by John Berry, for Pompano Park

Pompano Beach, FL — Just A Bee, driven by Mike Micallefand “stung” herself half-way through the mile, got the last fatal sting toher competition when it counted as she edged by late to score a half-length winin 1:51.1 in Pompano Park’s $15,000 Open Handicap Pace for Mares on Wednesday(March 16) night.

Skip Smith photo

Just A Bee, driven by Mike Micallef, stung her competition on Wednesday night at Pompano Park, stopping the clock in 1:51.1.

The 8-year-old daughter of Mr Feelgood pinned the narrowdefeat on Godiva Seelster, handled by Wally Hennessey, and Pertty Music, withKevin Wallis in the bike, the latter two in a dead-heat for place honors.

All Charged Up finished fourth in the mile with Drea’sGood Powow picking up the final award in the octet.

It was an action packed race as there were five leadchanges during the mile with All Charged Up, teamed with John MacDonald,bolting to the front with Pertty Music settling in the garden spot and ClassicCarpet next during a hot opener of :26.1.

That’s when Just A Bee brushed up from fourth followed byGodiva Seelster with the Just A Bee reaching the top prior to the half clockedin :55.1, with Godiva Seelster joining her in a battle for supremacy enteringthe backside.

Through an official third panel in :27.1, Godiva Seelsterhad a clear lead past that station in 1:22.2 and was trying to protect that inthe lane with both Just A Bee and Pertty Music closing in. In deep stretch,Just A Bee stung her rivals one last time to narrowly prevail at the wire.

In a post-race interview, driver Mike Micallef said,”My mare never ceases to amaze me. She just never, ever quits.

“She’s gone a lot of great miles for us, some even alittle faster, but this was one of her great performances. And she did thisagainst some of her stiffest competition as both Wally’s mare (Godiva Seelster)and Kevin’s mare (Pertty Music) are in this same class.”

Just A Bee won for the fourth time this semester in ninestarts, banking $33,230 in the process.

Lifetime, she’s at $308,181, including $186,965 since shewas claimed for $12,000 by Anita Micallef, John Mc Goff and Greg Heath.

Of her 43 lifetime wins, 22 have come since she has beenunder the care of trainer-driver Micallef.

As the even-money tote-board favorite, Just A Beereturned $4.20 to win.

In finishing in that dead-heat for second, GodivaSeelster kept her streak of earning purse checks alive, now standing at anamazing 78 starts dating back through her seasons as a three, four, five and,thus far, 6-year-old season.

Racing continues at Pompano Park on Saturday night withpost time at 7:30 p.m.