WHAT's INSIDE . . . Gimpanzee Aims for TVG Open Trot 3YO Three-Peat
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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2019 ©2019 HORSEMAN PUBLISHING CO., LEXINGTON, KY USA • FOR ADVERTISING INFORMATION CALL (859) 276-4026 New Image Media Photo Gimpanzee Gimpanzee Aims For TVG Open Trot 3YO Three-Peat Three year olds have won the past two editions of the TVG Open Trot, and it’s the hope of the connections of Gim- panzee that he makes it three years in a row on Saturday night at the Meadowlands. By virtue of their victories in the Breeders Crown 3-Year- Old Colt Trot, What The Hill and Tactical Landing were invited to the TVG Open and they both came up winners. Gim- panzee also received his invitation by virtue of his Breeders Crown triumph. The TVG Open Trot is just one of four TVG finals for older horses set for Saturday. The card, which offers total purses of more than $2.8 million, also includes the Fall Final Four for 2 year olds of “He’s got nothing both gaits and genders. to prove and Gimpanzee is trained by Marcus he’s in against Melander, who also strongly con- WHAT’S INSIDE . older horses. I’m sidered entering Greenshoe in Big win by Captain Crunch—pg. 4 sure he won’t the TVG Open Trot. Eligible after Ryder’s “Wish” is to win TVG Open—pg. 5 disappoint.” capturing the Kentucky Futurity, Can Warrawee Ubeaut upset Shartin N?—pg. 6 –Brian Sears about Greenshoe instead has been re- Dave Palone wins 19,000th race—pg. 9 Gimpanzee tired and is now residing at Southwind Fulton worth the wait—pg. 10 Hanover Shoe Farms, where he Hanover pacing yearlings top Harrisburg—pg. 10 will stand at stud beginning in 2020. First Over with Gordon Waterstone—pg. 12 Brian Sears was the regular driver of both Gimpanzee and Bold Eagle expected in Paris races—pg. 13 Greenshoe, but when the pair matched up on the track in a Nominations open for Caretaker award—pg. 16 trio of races in September and October, he remained with the latter. David Miller then got the drive behind Gimpanzee favorite by oddsmaker Dave Brower and riding a six-race for the Breeders Crown. But Sears got the drive back for winning streak, starts in post 5. Gimpanzee’s last start in the Nov. 14 Matron at Dover “I love that little horse,” Sears said about Gimpanzee, who Downs, which he won in 1:51.1. is owned by Courant Inc. and SRF Stable. “He’s been so Seven horses will line up behind the gate in the good to me; he’s been good to everybody. He’s such a $350,000 TVG Open Trot (Race 10), with Gimpanzee in pleasure to drive. He’s just a little, classy guy.” post 2 and listed as the 5-2 second choice on the morn- Gimpanzee comes into the race with eight wins in 13 ing line. The 3-1 third-choice Six Pack will start from post starts—including the Yonkers Trot—and $1,101,313 in 1, while the 4-year-old mare Manchego, tabbed the 2-1 earnings. Continues on page 2 ›››› HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 2 of 16 November 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com What does Sears think about Gimpanzee’s chances against the older horses, a race that could determine honors for FREE THIS WEEKEND’S Dan Patch 3-Year-Old Colt Trotter of the Year as well as Trot- Program Pages ter of the Year? FEATURED RACES “He’s got nothing to prove and he’s in against older All times listed are local. horses,” said Sears, who last year drove Tactical Landing to Saturday, November 23 his TVG victory. “We’ll try to make the best of it. I’m sure he 7:20p M2 TVG Mare Trot Trackmaster PPs won’t disappoint.” 8:00p M4 Governor’s Cup 2CP Trackmaster PPs Sears will also drive McWicked in the $350,000 TVG Open 8:20p M5 Valley Victory 2CT Trackmaster PPs Pace (Race 8). As the series point leader, McWicked drew for 8:45p M6 Goldsmith Maid 2FT Trackmaster PPs TVG Trackmaster PPs posts 1 through 6, and he landed post 4. The defending TVG 9:35p M8 Open Pace 10:00 M9 Three Diamonds 2FP Trackmaster PPs champion, McWicked is the 7-2 second choice, behind the 3- 10:25p M10 TVG Open Trot Trackmaster PPs year-old Bettor’s Wish, who is the slight 3-1 favorite. 