In financial circles, a Eurobond is a fixed-income security put forth in a currency not native to the issuer’s home country. At Plainridge Park, the trotter Eurobond - simply put - is money.
The six-year-old son of Love You-True Diva has been streaking this year at The Ridge and once again won the $25,000 Open Handicap trot on Friday, which was his third in a row.
Rightfully sent off the even money favourite, Eurobond (Bruce Ranger) got away sixth while Majestic Fire (Alek Chartrand) marched sharply to the quarter in :26.3. At that station Joey Bats (Kevin Switzer Jr.) brushed from fourth to first at the three-eighths and settled in for the remainder of the mile. Eurobond was the next horse up in the breeze pulling from fifth, first-over and slowly rolling up the rim.
Joey Bats held a two-length advantage up the backside and to three-quarters as the pocket-sitting Majestic Fire couldn’t keep up and Eurobond was still drafting outside third. As they made their way into the turn Eurobond started to make up ground and by the time they hit the top of the stretch, he drew even with Joey Bats. After only a few strides, Eurobond took the lead with no urging at all from Ranger and trotted off to a 1-1/4 length win in 1:54.1.
It was the fourth win in only five starts this year for Eurobond ($4.00) and it pushed his annual earnings to $41,250 for owners Lindy Farms of Connecticut and Robert Rudolf.
Ranger finished the day with a total of three wins to lead all drivers on the card.
Walpole, Massachusetts native son George Ducharme was the leading trainer Friday, scoring two wins, including the secondary feature.
In the $12,500 mid-level conditioned trot, Overserved (Shawn Gray) took the lead past the half and never looked back. After getting to the half in a tepid :58, he turned back a strong challenge from Northern Skyway (Heath Campbell) at the three-quarter pole and then the pocket-sitting Trixie Dust (Alek Chartrand) in deep stretch to win by 1-1/4 lengths in a new season’s best of 1:54.4.
Overserved is owned by Linwood Higgins, Jim Winske, Marcus Kemblowski and the George Ducharme Stable.
Ducharme also won with Double Dealing ($2.60) who was the three-year-old Massachusetts Sire Stake male trotting champion last year.
There was no unique winning ticket in the Wicked Hi-5 Pentafecta on Friday so there will be a $12,625 carryover in the sixth race on Monday (June 28) when live racing resumes at Plainridge Park. Post time for the first race is 4 p.m.
(Standardbred Owners of Massachusetts)