Tioga: Graduate Trot launches 2020 stakes season

A bakers dozen of 4-year-old trotters led by Breeders Crown winner Gimpanzee entered what will be split divisions for the opening leg of the Graduate Series at Tioga Downs on Sunday, June 14.

Trained by Marcus Melander and driven by Brian Sears for owners Courant Inc. and SRF Stable, the $1.7 million career-earning Gimpanzee was third in the Hambletonian in 2019 and won the Breeders Crown as both a 2- and 3-year-old. He starts from post 6 in the opening $50,000 division, race 11 on the 15-race card that commences at 4 PM.

Fans of Hannelore Hanover will have a new Indiana-bred mare to root for as Grand Swan (post 7, race 12), an 18-time winner in 27 career starts, tries to go from Hoosier State champion in 2019 to top Grand Circuit performer in 2020. After campaigning for LeWayne Miller last year, Grand Swan, like Gimpanzee, goes for Marcus Melander now. The trainer also has Hatikvah (post 6, race 12) and Reign Of Honor (post 2, race 11) in the grouping.

Ohio is also represented as trainer and co-owner Chris Beaver brings the Triumphant Caviar-sired mare Pure Chance (post 5, race 12) to New York. She has earned $319,238 in two years of racing and defeated Open foes in the Simpson at Harrah’s Philadelphia in 2019. Beaver also has Ohio Sire Stakes runner-up Weslynn Quest. The daughter of Manofmanymissions, who starts from post 3 in the first division, won five times in 18 starts earning $161,261 in 2019. She won her 2020 debut at Scioto Downs in 1:54 2/5 on May 29.

Princess Deo carries the flag for New Jersey. A winner of over $400K in her career, the Noel Daley trainee dead-heated with Evident Beauty in the SBOANJ final last December. She goes from pylon position in the second division.

Trainer/driver Trond Smedshammer brings in a New York Sire Stakes runner-up of his own with Winnerup (post 4, race 11). After finishing second behind Gimpanzee in that final last year, he’ll look to find more answers in 2020.

Completing the competitors for the Graduate are Chin Chin Hall (post 1, race 11), Explosivebreakaway (post 2, race 12), Goes Down Smooth (post 4, race 12) and Shake N Bake (post 5, race 11).

Tioga will host the first leg of the Graduate Series for pacers on a card that includes the $175,000e Roll With Joe Open Pace and the opening leg of the 2020 New York Sires Stake for 3-year-old trotting fillies.

The Graduate Series moves to The Meadowlands for leg #2 for the trotters on June 27, leg #2 for pacers on July 4 and both $250,000 finals on July 11 at The Meadowlands on Meadowlands Pace elimination night.

-with files from Tioga