10:50p M11 TVG Mare Pace Trackmaster PPs After being scratched from the Potomac Pace on Nov. 10 at Click here to download all Saturday PPs Rosecroft Raceway by trainer Casie Coleman after spiking a fever, McWicked comes into the TVG Open Pace off a third- Visit www.trackmaster.com place finish in a Nov. 15 qualifier at the Meadowlands. and subscribe to download “I’m not looking to impress anybody with the qualifier,” full cards from your favorite tracks! said Sears. “I think his resume speaks for himself. Com- ing off being sick, I wasn’t going to put him under a lot HarnessRacing Weekend Preview of stress. “It’s a short score when you go out there to qualify so he Kathy Parker Heather Kemper [email protected] [email protected] wasn’t really fired up on the bit. He was pretty dull acting. Editor/ General Manager Production Manager I’m not going wake him up for a qualifier. I’m going to take Lynne Myers Hannah Reynolds him around there and let him do what he wants to do.” [email protected] [email protected] Advertising Manager Editorial Production With $4,914,342 in earnings, a win would put McWicked Gordon Waterstone Vanessa Flannery past the $5-million mark for his career; a second-place fin- [email protected] [email protected] Associate Editor Accounting & Circulation ish would leave him just short. McWicked’s earnings easily For mail sent via U.S. Postal Service, make him the richest stallion in harness history, and second either P.O. Box 8480, Lexington, KY 40533, on the all-time pacing list behind only Foiled Again. or 1910 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite 200, Lexington, KY 40503. (859) 276-4026 McWicked’s 110th career start in the TVG will be his last, as © Copyright Horseman Publishing Company. owner Ed James (SSG Stables) has announced he is retir- A product of Horseman Publishing Company, publishers of the website www.harnessracing.com and The Horseman And Fair World magazine. ing the 2018 Horse of the Year for stallion duty in 2020. This newspaper may not be reproduced in any form or by any means, “I hate to see him go, he’s meant so much to me,” said electronic or mechanical, without prior written permission. Sears. “He put me in so many great spots and gave me op- portunities to win so many good races. It’s been a lot of To sign up for the Weekend Preview please visit www.harnessracing.com/members_sign_up.php fun.”—By Gordon Waterstone Place your order now for THE HORSEMAN’s BREEDERS BOOK STALLION DIRECTORY Single copies (including postage & handling) are available U.S. $30.00 • Canada $45.00 • Foreign $50.00 Or subscribe today! 1 YEAR TION: SUBSCRIP Click here to $58.00 (U.S.) - Includes the Breeders Book order now! Stallion Directory U.S. FUNDS ONLY Ohio Standardbred Development Fund OOhio Sires Stakes 77 South Highg Street,,,, 18th Floor, Columbus, Ohio 43215 Kimbeerly Rinker, OSDF Administrator [email protected] 614-779-0269 www.racing.ohio.net HarnessRacing Weekend Preview, 4 of 18 November 22, 2019 www.harnessracing.com Captain Crunch Dominates track. Sometimes if you go slow their minds start to wander, In Progress Pace Elim so I wanted to keep him moving along. He still came home in :26 off those big fractions, and that’s pretty impressive.” Captain Crunch literally crunched the competition in Trainer Nancy Johansson, who was involved in a car acci- Wednesday night’s Hap Hansen Progress Pace elimination dent on her way to Dover and arrived unscathed at the track at Dover Downs. Nine horses went behind the gate to elimi- with just 20 minutes to spare before the race, said she nate one for the $335,000 Thanksgiving Eve (Nov. 27) final made some equipment changes after the Matron miscue. and Captain Crunch led gate to wire to score in 1:47.3, set- “He jumped his shadow last week. Apparently he likes to ting a new divisional and all-age track record. do that and go in 1:47 afterwards,” Johansson said with a Starting from post 5 with driver Yannick Gingras, the laugh. “So we changed his shadow roll and put a screen on strong 9-5 second-choice Captain Crunch took control early him.” and took no prisoners. Keeping the field pretty much in Johansson also added Lasix prior to the colt finishing sec- lined-up fashion, Captain Crunch winged his way through ond in a Bluegrass division Sept. 29 at The Red Mile, and in fractions of :26.4, :54 (:27.1) and 1:21.1 (:27.1). Captain his last two starts in Delaware she used an adjunct Lasix— Crunch drew clear with a final used for heavier bleeders—as allowed in the First State. “Sometimes if quarter of :26.2 to win by 3 1/4 “I used Amicar, which stops bleeding,” said Johansson. “A you go slow lengths over US Captain. Ameri- lot of trainers, including myself, when we train our horses their minds start can Mercury finished third, just that are on Lasix, we’ll train them on Amicar because it’s a to wander, so I ahead of betting favorite Dancin lot easier on the horse.