from Harness Publicists across North America

Thursday’s (Nov. 19) edition of Racing Roundup features results stories from The Meadows, Dover Downs and Cal-Expo.

Heza Challenger doubles up in Meadows Preferred Trot

Washington, PA — Heza Challenger enjoyed a second-quarter breather, then flew home in :56.2 Thursday at The Meadows to capture his second straight $27,500 Preferred Trot.

Heza Challenger dueled with Master Begonia and DC Northern for the early lead, but once he reached the front, Brett Miller was able to give him a comfortable second panel in :30.3 over a sloppy surface. The 5-year-old gelded son of Chip Chip Hooray-Ten Queens was unchallenged thereafter, downing Master Begonia by 1-1/2 lengths in 1:55.2. DC Northern held third.

Bruce Riegle trains Heza Challenger, who has won three of four starts since adding Salix, for Robert A. Kauffman. With the victory, Heza Challenger pushed his career bankroll north of $200,000.

Miller and Dave Palone each drove three winners on the 13-race card.

— Evan Pattak

Night Talker wins Dover feature

Dover, Del — Night Talker was strongest in the stretch to win the $16,800 feature on a rainy Thursday, Nov. 19 at Dover Downs.

Fotowon

Night Talker won the $16,800 feature on a rainy Thursday at Dover Downs in 1:54.2.

Ron Pierce moved Lauren Allen and Foulk Stables’ Night Talker, a Western Ideal-Peaceful Feeling 5-year-old, into contention at the three quarters and then collared leader Artsbred Camotion (Vince Copeland) heading for home. In the stretch Passit (Corey Callahan) rolled down the passing lane to finish second with Artsbred Camotion holding on for third in the 1:54.2 mile to win the $16,800 3,4&5-Year-Old pace.

The day’s biggest longshot came when 69-1 Ty’s A Big Star, owned by Same Jacobs, Ron Reed and J&E Stable, went three-wide around the final turn for Eddie Davis Jr. to overtake the leaders on the way to a 1:54.2 victory. To Much Fun (Tony Morgan), a 9-1 shot, finished second setting up a 9-4 exacta paying $709.20. With Sam’s Clever Boy (Ron Pierce) third the 9-4-2 trifecta returned $3,317.60.

— Marv Bachrad

Sintillating pops at a price at Cal-Expo

Sacramento, CA — Biggest Big Bertha looked so tough that some fans forgot about Sintillating — and those who didn’t got paid.

Filly & Mare Open Handicap Pacers, racing for an $8,000 purse, were featured at Cal-Expo on Thursday night, in which Sintillating was fastest of all

Leaving from post four in the field of five for trainer Tim Maier, the 5-year-old found the three-hole as the field was entering the first turn into a :28 opening quarter. Remaining third through a :56.2 half and into a 1:24.3 three-quarters, the daughter of Little Steven found herself 4-1/4 lengths back at the three-quarters while the pacesetting 1-2 favorite Biggest Big Bertha (Rick Plano) on top by 2-1/2 lengths and just getting her earplugs kicked out.

On the move at the top of the stretch and under urging, Sintillating started gaining at mid-stretch and would fly by Biggest Big Bertha late while drawing clear at the wire to win by three lengths.

Owned and bred by Alan Kirschenbaum and Denise Maier, Sintillating, who was 5-2 in the morning line, won at a $23.60 mutuel in 1:53.1, a seasonal best and her 24th career victory. Don’t Tempt Me (Luke Plano) rallied nicely to the wire to be second and Biggest Big Bertha faltered in the stretch to finish third, another 1-1/2 lengths farther back.

— Scott Ehrlich