Ghostzapper
Ghostzapper | |
---|---|
Sire | World's Top Ranked Horse (2004) |
Honours | |
National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame (2012) Ghostzapper Stakes at Gulfstream Park (2021–) | |
Last updated on 21 February 2022 |
Ghostzapper (foaled April 6, 2000) is a
Although he only raced eleven times in his career, his performances earned him the highest accolades from horse racing publications. Ghostzapper was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012.
Background
Ghostzapper was bred in Kentucky by
Ghostzapper is a somewhat plain
Racing career
Ghostzapper raced only twice at age two, winning his debut at
Ghostzapper made his next start in the
After Ghostzapper's victory in the 2003 Vosburgh, he took time off to recover from
Although Ghostzapper was primarily thought of as a sprinter, Frankel believed the horse might be able to handle longer distances. "With the speed he showed, going long you might be able to sit there with him and turn him loose in the stretch", Frankel said. "Everybody wants to pigeonhole him as a sprinter; we don't know. He's an easy horse to rate."[10]
To test Ghostzapper's stamina, Frankel entered him in the
Ghostzapper's next race was the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park on September 11, again at a distance of 1+1⁄8 miles. Saint Liam, ridden by Edgar Prado, set the early pace then dug in during the stretch as Ghostzapper tried to close ground. The two ran stride for stride as Saint Liam drifted away from the rail and bumped several times with Ghostzapper. Ghostzapper persisted and finally got his head in front in the final few strides. "I kept yelling, `Prado, keep your horse straight!' He bumped my horse a little bit, and my horse went on his wrong lead", said Castellano. "I love this horse. He's got a good, good heart. This is the first time he had to win like this (in a stretch battle) and he showed how good he really is."[14]
His final race of 2004 was the
However, Frankel was worried that Ghostzapper might get caught in an early speed duel with Roses in May. Ghostzapper would have to break fast to keep from getting trapped on the rail, and Roses in May was the only other horse in the race with the speed to challenge him early. If Roses in May pushed too hard, both horses might burn each other out and set up the race for a late closer. Accordingly, Frankel talked to the owner of Roses in May, Ken Ramsey, and said "If we lay first and second and the jockeys keep them slow and don't kill each other trying for the lead, they'll finish one-two. You know what I'm saying? If they're not stupid and they stay cool, we'll be one-two." Ramsey agreed with the logic. "That's the best shot we got, and if I outrun you or you outrun me, we're still talking about $800,000 for second. That's nothing to sneeze at", said Ramsey.[16]
Ghostzapper justified the confidence of his connections and led the entire way, pulling away in the stretch to a three-length victory over Roses in May. The final time of 1:59.02 set a new track record and an unofficial Breeders' Cup Classic record (because the race is run at different tracks, there is no official record).[16]
Going into the 2004 Breeders' Cup, Frankel had a lifetime record of only two wins in 57 starts. He had never won the Classic, though he did finish second with
Despite winning only four races in 2004, Ghostzapper earned high praise from many handicapping experts. For example, Len Friedman of the Ragozin Sheets called him "the most consistently fast horse of all time." Jerry Brown from Thoro-Graph said, "To run as fast as he did in three consecutive races in essentially unheard of." And Dick Jerardi wrote, "Ghostzapper is officially the fastest horse since Daily Racing Form began publishing Beyer Speed Figures in 1992."[5]
"Few horses have devastated their opponents in so many ways, at so many distances, and in such fast times."—Steve Haskin
Ghostzapper won the 2004
