Yonkers: Lucky seven for Gimpanzee, NYSS Finals for two-year-olds in the books

Gimpanzee running his record to seven victories from seven starts was the highlight of the four $225,000 New York Sire Stakes Finals for 2-year-olds that were held as part of New York Night of Champions on Saturday at Yonkers Raceway.

Driven by Brian Sears in the 2-year-old colt and gelding trot, Gimpanzee settled in third to the 28 2/5 opening quarter, then came with a brush that carried him into command at the 58 2/5 half. He would then reach three-quarters in 1:27 1/5 and held safe to the wire, downing a good Thunder (Jason Bartlett), who made front, then released the eventual winner, by three-quarters of a length in a track record clocking of 1:56 3/5. Our White Knight (Andy Miller) made a first-up move into third going to three-quarters and held that position, well-back of the top two.

"He really knows what we're trying to accomplish out there," remarked Sears. "He never really tries to over-do it, and he's real easy on himself. That's a great quality to have. These horses racing around a half-mile track, they seem to get a little hot, but this horse knows to know when it to turn it on and when to turn it off. He's really a pleasure to drive.

"He's very versatile, and he's very handy. He's just a little bit better than those other horses. He's not hard on himself, so it makes my job very easy."

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 $278,858 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 $2.30 to win.

"We knew early he was a pretty nice horse," said Melander. "He's very professional out there. He never gets grabby, and then he's very strong. Like today he moved him twice, and he just handled it very good.

"We'll plan to bring him to Lexington in two weeks, race him one time down there, and probably after that we'll bring him to Pocono for the Breeders Crown. We take one race at a time, so hopefully he comes out of this race good and we'll bring him down there."

Agriculture & NYS Horse Breeding Development Fund 2-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Pace

Hickfromfrenchlick (Tim Tetrick), who won the Sheppard and a sire stakes leg over the oval this year, had control through stations of 28, 57 1/5, and 1:25 1/5 with 3-5 favorite Melodies Major (Tyler Buter) moving first-up to challenge just past the half. Melodies Major was eye-to-eye with Hickfromfrenchlick turning into the lane, but they (and the others) would be overwhelmed in the stretch by 20-1 shot Reigning Deo (Jim Morrill Jr.), as he came three-wide from third-over on the final bend and surged by to win by almost two lengths in 1:54 4/5. Melodies Major had to settle for second, with Artie's Ideal (Marcus Miller) sneaking up the inside for third.

Reigning Deo is a Rock N Roll Heaven colt trained by Brett Pelling for co-owner/breeder Deo Volente Farms LLC. and co-owners Pelling Racing LLC. and Brian Gordon. Reigning Deo has a pair of wins from seven trips behind the gate, and he has pocketed $193,712. Reigning Deo went through the Lexington Selected Yearling Sale, bringing $45,000, and he is out of the Artsplace mare Little Miss K (1:52 2/5, $530,089). This makes him a three-quarter brother to the likes of Empress Deo (Rocknroll Hanover, 1:50 2/5, $532,951). Reigning Deo returned $42.20 to win.

"He's a beautiful horse; he's a handsome horse to look at. He does everything right, and he's a lovely horse," said Pelling. "He's actually eligible to the Breeders Crown if we want to."

Winbak Farm 2-Year-Old Filly Pace

This contest saw So Awesome (Tetrick) shoot right out to the lead from post six, but she would be overtaken by even-money favorite St Somewhere (George Brennan) passing the 27 4/5 opening quarter. St Somewhere stayed on the point to the 56-second half, but then she would make a break off the third turn, leaving So Awesome back in the lead and Money Shot Hanover (Tyler Buter) first-up.

So Awesome and Money Shot Hanover were side-by-side at three-quarters, which was reached in 1:24 4/5, but So Awesome kicked again on the final turn and opened back up by about a length. Money Shot Hanover was resilient, though, as she hit her best stride in the stretch and reached up to prevail by a head in 1:54 2/5. JK American Beauty (Sears) tracked So Awesome on the cones and was a good third in between the top two.

"I got to drive her maybe her second lifetime start, and I liked her right away," stated Buter. "She's perfect to drive, two fingers, and does everything right. She got a little rough going into the last turn, but you can expect that with 2-year-olds. We gathered her back up, and head of the stretch, she knows when it's time to go.

"I felt really good in my spot. We were going enough, and I knew as soon as I asked her to go she'd give me everything she had. She's very versatile. We tried her on the front on the big track, and she showed she could handle that, and she can take a lot of air too."

Trainer Mark Harder also co-owns Money Shot Hanover, an Art Major filly, with partners Rick Phillips and Deena Frost. Money Shot Hanover sports a record of 3-1-2 in her eight chances, and she has now put away $203,408. An $85,000 acquisition at the Standardbred Horse Sale, Money Shot Hanover was bred by Hanover Shoe Farms Inc. and is out of the Bettor's Delight mare Marinade Hanover (1:51 2/5, $139,071). Marinade Hanover is a half-sister to the likes of Martini Hanover (Dragon Again, 1:49, $487,939). Money Shot Hanover was the 8-5 choice and returned $5.40 to win.

Crawford Farms 2-Year-Old Filly Trot

7-1 shot Quincy Blue Chip (Morrill Jr.) front-stepped through fractions of 28 2/5, 59, and 1:27 4/5 in this final, but 1-9 choice Winndevie (Trond Smedshammer), who pulled first-up from fourth going to the half, gained steadily on the rim through the middle-half, wore her down in mid-stretch, and went on to win by three-parts of a length in 1:58. Sensibility (Jordan Stratton) came on to get third.

Smedshammer also trains and Purple Haze Stables LLC. own Winndevie, a Credit Winner filly. She picked up her sixth win from seven attempts, and she has now banked $227,878. Winndevie was bred by Joie De Vie Farm LLC., was acquired for $45,000 at the Standardbred Horse Sale, and is the first foal out of the Muscles Yankee mare Vida De Vie (1:57 2/5, $140,206). Winndevie paid $2.30 to win.