Sintillating and Biggest Big Bertha, who have been trading blows at the head of their division this year, get another chance to do battle in Thursday night’s (March 4)  $6,100 Open Pace for the fillies and mares at Cal-Expo.
 
Sintillating is a 6-year-old Little Steven homebred who races for Alan Kirschenbaum and Denise Maier with Tim Maier doing the driving and training.  She comes into this assignment with $211,000 in her bank account and a 1:51.3 mark that was established two years ago.
 
The bay miss has returned to the winner’s circle following three of her seven trips to the post this season.  The first two tallies came over sloppy tracks on January 1 and January 21, then she had to settle for runner-up finishes in her next two attempts behind Biggest Big Bertha and the hard-knocking male Shock And Awe.
 
Sintillating returned to the distaff ranks for her last outing and was sent off the 5-2 third choice.  While she normally comes from behind, Maier left strongly from the next-to-outside slot and managed to work out a pocket trip behind Biggest Big Bertha.  When the question was asked, she had the right answer as she kicked home in :27.1 to seal the deal by a length and one quarter.
 
Biggest Big Bertha has to be given plenty of respect with her $305,00 bank account and 1:51.1 career standard.  The Marilee Keene color-bearer is reined and trained by Rick Plano and carved out all the fractions in her last effort before being overpowered in deep stretch by her archrival.
 
The veteran mare picked up her most recent tally in the January 28 Open, making a power brush to command by the quarter and going on to a length and three-quarters decision.  She faced the boys at next asking and got the show money behind Ivegotwhatuneed and Ideally Magic that evening, returning to distaff-only competition for the last appearance.
 
Rounding out the field are Castle Oaks, who gives the Maier barn two looks at the outcome; Silver Bloom, a second Plano trainee with son Luke guiding; and Scooter Babe, who will have trainer Steve Wiseman at the controls.  A 12-race card is on tap, with the headliner going as the second event on the program.