by Ellen Harvey, Harness Racing Communications

East Rutherford, NJ — Bee A Magician and driver Brian Sears won the $500,000 Hambletonian Oaks for 3-year-old trotting fillies on Saturday afternoon at the Meadowlands by 3-1/4 lengths in 1:51.4.

That’s a stakes record; the record was previously held by Windylane Hanover in 2002 in a time of 1:53.

USTA/Mark Hall photo

Bee A Magician set a stakes record in winning the Hambletonian Oaks in 1:51.4.

Classic Martine (Ron Pierce) was first to the lead at the :26.4 first quarter, with Coffeecake Hanover (George Brennan) behind her. As the field straightened out in the backstretch, To Dream On (Yannick Gingras) was out to challenge for the lead, with Bee A Magician right behind her and taking away the momentary lead held by To Dream On.

Bee A Magician had a nose in front by the :54.1 half and held that lead to the 1:22.3 three-quarters with To Dream On and Classic Martine at her heels.

In the stretch, there were many following but only one leading as Bee A Magician took the filly classic for trainer Richard “Nifty” Norman and owners Mel Hartman, Herb Liverman and David McDuffee. Classic Martine was second and To Dream On third.

Trainer Nifty Norman was asked if the race gave him any anxious moments.

“The whole week actually,” he said. “I was a nervous wreck watching the race. I did (the right thing by racing against fillies and bypassing the colts). I’m happy.”

“Those are pretty big numbers, 1:22.3 to the three-quarters,” said Sears. “I thought ‘geez, she gets over the ground so easily, you don’t realize you’re going so fast.’ You don’t really know you’re going that much. She’s a very talented filly. I was asking her down the lane, you can’t take anything for granted.”

The victory was the ninth straight in nine starts for Bee A Magician in 2013. The daughter of Kadabra-Beehive has now banked $773,206 this year and $1,539,858 lifetime.