Yonkers: Gimpanzee much the best in Yonkers Trot

Gimpanzee remained unbeaten on all tracks not in New Jersey during his brilliant career when he captured the $500,000 Yonkers Trot with authority on Saturday night at Yonkers Raceway. The 1-5 betting favorite, Gimpanzee scored by open lengths over Hambletonian winner Forbidden Trade, with Soul Strong along for third after recovering from a break.

Driver Brian Sears left alertly with Gimpanzee from post four but saw Sheena's Boy, who started just inside of him in post three, grab the early lead. Midway on the backstretch Sears sent Gimpanzee, a son of Chapter Seven, to the front and cut the opening quarter in 28 seconds even. With early breakers Osterc and Livinonthedash getting out of the way, driver Bob McClure was allowed to drop into fourth with second choice Forbidden Trade before the quarter call.

With Gimpanzee on the front-end, Sears was able to rate the half kindly in 56 4/5 with little movement in his direction, though Soul Strong and driver Dexter Dunn went on a break on the second turn, losing his chance. Cruising off the third turn and down the backstretch Sears and Gimpanzee finally felt some sort of pressure as Forbidden Trade moved to the outside without cover and tried to advance, yet the clear difference between the winner and ultimate second-place finisher was the ease in which Gimpanzee made it around the last turn and the difficulty McClure had in getting Forbidden Trade to maintain his speed.

In the homestretch, following the 1:25 three-quarters, Gimpanzee breezed home to a track record and Yonkers Trot (half-mile track) mark of 1:53 3/5, with Forbidden Trade second and Soul Strong a powerfully-closing third. Early pace-setter Sheena's Boy finished fourth but was placed sixth for a break on the wire. No Drama Please was advanced to fourth, with H L Revadon earning the final check.

"He was on his toes tonight," said Sears following the victory behind Gimpanzee, a $2.60 pari-mutuel winner.

Owned by Courant Inc. and S R F Stable, Gimpanzee won for the 14th time in 16 career outings and and pushed his career bankroll to $1,145,996 for trainer Marcus Melander.

"He lays down in the turns like a motorcycle," said Melander about the impressive way the second jewel of the Triple Crown-winning Gimpanzee was able to dominate rivals in the 65th edition of the prestigious Yonkers Trot.

The companion $124,334 Hudson Trot for sophomore fillies went to 7-1 shot Golden Tricks (Andy Miller). She came out of the pocket in the stretch and was able to chase down leader Quincy Blue Chip (Jim Morrill Jr.) to win in 1:56. Owned by Brixton Medical Inc. and trained by Ake Svanstedt, the victorious daughter of Trixton made her sixth appearance in the winner's circle, and she has now earned $177,940. She paid $17.20 to win.