Yonkers: Gimpanzee, Thunder remain razor-sharp in New York Sire Stakes

Yonkers Raceway hosted a pair of New York Sire Stakes divisions for 2-year-old colt and gelding trotters on Friday night, and two in-form rookies stayed hot as Gimpanzee pushed his undefeated record to six-for-six, and Thunder visited the winner's circle for the fourth time in his last five tries.

Gimpanzee (Brian Sears) raced in the second $78,800 tilt, and he would move up to get the lead from Chapter Fashion (Jason Bartlett) passing the 29-second opening quarter, then inherited an eight-length advantage at the 57 4/5 half as Chapter Fashion broke stride on the second turn. A first-up Our White Knight (Andy Miller) chopped Gimpanzee's lead down to 3 1/2 lengths at the 1:28 1/5 three-quarters, but Gimpanzee easily repelled that advance and went on to score by 3 3/4 lengths in 1:58. Our White Knight did end up seond, with Certify (Jeff Gregory) back in third.

“He’s done nothing wrong and tonight was the same,” Sears said.

A Chapter Seven colt, Gimpanzee is trained by Marcus Melander for owners Courant Inc. and S R F Stable. Gimpanzee, who was bred by Order By Stable and fetched $170,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, has earned $166,358 to go with his unblemished record. 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 1-9 favorite and paid $2.10 to win.

Back in the opening $77,400 section, Kredit Karma (Sears) launched off the gate to a big lead on the opening bend, but then jumped it off. That left Brady Bunch (A. Miller) on the point, but Thunder (Bartlett) came up on the outside to grab the lead as they went by the 29 1/5 first quarter. From there, Thunder kept control through middle-half stations of 59 2/5 and 1:29, and a 29-second final kicker got him to the wire three lengths to the good over a first-up Chip Chip Conway (Jim Taggart Jr.). Brady Bunch was the third-place finisher.

“He’s handy, he gets over any size tracks and he’s getting better,” Bartlett said. “We’re ready for next week (sire stakes finals at Yonkers)."

Thunder, a colt by Conway Hall, is trained by John Butenschoen for owners Crawford Farms Racing, Jeremey Day, and VIP Internet Stable LLC. Thunder, who was bred by Walnut Hall Limited and brought $48,000 at the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, has a record of 4-2-0 from eight trips behind the gate, and he has pocketed $151,821. Thunder is out of the Royal Troubador mare CR Oh Suzanna (1:58 3/5, $49,330), making him a half-brother to Caitrin Hall (Tom Ridge, 1:54, $353,421). The dam is also a full sister to CR Kay Suzie and CR Renegade. Thunder was the 1-2 choice and returned $3.10 to win.

--quotes courtesy of Yonkers Raceway--