Tioga: A definitive dozen for Gimpanzee

Gimpanzee, who has stayed away from the main frays this season, electing to prep for the Hambletonian in New York, is now an unblemished 12-for-12 in his racing career as he won the first of two New York Sire Stakes splits for 3-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Friday night at Tioga Downs in 1:52 4/5, a career-best clocking. Cavill Hanover won the other sire stakes showdown.

Driver Brian Sears hustled Gimpanzee right to the point from post two in the $59,800 contest, and he put a 28 1/5 quarter on the board at every call (28 1/5, 56 2/5, 1:24 3/5) before kicking away in the final quarter to defeat a pocket-sitting Mr Vicktor (Tyler Buter) by 4 1/4 lengths. Livinonthedash (Atlee Bender) got up for third at 100-1.

The 1:52 4/5 clocking fell just two-fifths of a second shy of the track record over a surface left "good" by rain showers.

"He's been lightly-raced all year. He's been sharp and staying in New York, doing what he has to do here and getting ready for the Hambletonian," said Sears. "He was pretty comfortable, but I wanted to stretch him out a little bit."

The victorious Chapter Seven colt is trained by Marcus Melander for owners Courant Inc. and S R F Stable. Gimpanzee, last year's Breeders Crown and Dan Patch Award winner, has earned $753,046. He returned $2.10 to win as the 1-9 favorite.

In the other $60,900 grouping Sears got Lucky Weekend away sharply from post nine and hit the opening quarter in 28 4/5, but Cavill Hanover (Jim Morrill Jr.) popped out of the pocket and took the lead past that marker. Cavill Hanover was unchallenged through a 58 2/5 half and a 1:26 2/5 three-quarters, and a 29 second final kicker got him to the wire a length ahead of Lucky Weekend in 1:55 2/5. Quiksilvr Bluechip (Wally Hennessey) was the third-place finisher.

Cavill Hanover, a gelding by Muscle Mass, is trained by Ake Svanstedt for owners Little E LLC., Wolfgang A Stable Inc., and Borje Nasstrom. Cavill Hanover made his fifth appearance in the winner's circle, and he has put away $160,063. The 5-2 second choice, he paid $7.90 to win.