Although Ghostzapper could easily earn millions of dollars a season as a stud, Stronach said he wanted to give something back to the game by returning Ghostzapper to competition in 2005. "I think he is a very exciting horse and I think I owe it to the racing public to run him next year", he said after the Breeders' Cup.[20]
Ghostzapper was expected to start his 2005 campaign in the Oaklawn Handicap in April but had to be scratched. "The horse got sick last weekend, and has been running a temperature", said Frankel. "It's a sinus thing. He's already missed four days of training, and he'll miss a few more. Of course I'm disappointed we won't be coming, but we're not about to take any chances with this horse. We will take a step back, and wait for the Met Mile."[21]
He finally made his 2005 debut on May 30 in the Metropolitan Handicap (more commonly known as the Met Mile) at Belmont Park. After settling into third place in the early running, he moved to the lead on the far turn and pulled away to win by 6+1⁄2 lengths. His time of 1:33.29 was just two-fifths of a second off the stakes record. "I know you dream of winning the Kentucky Derby, but the best dream is to know you have the best horse", said Frankel. "I'm very emotional right now. He's a great horse, let's just put it that way", Frankel said. "He's an amazing horse. He's probably the best sprinter in the country, and I think he can win going a mile and a half on the turf – I really do. (Castellano) never moved on him. He just took a hold of him in the stretch."[22]
Retirement and stud career
Ghostzapper was retired from racing on June 13, 2005, after the discovery of a hairline fracture of his left front sesamoid bone. Although he only had one win in 2005, his connections felt it helped solidify Ghostzapper's status as one of the all-time greats. "It was worth keeping him in training just for winning that one race", said Frankel. "He impressed people in the Met more than he did in the Breeders' Cup, and he ended his career in style." He retired with career earnings of $3,446,120.[23]
He originally stood at Stronach's Adena Springs Farm in Kentucky, with an initial stud fee of $200,000 per live foal, the highest fee ever for a first-time stallion at the time. He did not get off to a fast start when his first foals reached racing age in 2009, and his stud fee started to decline, to $150,000 in 2007, to a low of $20,000 in 2012. In 2013 however, he was represented by sixteen stakes winners and interest in him reignited.[24] In 2015, his fee rebounded to $60,000, thanks to a growing number of stakes winners.[25] In October 2020, Ghostzapper was relocated to Hill 'n' Dale Farms in Kentucky.[26]
Notable stock
c = colt, f = filly, g = gelding
Foaled | Name | Sex | Major Wins |
2007 | Stately Victor | c | Blue Grass Stakes |
2009 | Contested | f | Acorn Stakes, Test Stakes |
2009 | Judy the Beauty | f | Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint, Madison Stakes |
2009 | Molly Morgan | f | La Troienne Stakes |
2009 | Starship Truffles | f | Princess Rooney Stakes |
2010 | Better Lucky | f | Matriarch Stakes, First Lady Stakes |
2010 | Moreno | g | Whitney Handicap
|
2012 | Greenzapper | f | Grande Premio Roberto e Nelson Grimaldi Seabra |
2012 | Paulassilverlining | f | Humana Distaff Stakes
|
2012 | Shaman Ghost | c | Queen's Plate, Santa Anita Handicap, Woodward Stakes |
2015 | Holy Helena | f | Queen's Plate |
2016 | Guarana | f | Acorn Stakes, Coaching Club American Oaks |
2017 | Nucky | c | Del Mar Futurity |
2017 | Mystic Guide | c | Dubai World Cup |
2018 | Goodnight Olive | f | Ballerina Stakes, Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint x 2, Madison Stakes
|
2019 | Moira | f | Queen's Plate
|
2021 | Stronghold | c | Santa Anita Derby |
In recent years, Ghostzapper has also found success as a broodmare sire. His daughters have produced several graded stakes winners, including 2018 Triple Crown winner Justify,[27][28] 2016 American Champion Sprint Horse Drefong and multiple stakes winner American Gal.[29] Internationally, Ghostzapper's daughter Ghostly Darkness produced colt Levante Lion, winner of the Hakodate Nisai Stakes (JPN G3).
