Meadowlands: Gimpanzee ready for his first test against older foes in Cashman Memorial

Trainer Marcus Melander harkened back to last year’s TVG Final at The Meadowlands where his multi-Breeders Crown champion Gimpanzee went up against the top aged performers. "He was only about a length behind them at the finish," Melander said of the race that saw Gimpanzee finish fourth behind notables Six Pack, Manchego and Guardian Angel As. As luck would have it, only Guardian Angel As has drawn into Saturday’s $291,350 John Cashman Memorial for Open trotters at The Meadowlands.

The big question for Gimpanzee, undefeated in four starts heading into the Cashman, is whether he's ready to tackle older foes and do so while not blemishing his perfect record.

"He's developed a lot physically between 3 and 4. I think he’s ready to take on older horses. We're already in August," said Melander, referring to the calendar that gives his star some extra seasoning. Thus far in 2020 Gimpanzee has been impressive, capturing the Graduate Series final and then overcoming post 13 to score in the rich Hambletonian Maturity. Both races at The Meadowlands showed the versatility of the 4-year-old by Chapter Seven. In the Graduate, he used early speed to gain control of the issue and never looked back with a 1:50 4/5 mile for driver Brian Sears. In the $464,900 Hambletonian Maturity, he willingly raced from well off the pace in the mile-and-one-eighth contest and then overpowered his rivals in the final eighth, winning by open lengths.

"I didn't want to race him three weeks in a row," said Melander in response to why he didn’t send Gimpanzee to Plainridge for the Spirit of Massachusetts. "I was thinking about getting him a race last week but I didn’t want him to have to start from post 10." Nevertheless, Melander is both comfortable and confident that Gimpanzee will be at the top of his game when he meets two former Hambletonian winners in the Cashman.

First and foremost for Gimpanzee is getting position from post seven in a field of 11 horses while having to deal with Atlanta (post 2) and the aforementioned Guardian Angel As (post 4). In between those two standouts is the rugged veteran and Triple Crown champion Marion Marauder. Last week Marion Marauder tuned up for this contest with a 1:50 2/5 overland victory, the fastest of his illustrious $3.3 million-winning career.

Favoritism will likely go to the 2018 Hambletonian champion Atlanta, as the daughter of Chapter Seven returns to the Meadowlands where she's already captured the Cutler Memorial this year in a sparkling 1:50 1/5 mile. Atlanta's career bank account moved north of $2 million along the way and she hopes to bounce back from a second-place finish behind rival Manchego in the record-setting Spirit Of Massachusetts two weeks ago.

Guardian Angel As won at The Meadowlands in 1:50 1/5 in June but has since missed time for trainer Anette Lorentzon. He looked fresh and fit winning a qualifier last Friday at The Meadowlands and certainly looks formidable from post four in this field.

"It will be a tough race for sure," said Melander, wary of the power on the inside part of the field, yet confident in the horse and the driver. "I think Brian (Sears) can do whatever he has to do to get him close to the lead in this field. Gimpanzee is as good following as he is on the lead."

There is tremendous depth to this year’s Cashman, as the field not only includes two of last year's combatants in Marion Marauder and Guardian Angel As, but also the 2019 upset winner Crystal Fashion, who overcame post seven for driver David Miller to post an 8-1 surprise. This year Crystal Fashion landed post 11 and will have Jordan Stratton in the bike. The 5-year-old with $1.7 million banked during his career has won just once in five trips this year but is always dangerous with his tactical speed.

Trainer Ake Svanstedt has two in the field, with last year's Beal winner Marseille (post 1) and Soul Strong (post 5), a pair of 4-year-olds that are improving. Don't Let'em is another 4-year-old worth mentioning as the Muscle Hill-sired horse has shown wicked speed when he keeps his gait under control. Jimmy Takter drives Don't Let'em from post eight. Rounding out the field for the Cashman, race 10 of 16 on Saturday's program, is Lindy The Great (post 6), Run Director (post 9) and Pikachu Hanover (post 10).