Wilkes-Barre, PA — Brian Sears piloted favored Gimpanzee to a 2-1/2 length victory in the $600,000 Breeders Crown 2-year-old colt trot on Saturday (Oct. 27) at The Downs at Mohegan Sun Pocono, with an effortless 1:54.4 win. Stablemate Green Manalishi S was second and longshot Hudson River finished third. Marcus Melander trains the top two finishers.

Gimpanzee was a 1:54.4 winner in the Breeders Crown freshman male trot. USTA/Mark Hall photo.

Melander was very pleased with Gimpanzee, saying, “It feels great, of course. He’s like an aged horse, you can do whatever you want with him in a race. He’s got a lot of stamina and a lot of speed and everything went well. I thought he raced great. I couldn’t be more happy with the year.”

“It’s not over until it’s over but the horse has showed up all year,” added Sears. “He just knows how to do his job and got it done again tonight, figured I’d take my shot on the front.”

Gimpanzee got the early lead but yielded to Green Manalishi S just before the :27.3 quarter-mile marker. Sears had the son of Chapter Seven-Steamy Windows out and moving at the three-eighths and the race was for all intents and purposes over. He cruised through a leisurely :57.3 half-mile and 1:26.3 three-quarter marks before sprinting home in :28.1, fending off a mild challenge from Green Manalishi S entering the stretch.

Gimpanzee finishes his 2-year-old campaign with a perfect nine-for-nine record, while banking nearly $600,000. Bred by Order By Stable, he is owned by Courant Inc. and S R F Stable, both of Delray Beach, Fla.

In taking the Bill Weaver Memorial Trophy, Gimpanzee paid $3.00 to win. The Melander-trained exacta paid $12.40.