Filly and mare Open Handicap pacers were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday, January 28, a night on which Biggest Big Bertha got back on the winning track.

In advance of starting from Post 5 in the field of a half-dozen, trainer Rick Plano knew from a look at the formbook that there was speed to join his 'usual' gate-leaving mare.

"I didn't know what was going to go on, so I didn't have her directly on the gate. I was going to see how it went," said Plano. "As it turns out, three horses went out of there. That, however, didn't bother me because with my horse being versatile -- I didn't count myself out."

Getting ducked and coming away in fifth position, Plano, despite the action up front, elected to make a quarter-move.

"When they were three-wide to the quarter in :28.1, I decided it was time for me to make my move because I figured once they got to the lead they'd be slowing down, which would be a good time for me to attack."

Motoring up at the five sixteenths marker and making the lead past the seven sixteenths mile station (while pacing a :27.4 second-quarter), did Plano use his charge into a :57.1 first-half mile?

"No, she felt good and she's fit now," he said. "I was pleased because I was on the lead I needed."

Asking a bit past the five-eighths mile pole, then giving his mare a one-hander midway through the final turn, Plano had good reason.

"Part of the reason I gassed her in the third-quarter and let her pace was I knew I was losing Dont Tempt Me in the pocket behind me because Luke (Plano) was chasing after her because she wasn't keeping up."

Responding to her pilot, Biggest Big Bertha opened up by two and a quarter lengths while reaching the three-quarter mile pole, timed in 1:25.3.

"I knew I had a few lengths on them and I was hoping I was going to hold on, but I am always worried about the big closers coming from the back. Having said that, I knew that Sintillating (driven by Tim Maier) was sitting last and kind of figured it was too far for her to come, which was good for me."

Getting her earplugs popped late in the final turn, the nine-year-old added insult to injury.

"She responded pretty well when I popped the earplugs and she was good down the stretch. As a matter of fact, she was good in every quarter, especially when you consider her last three individual quarters were in the 28s or better."

Opening up by two and a half lengths into the lane, there was no catching the talented lass, as she triumphed under moderate urging by one and three quarter lengths and returned $8.20 on a winning wager. Owned by Marilee Keene, Biggest Big Bertha stopped the timer at 1:54.1, a seasonal best. Sintillating closed from last to finish in second and complete the Alan Kirschenbaum-bred/Little Steven-sired exacta. Giveittoemstaight (Gilbert Herrera) finished one and a quarter lengths farther back, in third.

"It was a good race for her and since I took over the training she's getting better all the time. I'm hopeful she continues to get better," concluded Plano.

(Cal-Expo)