Trot Insider has learned that three-time Breeders Crown winner Gimpanzee has officially concluded his racehorse career.
Gimpanzee (Chapter Seven - Steamy Windows) last raced on October 31 at Harrah's Hoosier Park, winning the final start of his harness racing career. Gimpanzee captured the 2020 Breeders Crown Open Trot to join the great Mack Lobell as the only horses to claim the Breeders Crown Two-Year-Old Colt Trot, Three-Year-Old Colt Trot and Open Trot in consecutive years.
“He’s just an amazing horse,” trainer Marcus Melander said after his final race. “He means a lot to me. He’s been with us from the start, it’s just amazing what a journey it’s been for us.”
The Dan Patch Award winner in 2018 by virtue of his undefeated nine-race campaign, Gimpanzee compiled a 8-1-2 record in his sophomore season that included Grand Circuit wins in the Breeders Crown, Yonkers Trot and Matron. He also polished off his state-bred rivals in the Empire Breeders Classic and NYSS Final.
Gimpanzee will be the consensus pick as 2020's older trotting horse of the year after a four-year-old campaign with eight wins from 11 starts this season and $997,092 -- the most by any trotter of any age this year. He retires with a record of 25-2-3 from 34 starts, a mark of 1:50 taken at The Meadowlands in this year's John Cashman Jr. Memorial Trot, and earnings in excess of $2.7 million for owners Courant Inc. and S R F Stable. Gimpanzee also notched wins in two legs and the final of the Graduate, the Hambletonian Maturity and Caesars Trotting Classic during the 2020 campaign.
His connections will announce details regarding his stallion career on Monday (Dec. 14).
I think this is the first
I think this is the first year in history in which 4 horses retired after winning their respective Breeders Crown races.