Odds On Racing - Harness Racing

Bee Line Wins Elegantimage Final

June 17, 2006

Bee Line and driver Luc Ouellette captured the $559,200 Elegantimage Stakes final in 1:54.4 Saturday nigth at Woodbine Raceway. Buck I St Pat, the 3-5 favourite, broke stride as the wings of the gate folded taking her out of contention early. Drugeda (Tommy Andersson), Oaklea Odessa (Paul MacDonell) and Merles Pearl (Trevor Ritchie) all made a spirited early bid for the lead.

As the dust settled after the large :26.4 first quarter, Oaklea Odessa was on top and under constant pressure from Merles Pearl, who drove on and pushed Oaklea Odessa to a :55.4 half. Oaklea Omega (Dave Wall) could have sat in the pocket, but they chose to stay on the outside behind Merles Pearl. And as the field hit the top of the stretch in 1:25.1, that move appeared to pay off Oaklea Omega sprinted past her stablemate Oaklea Odessa and Merles Pearl. But Bee Line and Ouellette, who were following Oaklea Omega, had more late kick and powered past the field holding off longshots Armbro Domino (Chris Christoforou) and Kd Girl (Jeff Gregory) in 1:54.4, equaling the season's record.

"My tactics were to follow Buck I St Pat, but when she broke those plans went out the window," said Ouellette after the race."By her breaking, the race was wide open. My filly is versatile. Going those fractions, we were in a good spot to come from behind. I was very confident I could get there. I moved her early and she responded well when I pulled the plugs. I thinks she's getting some rest and then getting ready for the Del Miller Memorial at the Meadowlands".

Trained by Christopher Beaver and owned by Johanna Beaver of Delaware, Ohio, Bee Line (Self Possessed - Bullville Flight) now sports a new lifetime mark and she pushes her lifetime earnings to $342,272 in the process.

$559,200 Elegant Image Final   Woodbine Raceway Results
PP Horse                Driver
4 Bee Line              L Ouellette
7 Armbro Domino C Christoforou
1 Kd Girl                J Gregory
2 Oaklea Omega    Da Wall
6 Meadowview Tiffy S Condren
9 Merles Pearl         T Ritchie
8 Oaklea Odessa      P Macdonell
10 Winning Sister      M Saftic
3 Buck I St Pat      D Palone
5 Drugeda           T Andersson
26.4 55.4    1:25.1   1:54.4