Tioga: Guardian Angel AS knocks off Gimpanzee in Crawford Farms Trot

Guardian Angel AS asserted his class for the first time in 2020, and in the process knocked Gimpanzee from the season's unbeaten ranks with an impressive track record score in Sunday’s $220,000 Crawford Farms Trot at Tioga Downs. Tim Tetrick guided the 6-year-old in a virtual wire-to-wire performance, stopping the timer in 1:50 4/5 at the expense of Gimpanzee, with Crystal Fashion a solid and closing third.

Guardian Angel AS left sharply from post two, forcing Gimpanzee and Australian import Majestic Player to tuck in the early stages while Lindy The Great found the pocket shortly before the 26 second opening quarter. Tetrick had Guardian Angel AS relaxed after that as the outer tier waited for Gimpanzee to move. Brian Sears, guiding the 1-4 favorite Gimpanzee, moved before the half, but Tetrick had control with a 54 2/5 clocking. The two locked horns on the backstretch as Gimpanzee towed Majestic Player into the race from second-over, with Don't Let'em in the outer flow third-up.

With three-quarters passed in 1:22 1/5, Guardian Angel AS still had control of the race, and Gimpanzee held together gamely but wasn't advancing. Crystal Fashion and Jordan Stratton angled out and charged home on the far outside in the lane but ran out of racetrack as Tetrick coaxed Guardian Angel AS to a 28 3/5 final quarter, posting the 12-1 upset for trainer Anette Lorentzon and owners ACL Stuteri AB and Kjell Johansson. Lindy The Great finished fourth, with Reign Of Honor fifth in the mile.

It was just the second win in five starts this year for Guardian Angel AS, who last week appeared to have trot while looking for clearance in the Cashman Memorial at the Meadowlands before making a rare break in stride. The son of Archangel upped his career earnings to $1,441,453, winning for the 25th time during his illustrious career.