Tioga Downs: Gimpanzee heads New York Sire Stakes winners

Rookie trotting colts headed to Tioga Downs for a trio of $37,966 New York Sire Stakes divisions on Friday night, and it would be Gimpanzee leading the way with a 1:56 1/5 clocking in the second division.

Gimpanzee, coming off a win in sire stakes competition at Monticello, settled into the third position for driver Brian Sears, while Brady Brunch (Andy Miller) made front passing the 29 second opening quarter, then hit the half in 59 and the three-quarters in 1:27 3/5. Gimpanzee started up first-over just before three-quarters, and he would advance steadily on the rim in the backstretch and around the turn, joining Brady Brunch as they entered the lane. Gimpanzee had the most punch through the stretch, as he kicked away from his rivals, winning by 2 3/4 lengths. Brady Brunch held second over Chapter Fashion (Mike Simons), who drifted out badly while rallying.

A Chapter Seven colt, Gimpanzee is trained by Marcus Melander for owners Courant Inc. and SRF Stable. Gimpanzee, who was bred by Order By Stable and fetched $170,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, has won both of his starts and earned $32,858. He is out of the unraced Muscle Massive mare Steamy Windows, a three-quarter sister to Order By Commander (Muscles Yankee, 1:55 1/5, $164,215). Gimpanzee was the 3-5 favorite and paid $3.40 to win.

Cavill Hanover also remained unblemished in his brief career following a 1:56 4/5 score in the opener for trainer/driver Ake Svanstedt. Cavill Hanover yielded for the pocket behind Jnr Express (Jim Marohn Jr.) at the 28 second opening quarter and remained in that position at the 59 3/5 half. Svanstedt would then pop the pocket with Cavill Hanover just past the half, and he would clear to command before the 1:27 3/5 three-quarters. Jnr Express and first-up favorite Kredit Karma (Sears) both had dead-aim at Cavill Hanover turning into the lane, but he kicked away to a three-length victory. Jnr Express was the runner-up, with Kredit Karma third.

Little E LLC., Vanersol Inc., and Wolfgang A Stable Inc. own Cavill Hanover, a Muscle Mass colt who was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and brought $70,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale. Cavill Hanover is out of the S J's Photo mare CR Calendar Girl (2:00 3/5, $20,260), making him a half-brother to three six-figure earners, topped by Coffeecake Hanover (Cantab Hall, 1:52 4/5, $422,861). Cavill Hanover was the 3-1 second choice and returned $8.20 to win.

In the final flight Leap Year Lucky (Dan Daley) landed on the point as the field passed the 28 4/5 opening quarter, and he would go on to chop out the half in 59 4/5. Winning Habit (Andy Miller) was out and rolling first-up at the half, and he would forge his way into the lead at the 1:28 2/5 three-quarters, leaving Chip Chip Conway (Jim Taggart Jr.) first-over. Despite losing his cover, Chip Chip Conway continued his forward march, and he would overtake Winning Habit in the stretch on his way to a 2 1/4 length win in 1:58. Our White Knight (Jim Morrill Jr.) rallied from seventh to second in the final quarter, with Winning Habit third.

Trainer Gary Messenger also bred and co-owns Chip Chip Conway, a Conway Hall gelding, with partner Kenneth Weckstein. Chip Chip Conway is now two-for-four in the win column, and he has put away $22,620. He is the first foal out of the Chip Chip Hooray mare Get Chipped (1:54 3/5, $415,724). Chip Chip Conway, who had broken stride in his previous two New York Sire Stakes tries, went off at 10-1 and paid $22.40 to win.