Gimpanzee set a track record for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters when winning the first of three $54,500 divisions of New York Sire Stakes (NYSS) at Saratoga Casino Hotel on Tuesday, July 31.
Marcus Melander’s Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows-Muscle Massive) was the betting favourite at 2-5. Brian Sears marched the colt to the front as the freshman stepped away to a lead that grew to nearly five lengths in the early going. After clocking a half in :57.1, Gimpanzee appeared dominant in the final lap before stopping the timer in 1:55.4.
The time lowered the previous track record for two-year-old trotting colts by a full second set last year by My Lindy Winner. The time was also a lifetime best for the freshman trotter whose previous mark was set at Tioga Downs in the start leading up to Tuesday’s race.
Frank Coppola Jr. piloted Horns For Three (Credit Winner-Swoosh Hanover-Lindy Lane) to a wire-to-wire score in the second division of the Sire Stakes on Tuesday. The Ed Hart trainee held off the first-over bid by the favoured Our White Knight before scoring in 2:00.4.
Horns For Three is now a two-time winner in the NYSS as he prevailed at Buffalo last month.
The evening’s final division of the NYSS saw Thunder (Conway Hall-Cr Oh Suzanna-Royal Troubador) roll to a first over victory for Scott Zeron. The John Butenschoen trainee recorded the first win of his young career as he toughed out overland before scoring in 1:59.2.
Live racing continues on Wednesday, Aug. 1 at Saratoga with a first post time set for 7:05 p.m.
(With files from Saratoga Casino Hotel)