French-bred extends season lead at Plainridge

Plainville, MA — Echo De Meautis Fr (Ganymede), who is the winningest horse of the Plainridge Park 2023 harness racing meet, continued to finish first on Monday (Nov. 20) as he snared the featured $25,000 Open trot in a hard-fought outing.

Echo De Meautis Fr (Bruce Ranger) was first to the front, seating Enhance Yourcalm N (Kevn Switzer Jr.) and By The Book (Jay Randall) heading into the first turn. With everyone seated, Echo De Meautis Fr went :27.4 and :58 to the half where Andover Contessa (Mitchell Cushing) came first-up in the breeze.

These positions remained unchanged to three-quarters and into the final bend where By The Book tipped three-deep around the stalled Andover Contessa and Enhance Yourcalm N waited for an opening in the lane. Heading down the stretch, By The Book went way wide while Enhance Yourcalm N tipped out and made a good run at the leader. But Echo De Meautis Fr was home free by three-quarters of a length in 1:55.

It was the 14th win of the year – 13 at Plainridge Park – for Echo De Meautis Fr ($8.80) who has now earned $169,546 in 2023. Archie Mc Neil owns the Bruce Mattison trained trotter.

ECHO DE MEAUTIS FR REPLAY

In the secondary-featured $22,500 upper-level conditioned trot, Sidd Finch (Credit Winner, Jim Hardy) got away seventh while Balenciaga (Drew Campbell) stepped off fractions of :28.1, :57.3 and 1:25.4.

At that last station, Sidd Finch was still sixth and locked in at the pegs. Then just as they were turning for home, Balenciaga made a break at the same time Sidd finch finally got some racing room. Balenciaga went off the course leaving the lead to Chapheart (Nick Graffam), but Sidd Finch was barreling down the middle of the stretch and got to the line first by a neck in 1:55.1.

It was the seventh win of the year for Sidd Finch ($36.40) who has now earned $101,770 for owner John Barnard. Irwin Rosenthal trains the winner.

SIDD FINCH REPLAY

Hardy finished the day with three wins, leading all his peers in that category while 10 different trainers each claimed one victory during the day.

Live racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Nov. 20) with post time at 1 p.m. and there will be a $1,244 carryover in the Wicked Hi-5 pentafecta wager in race six.

For complete race results, click here: US Trotting results.

by Tim Bojarski, for the Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts