by Scott Ehrlich, publicity director, Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Being atop the Cal-Expo “Who’s Hot” list was made even more special on Thursday night (December 3) when Tim Maier notched his 2,000th career driving win.

It may have been just a Filly & Mare $4,000 claimer, but when Maier closed to win with his wife’s Little Kiera, it marked the 2,000th time the 56-year-old reinsman crossed the finish line first.

“When I started out, I never dreamed of achieving 2,000 wins,” stated Maier. “Having done that, the satisfying part of it is that the majority of those wins were horses that were trained by my wife Denise and I — many of them being provided by our longtime friend, owner, and partner of 20 years, Alan Kirschenbaum. Alan has been providing me with horses for a couple of decades now and I wouldn’t be able to achieve what I’ve done without his help. Getting 2,000 wins makes me more than happy.”

Featured on the card were fillies and mares in an Open Handicap Pace for a purse of $8,000, in which Don’t Tempt Me was triumphant. Before starting from post position five in the field of the same number, driver Luke Plano had something in mind for his usual closing mare.

“She’s racing good and thought I might change some strategy and head to the front, if it worked out,” stated Plano.

Leaving and racing three-wide to the first turn, Plano moved his charge two-wide behind cover just after an eighth of a mile before taking a tuck third after 3-16ths of a mile into a sizzling :27 opening quarter. Did Plano use his horse in the speedy opening quarter?

“I don’t know how much I really used her because I grabbed her pretty quick around the eighth when I realized how fast we were going. As it turns out, I really don’t think I used her that much.”

Remaining in the three hole to a hot :55.3 first half being set by Biggest Big Bertha (Rick Plano), the young Plano was more than content.

“We were rolling along pretty good and I was comfortable at that point.”

Continuing to save ground on the final bend, Plano was liking it when last week’s Open winner, Zoom Past You (Lemoyne Svendsen), pocket pulled to the three-quarters (1:24).

“The cover didn’t hurt me any, that’s for sure. Obviously that’s what I wanted at that point and felt fairly confident because my mare felt strong and Mooney (Lemoyne Svendsen) seemed to be asking a little bit with his horse.”

Being led right up by Zoom Past You who quickly took over the lead at the head of the lane, Plano wasted no time in moving his mare three-wide with 3-16ths of a mile to go.

“She was very strong going to the front, but she sort of lets up sometimes when she gets ahead.”

Moving fast to the lead at the seven-eighths-mile pole while under a drive, then drawing clear with a sixteenth of a mile to go, Plano had to deal with a minor issue when it “appeared” Don’t Tempt Me wasn’t going on.

“I thought she was comfortable late, but she can get a little lackadaisical, so I just kept her attention to the wire.”

Owned by Keith Ballard, Lester Hunsucker and James Yates, the Tom Wine II trained 5-year-old stopped the timer at a nice 1:52.3, a lifetime mark and her 23rd career triumph. Zoo Past You finished in second and Sintillating (Tim Maier) was closing fastest of all at the wire while finishing another three-quarters of a length farther back in third.

“It was a solid mile and she’s in top shape,” concluded Plano.