The $6,100 Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pace was featured at last night at Cal Expo. Biggest Big Bertha recorded her 49th career victory.

In advance of starting from Post 1 in the seven-horse tilt, trainer Rick Plano knew one thing. "I didn't have many thoughts going into the race other than I've had her for a month and I expected her to race better," Plano stated.

Leaving to push the pace some until yielding to Zoom Past You (driven by Lemoyne Svendsen) an eighth of a mile past the start, Plano was happy with his position at the quarter-mile pole, timed in :28.3. "I was in the pocket and that's where I wanted to be."

Content as expected with the pocket at the half-mile station, timed in :58, things started to shape up even better for Plano past the five-eighths mile pole.

"Once Forever Showin Off (Jason Ricco) came hard, it was just a maneuver for me from that point - - which I did at the three-quarters."

Sliding out to be second-over at the three-quarter mile marker, timed in 1:26.1, Plano knew one thing, but wasn't sure about another. "She felt good at that point, but I knew the good mares were going to be coming from the back and I didn't know if I could hold them off."

Moving three-wide into the stretch and getting her earplugs popped, the nine-year-old took over the lead at the seven-eighths mile pole at the same time the favourite, Dont Tempt Me (Luke Plano), was revving it up.

"She responded when I pulled the earplugs, and when she took over the lead I didn't know who was coming. Then, with a sixteenth of a mile to go, I saw Dont Tempt Me, and I was concerned because my mare doesn't always finish as strongly as they do."

Now under all-out urging, Plano resorted to his last bit of ammunition. "I pulled down her blinds and she was able to hold Dont Tempt Me off."

Holding off a bearing-down Dont Tempt Me to win ($8.80) by a neck, the Marilee Keene-owned mare stopped the timer at 1:54.3. Dont Tempt Me closed well to be second. Sintillating (Tim Maier), who didn't find racing room until very late, finished another one and a quarter lengths back, in third.

"It was a perfect trip win by a neck," Plano explained. "If I had to map it out, that's how I would have mapped it out. On a scale of one to 10, she raced about an eight. Hopefully, next week she'll be a nine or 10."

Live racing continues at Cal-Expo on Friday, January 15 through Sunday, January 17. First-race post time on Friday and Saturday is 5:30 p.m. (PST). First-race post time on Sunday is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.

(With files from Cal Expo)