On a night very similar to this in 2018, Gimpanzee had no concerns with the competition or the harsh conditions and captured the Breeders Crown for two-year-old colt trotters. However, he didn't have a stablemate by the name of Greenshoe standing in his way.
Fast forward a year and Gimpanzee didn't let anyone stand in his way, winning the 2019 $655,000 ($500,000 USD) Breeders Crown Final for three-year-old male trotters.
Fastest off the gate were outside starters Forbidden Trade (Bob McClure) and Soul Strong (Dexter Dunn), leaving for position ahead of Gimpanzee (David Miller) and Super Schissel (Louis-Philippe Roy). McClure wanted the front and cleared Soul Strong after a :26.4 opening panel, then got a breather through a second quarter of :29.3 to hit the half in :56.2.
Gimpanzee started the outer flow from fourth, advancing steadily on Forbidden Trade as the third station was reached in 1:25.3. Favoure Greenshoe (Brian Sears) was stacked up behind excess cover around the final turn and lost momentun as a horse made a break in front of him.
Heading for home, Gimpanzee surged to the front over Forbidden Trade, with Soul Strong also out for the drive. Greenshoe was launched into contention and made up a ton of ground late, but it was too late as Gimpanzee tripped the timer in 1:52.3 with Greenshoe a hard-closing second. Soul Strong stayed for third.
"I had a little bit of a game plan. When the two right inside me didn't push off that hard I was planning on leaving and just seeing what happens. He's game enough and tough enough to be first up and draw off," said Miller after the win. "I'm very thankful I get the opportunity to drive horses like Gimpanzee and the good ones I've driven over the years. I can't be grateful enough.
"The wind is the main factor," said Miller when asked about the conditions. "It's in your face up the backstretch but it's pushing you home.
Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven - Steamy Windows) now sports seven wins from 12 seasonal starts and more than $1 milion in sophomore earnings for trainer Marcus Melander and owners Courant Inc. of Delray Beach and S R F Stable of Lighthouse Point, Fl. Lifetime, he's won 16 of 21 starts.
"He's been racing great all year, really, winning the Yonkers Trot and NYSS Final ...he's made over $700,000, it's hard to do much better than he's done," added Melander. "He's a strong horse, he can do a lot of things by himself and showed that today.
"It wouldn't be a problem [for him] if it was a snowstorm and -20...he's a great horse to be around, great to drive, great to train and I'm very happy I'm his trainer."