Vernon: Gimpanzee dominates Empire Breeders Classic, now ten-for-ten in career

New York-sired horses took center stage on Monday afternoon with a pair of six-figure Empire Breeders Classic finals for sophomore trotters and two New York Sire Stakes races for 3-year-old pacing fillies. It would be the still-undefeated colt Gimpanzee who stole the show, though, running his record to ten wins from ten starts thanks to a 1:54 performance.

Last year's Dan Patch Award winner for best rookie trotting colt, Gimpanzee was making his 2019 debut for driver Brian Sears, trainer Marcus Melander, and owners Courant Inc. and S R F Stable. Starting from post four, Gimpanzee settled into the third spot and watched as Mr Vicktor (Tyler Buter) went to the top from post five and clicked off opening-half fractions of 28 and 57 3/5.

Sears made his move with Gimpanzee past the half, and he gained steadily first-up around the far turn, getting closer to Mr Vicktor at three-quarters in 1:25 1/5. In the stretch Gimpanzee then took over, dispatching Mr Vicktor and pulling away with aplomb, winning by 3 1/4 lengths. Mr Vicktor held second, with Travel Winner (Trevor Henry) back in third.

"I just wanted to get away somewhere close and just kind of take it from there," said Sears. "The wind has been tough all day on the track and on the horses, so I just kind of played it by ear. He's done everything we've asked of him his whole career. Marcus and his team have done a great job with him. He's just a pleasure to drive."

A Chapter Seven colt, Gimpanzee has now earned $698,958 to go with his umblemished record. He was the 1-9 favorite and returned $2.10 across the board.

In the companion $209,500 Empire Breeders Classic final for 3-year-old trotting fillies, Sweet Chapter (Matt Kakaley) fired out to the lead from post nine, reaching the first quarter in 27 3/5, but Winndevie (Trond Smedshammer) pushed forward on the outside and took the top spot before the 56 3/5 half. Winndevie would continue on the engine to the 1:25 3/5 three-quarters, but With Out A Doubt (Buter) was challenging her from first-over and towing favored Quincy Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) into contention from second-over.

Morrill Jr. cut the public choice loose three-wide in the stretch, and she had plenty of pop after the perfect trip, overtaking the leaders and trotting away to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths in 1:55. Sensibility (Scott Zeron) closed for second, with Sweet Chapter third.

"It didn't seem like speed's been real good today, so I was hoping to trip her out from behind them," remarked Morrill Jr. "She was in a spot today where I could, and everything just worked out perfect. I think I actually like her off-the-pace a little bit better. I've raced her both ways a bunch of times because on the half-mile tracks you've got to be on the front some times, but I actually like her running horses down better."

Gareth Dowse trains Quincy Blue Chip, a daughter of Chapter Seven, for owner/breeder Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc. She has won seven of her 13 lifetime attempts, and she has now pocketed $310,098. Sent off at 3-5, Quincy Blue Chip paid $3.40 to win.

The two New York Sire Stakes splits for 3-year-old pacing fillies, both worth $58,700, went to a second-over St Somewhere (Kakaley) in 1:52 1/5, and a first-up Zero Tolerance (David Miller) in 1:51 3/5.

"She was going along real comfortable there. She felt good and strong; we were just waiting til we turned home," stated Miller about his charge.

St Somewhere, by American Ideal, is trained by Ron Burke for owners Burke Racing Stable LLC., Phil Collura, J&T Silva- Purnel & Libby, and Weaver Bruscemi LLC. She made her seventh appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now put away $257,173. Dispatched at 4-1, she returned $10.00 to win.

Joe Holloway trains Zero Tolerance, a daughter of Heston Blue Chip, for owners Val D'Or Farms and Ted Gewertz. She now has a record of 9-6-1 from 16 appearances, and she shows a bankroll of $562,163. The 1-9 choice, she paid $2.10 across the board.