BREEDERS’ CUP RECAPS
Ghostzapper makes history in Classic
In 1998, Awesome Again capped off a six-race win streak with a
victory in the Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Churchill Downs.
Retired after that victory, the bay was sent to stud and achieved
success in the breeding shed with his very first crop.
On Saturday, that success became historical as the 10-year-old
stallion became the first Classic winner to sire a Classic winner
when GHOSTZAPPER stormed past the wire much the best in the $4
million event.
Ghostzapper gave Awesome Again his second Breeders’ Cup winner
on the day — earlier Wilko upset the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1)
by three parts of a length.
Coming off four straight wins ranging from 6 1/2 furlongs to 1
1/8 miles, the Bobby Frankel-trained Ghostzapper showed the way
from the beginning as he stretched out to 10 furlongs for the
first time in his career. With regular rider Javier Castellano
aloft and sporting the familiar Stronach Stables silks, the
four-year-old colt set splits of :23 2/5, :47, 1:11 1/5 and 1:35
1/5 before pulling away in the stretch to finish three lengths
ahead of his nearest rival. In the process, the bay set a new
track and Classic record for 1 1/4 miles, stopping the clock in
1:59.
“The way this day had been going, I thought I was going to be in for a
disaster,” said Frankel, who had five earlier horses on the day finish off
the board. “This sure makes things better. This is as big a win as I’ve had
in my career. In fact, it could be the biggest win I’ve had in my career.”
Ghostzapper was the public’s choice at 5-2 and vindicated that
backing with payouts of $7, $4 and $3.60. Roses in May (Devil His
Due) gave back $8.20 and $5.20 as the 8-1 fifth pick and held
defending Classic champion Pleasantly Perfect (Pleasant Colony),
who returned $3, to third by four lengths. Perfect Drift
(Dynaformer) followed by another three parts of a length and
completed the 1-6-12-4 superfecta that paid $1,297.80. The other
exotics were worth $46.60 (exacta) and $164 (trifecta).
Completing the order under the wire were Azeri (Jade Hunter),
Personal Rush (Wild Rush), Birdstone (Grindstone), Dynever
(Dynaformer), Fantasticat (Storm Cat), Funny Cide (Distorted
Humor), Bowman’s Band (Dixieland Band), Newfoundland (Storm Cat)
and Freefourinternet (Tabasco Cat)
Ghostzapper earned his fifth straight win with this one and
now owns a record of 10-8-0-1. He has captured the Vosburgh S.
(G1), Woodward S. (G1), Tom Fool H. (G2) and Philip H. Iselin
Breeders’ Cup H. (G3), with his third-place finish coming when he
made his stakes debut in the King’s Bishop S. (G1) last year. He
was already close to the $1 million mark in earnings prior to the
Classic and now shows a bankroll of $2,996,120.
Bred in Kentucky by Adena Springs, Ghostzapper is out of
stakes winner Baby Zip (Relaunch), making him a half-brother to
Grade 1 winner City Zip (Carson City) as well as an unnamed
yearling filly by Golden Missile and an unnamed weanling colt by
Mr. Greeley. Ghostzapper also has a full brother in the juvenile
Aristocrat, who finished fourth in his career debut.