a late charge from DW’s NY Yank.

Il Sogno Dream was third ahead of a traffic-troubled Obrigado in the $200,000 stake for older trotters.

“She scored down awfully quiet tonight,” said Sears. “We got to set some soft fractions, which she needed because I don’t think she was on her A game tonight.”

The victory inched Bee A Magician’s career earnings over the $3 million mark for owners Melvin Hartman, Herb Liverman and David Mc Duffee. She has won four of five starts this year and 35 times in her career.