Echo De Meautis FR, who is the winningest horse of the Plainridge Park 2023 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) advanced first-up in the breeze. These positions remained unchanged to three-quarters in 1:26.1 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. Enhance Yourcalm N settled for second and By The Book completed the top three.

The win was the 14th of the year – 13th at Plainridge Park – for nine-year-old Echo De Meautis FR ($8.80), who has now earned $169,546 through 31 starts in 2023. Archie Mc Neil owns the Bruce Mattison-trained trotter. 

In the secondary-featured $22,500 upper level conditioned trot, Sidd Finch (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 barrelling 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 from 31 starts for Sidd Finch ($36.40), who has now earned $101,770 this year for owner John Barnard. Irwin Rosenthal trains the winner. 

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 harness racing will resume at Plainridge Park on Tuesday, Nov. 21 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.

(With files from Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)