Overcoming post 13, Gimpanzee forged a spot into the two-wide flow and catapulted off cover to win the $464,900 Hambletonian Maturity, drawing away at the finish of the mile-and-an-eighth affair.

Marseille sprinted for the front in the straightaway dash, clearing command through a :26 first quarter. Southwind Avenger then cleared control into the turn before yielding the lead to When Dovescry moving towards the backstretch. Forbidden Trade, starting from post 1, raced off the pylons from sixth with Gimpanzee on his tail.

Approaching a :55.2 half, Kings County kicked first over from fifth and blitzed the tempo setter moving around the final turn. Forbidden Trade gapped cover while Gimpanzee revved off his cover’s helmet passing three-quarters in 1:24.4. With open road, Gimpanzee launched past Forbidden Trade, Kings County and When Dovescry to take the lead. The Marcus Melander trainee grew his lead with every stride approaching the finish, stopping the clock in 2:05.2. Forbidden Trade settled for second with Soul Strong rallying for third.

Owned by Courant Inc. and S R F Stable, Gimpanzee remains undefeated in four starts this season while collecting his 21st win from 27 starts. With the victory, the four-year-old Chapter Seven stallion has passed $2 million in earnings. He paid $3.40 to win.

The Hambletonian Maturity was part of a stakes-packed Saturday card at The Meadowlands. Read about the rest of the action in the Meadowlands Pace News Centre.