In 2012, Ghostzapper was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame.[30]
Racing Record
Date | Track | Race | Distance | Finish | Margin | Time |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
11/16/2002 | Hollywood Park | Maiden | 6+1⁄2 Furlongs | 1 | 9 | 1:15.57 |
12/26/2002 | Santa Anita Park | Allowance | 6 Furlongs | 4 | 7+1⁄2 | 1:08.35 |
6/20/2003 | Belmont Park | Allowance | 6 Furlongs | 1 | 3+1⁄4 | 1:09.39 |
7/26/2003 | Saratoga Race Course | Allowance | 7 Furlongs | 1 | 1⁄2 | 1:21.74 |
8/23/2003 | Saratoga Race Course | King's Bishop Stakes
|
7 Furlongs | 3 | 1⁄2 | 1:22.14 |
9/27/2003 | Belmont Park | Vosburgh Stakes | 6+1⁄2 Furlongs | 1 | 6+1⁄2 | 1:14.72 |
7/4/2004 | Belmont Park | Tom Fool Handicap | 7 Furlongs | 1 | 4+1⁄4 | 1:20.42 |
8/21/2004 | Monmouth Park
|
Philip H Iselin Breeders Cup Handicap | 1+1⁄8 Miles | 1 | 10+3⁄4 | 1:47.66 |
9/11/2004 | Belmont Park | Woodward Stakes | 1+1⁄8 Miles | 1 | neck | 1:46.38 |
10/30/2004 | Lone Star Park | Breeders' Cup Classic | 1+1⁄4 Miles | 1 | 3 | 1:59.02 |
5/30/2005 | Belmont Park | Metropolitan Handicap | 1 Mile | 1 | 6+1⁄4 | 1:33.29 |
Pedigree
Sire Awesome Again 1994 |
Deputy Minister 1979 |
Vice Regent | Northern Dancer |
---|---|---|---|
Victoria Regina | |||
Mint Copy | Bunty's Flight | ||
Shakney | |||
Primal Force 1987 |
Blushing Groom | Red God | |
Runaway Bride | |||
Prime Prospect | Mr. Prospector | ||
Square Generation | |||
Dam Baby Zip 1991 |
Relaunch 1976 |
In Reality | Intentionally |
My Dear Girl | |||
Foggy Note | The Axe | ||
Silver Song | |||
Thirty Zip 1983 |
Tri Jet | Jester | |
Haze | |||
Saliaway | Hawaii | ||
Quick Wit (F-No.23-b) |
References
- ^ a b "Ghostzapper Profile". Equibase. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Awesome Again". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ a b Hunter, Avalyn. "Ghostzapper (horse)". American Classic Pedigrees. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ a b "2004 Eclipse Horse of the Year/Older Male: Ghostzapper". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ a b Haskin, Steve. "The Ghost and Mr. Frankel". cs.bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Valid Video Zooms in at King's Bishop Wire". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Zings in Vosburgh, Wins by 6 1/2". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Look Back: Ghostzapper Turned Heads in 2004 Debut". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Blasts Tom Fool Foes". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ a b "Ghostzapper sets off fireworks in Tom Fool". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Blows Away Rivals in Iselin". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper's 128 is legit". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Daily Racing Form: Beyer Numbers". www1.drf.com. Archived from the original on 12 November 2016. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Shinar, Jack. "Woodward Thriller Goes to Ghostzapper". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Finley, Bill (30 October 2004). "HORSE RACING; A Texas-Size Day of Racing". The New York Times. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ a b c d Haskin, Steve. "Classic Recap: Chasing a Ghost". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Mitchell, Ron. "Ghostzapper Wins Classic in Record Time". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Liebman, Dan. "Ghostly Vote". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Ranked as Top Horse in the World". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Mitchell, Ron. "Stronach Says Ghostzapper to Race in 2005". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Sick, to Miss Oaklawn Handicap". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Displays Top Form in Metropolitan Mile Romp". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Retired With Sesamoid Injury". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ Porter, Alan. "Ghostzapper's Starship Rising in 2013". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper on Stallion Register Online". Stallion Register Online. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper leads Hill 'n Dale parternship with Adena". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 27 March 2021.
- ^ "'Just' That Good: Justify Completes Meteoric Ascent in Derby". www.thoroughbreddailynews.com. Retrieved 7 May 2018.
- ^ Wincze Hughes, Alicia. "Justify 13th Triple Crown Winner After Belmont Victory". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
- ^ "Ghostzapper (USA)". Blacktype-pedigree.com. Retrieved 2017-12-04.
- ^ "Ghostzapper, Velazquez, Attfield New to HOF". BloodHorse.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.
- ^ "Ghostzapper Pedigree". www.equineline.com. Retrieved 10 March 2017.