Entering the final week of racing at Plainridge Park, the final $25,000 male pacing feature was held on Monday and Sundown Kid was the man after going gate to wire on the chooch in a stiff wind on a cold afternoon. 

After two weeks sitting back, Matty “Ice” Athearn left the gate with Sundown Kid and put him in his happy place – the front end dictating the pace. With Mansome (Kevin Switzer Jr.) and Always A Miki (Drew Campbell) following intently behind, Sundown Kid marched off quarters of :27.1, :57.1 and 1:25.2 when Bag Pipe Major (Pat Curtain) joined the party on the outside. Undeterred by the conditions or impending pressure, Sundown Kid rounded the last turn and held off all comers to the wire where he won by one-half length in 1:54. 

Sundown Kid ($6.60) claimed his seventh victory of the year for owners Kevin Gee, Robert Kopack and Randy Bickmore, who also does the training. 

In the $20,000 secondary feature, Grand Galop Semalou (Dan Deslandes) got a perfect pocket trip behind Hespoisedtopounce A (Kevin Switzer, Jr.) who set fractions of :26.4, :56.2 and 1:25.1 before tipping at the top of the stretch and motoring home to a two length upset win in 1:54.3. 

The venerable 10-year-old Grand Galop Semalou ($26.80) notched his 60th lifetime win for owner Lawrence Huckins. Dan Deslandes also trains the gelding. 

Kevin Switzer, Jr. had the hot hand in the bike on Monday, winning four races during the afternoon. Trainers Candace Brandstatter and Elisha Lafreniere both had two wins to top all conditioners. 

Racing resumes at Plainridge Park on Tuesday (Nov. 22) with post time at 1 p.m. Please note that there will be no racing at The Ridge this Thursday (Nov. 24) due to the Thanksgiving holiday. However a full card of live harness racing will be held on Friday (Nov. 25) at 1 p.m. to end the 2022 meet.

(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)