Beaver trainees headline $47,445 Currier & Ives Stakes divisions

Chris Beaver will send out the morning-line favorites in Thursday’s two $47,445 Currier & Ives Stakes divisions at Hollywood Casino at The Meadows, with Hambletonian-eligibles Gimpanzee Dancer and Goo Goo Gone both established at 5-2 for the 51st edition of the event for 3-year-old male trotters.

Gimpanzee Dancer heads to his C&I split, the second of the two divisions, with two wins and a second in three races this season, all against older rivals. In his most recent start, June 12 at Eldorado Scioto Downs, the son of Gimpanzee-Weslynn Dancer won by 1-3/4 lengths in a career-best 1:53.3.

Lifetime, Gimpanzee Dancer has hit the board in 11 of 13 races, winning four and earning $118,525. Last season, the colt won two Kentucky Sire Stakes legs at Cumberland Run and finished second in the KYSS Commonwealth Series final as well as a division of the Bluegrass Stakes.

“He’s been a real nice horse,” said Beaver, who in addition to training Gimpanzee Dancer owns the colt with breeder Derek Ivany. “He’s coming along like I’d hoped. He’s not the cleanest gaited horse, but he’s tough.

“I like the way he’s been racing. He hasn’t been doing it on the front, he’s been coming from the back, and I like to see that. As long as he has a target, he’s good. He’s gritty. He just keeps coming.”

Gimpanzee Dancer’s only setback this year came by a nose after he rallied from sixth with a three-wide move around the final turn and trotted home in a race-best :28.1 at Scioto.

“He raced really good there,” Beaver said. “He’s a little lost when he gets to the front. He cleared and then he didn’t see a horse around him and got caught there. But he’s really a pretty good horse.”

Beaver plans to send Gimpanzee Dancer to Oak Grove for the Kentucky Sire Stakes next month, and if all goes well, to The Meadowlands for the 100th edition of the Hambletonian Stakes. Eliminations for America’s Trotting Classic are July 26, with the $1 million final Aug. 2.

“I’m hopeful with him,” Beaver said. “We’ll see (after the Kentucky Sire Stakes) if we’re looking good for that.”

Goo Goo Gone has a win and a second in five starts this season. He raced three times as a 2-year-old, winning a Kentucky Sire Stakes leg at Oak Grove in his debut, then going off stride in his two remaining starts.

The son of Googoo Gaagaa-Synonymous Hanover has earned $28,770 for co-owners Beaver and Martin Yoder.

“I’ve always felt the horse has a ton of speed, but he hasn’t put it together for a whole mile,” Beaver said. “He’s been a little tricky. He over-trots himself sometimes. The speed is there, whether he can carry it the whole way, I’m not sure. I haven’t seen it yet.”

Aaron Merriman will drive both Goo Goo Gone and Gimpanzee Dancer.

In addition to the two Currier & Ives divisions for the boys, there are two $25,970 C&I races for the sophomore fillies. Beaver-trained Mega Money, also with Merriman driving, is the 8-5 morning-line favorite in the second division. Aunt Laura, an Ohio Sire Stakes champion last year, is the 2-1 favorite in the first and will have Dave Palone at the lines for trainer Virgil Morgan Jr.

Racing begins at 12:45 p.m. (EDT) at The Meadows. For free TrackMaster past performances, visit the Meadows Standardbred Owners Association here.

For complete race entries, click here: US Trotting entries.

by Ken Weingartner, for the USTA