Ghostzapper

Thoroughbred racehorse infobox
horsename = Ghostzapper


caption =
sire = Awesome Again
grandsire = Deputy Minister
dam = Baby Zip
damsire = Relaunch
sex = Stallion
foaled = 2000
country = United States flagicon|USA
colour= Bay
breeder = Adena Springs Farms
owner = Frank Stronach & Ghostzapper Syndicate
trainer = Robert J. Frankel
record = 11:9-0-1
earnings = $3,446,120
race= Vosburgh Stakes (2003)
Woodward Stakes (2004)
Tom Fool Handicap (2004)
Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap (2004)
Metropolitan Handicap (2005)

Breeders' Cup wins:
Breeders' Cup Classic (2004)
awards = Champion Older Male (2004)
United States Horse of the Year (2004)
World's Top Ranked Horse (2004)
honours =
updated= January 6, 2007Born in Kentucky on April 6th in the year 2000, the thoroughbred racehorse Ghostzapper won the Breeders' Cup Classic in 2004, outdistancing Roses in May by three lengths in a stakes record of 1:59.02. His gate-to-wire Classic victory completed a 4-for-4 season and established him as one of the favorites for the 2004 Eclipse Award for Horse of the Year, which he would eventually win.

Ghostzapper's victory gave trainer Robert J. Frankel his second Breeders' Cup victory in 62 starts and jockey Javier Castellano his first Breeders' Cup win. His overall performance for the year made Ghostzapper the "World's Top Ranked Horse" for 2004 as compiled by the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings.

2004 Season

After a smashing victory in the 2003 Vosburgh, many racing fans eagerly awaited the return of Ghostzapper in 2004. Unfortunately it took the 4-year-old almost six months to make his debut, battling quarter cracks. His first start came on July 4th at Belmont Park in the Tom Fool Handicap. He won the 7 furlong race in 1:20.40, just 2/5's of a second off the track record.

Always thought of as a sprinter, Frankel now decided he wanted to point Ghostzapper towards the Breeders Cup Classic run at a 1 1/4. Before that, Frankel needed to find out how far Ghostzapper could actually run, since he had never been further than 7 furlongs.

To find the answer to that question, Frankel entered him in the Philip H. Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap at Monmouth Park Racetrack, on August 21st. It was his first distance race, run at 1 1/8. The track was muddy but that didn't stop Ghostzapper from flying home in 1:47.6, winning the race by 10 lengths. He earned a 128 Beyer Speed rating, the highest ever recorded around 2 turns and one of the fastest Beyers ever recorded since the figures were invented. Now Frankel was confident he had not only a possible starter in the Breeders Cup Classic, but a probable favorite for the race. But before that, he would get one more prep.

That prep came in the Woodward Stakes at Belmont Park on September 11th. Ghostzapper ran the same impressive race as he did in the Iselin, however this time he wasn't alone. Saint Liam (eventual 2005 Horse of the Year) ran stride for stride with Ghostzapper down the stretch, bumping several times, before Ghostzapper finally got his head in front in the final few strides.

His next, and final race of 2004 would come in the Breeders Cup Classic. Returning Breeders Cup champ, Pleasantly Perfect, went off at almost identical odds to Ghostzapper (Ghostzapper was a slight favorite). The betting was close, however the race was not. Ghostzapper led the entire way, pulling away in the stretch to a 3 length victory. The final time of 1:59.02 set a new track record and Breeders Cup Classic record.

Ghostzapper would go onto win the 2004 Horse of the year, edging out Smarty Jones in votes 174-95.

In 2005, owner/breeder Frank Stronach returned Ghostzapper to racing which is very rare for a previous Horse of the Year winner. Ghostzapper could easily earn $10 million a season as a stud, which dwarfs what could be made racing. Stronach said he wanted to give something back to the game by returning Ghostzapper to competition, thus taking the financial risk.

Ghostzapper did not disappoint. In his debut 2005 race, he won in 112th running of the Grade 1, $750,000 Metropolitan Handicap at Belmont Park.

Racing Record

*1st - Maiden TWO-YEAR-OLDS, Hollywood Park Racetrack, November 16, 2002
*4th - Allowance Race, Hollywood Park, December 26, 2002
*1st - Allowance Race, Belmont Park, June 20, 2003
*1st - Allowance Race, Saratoga Race Course, July 26, 2003
*3rd - King's Bishop Stakes G1, Saratoga Racetrack, August 23, 2003
*1st - Vosburgh Stakes G1, Belmont Park, September 27, 2003
*1st - Tom Fool Handicap G2, July 4, 2004
*1st - Philip H Iselin Breeders Cup Handicap G3, Monmouth Park, August 21, 2004
*1st - Woodward Stakes G1, Belmont Park, September 11, 2004
*1st - Breeders' Cup Classic G1, Lonestar Park, October 30, 2004
*1st - Metropolitan Handicap G1, Belmont Park, May 30, 2005

Ghostzapper at stud

Ghostzapper was retired from racing on June 13, 2005 after discovery of a hairline fracture in his left front ankle. He retired with career earnings of $3,446,120. He is currently standing stud at Stronach's Adena Springs Farm in Kentucky where his own sire, the champion racehorse Awesome Again (by Deputy Minister) also stands. Ghostzapper's dam is Baby Zip, the 2005 Broodmare of the Year.

Ghostzapper commands $200,000 per live foal, the highest fee ever for a first time stallion. His progeny will hit the track some time in 2009.

Ghostzapper covered 111 mares in the 2006 breeding season. On October 20th, 2006, Adena Springs announced a reduction in Ghostzappers stud fee. His 2007 stud fee will be $150,000 per live foal.

"Few horses have devastated their opponents in so many ways, at so many distances, and in such fast times."--Steve Haskin

Pedigree

Pedigree
name = Ghostzapper
f = Awesome Again 1994
m = Baby Zip 1991 鹿毛
ff = Deputy Minister 1979
fm = Primal Force 1987 鹿毛
mf = Relaunch 1976
mm = Thirty Zip 1983
fff = Vice Regent
ffm = Mint Copy
fmf = Blushing Groom
fmm = Prime Prospect
mff = In Reality
mfm = Foggy Note
mmf = Tri Jet
mmm = Saliaway
ffff = Northern Dancer
fffm = Victoria Regina
ffmf = Bunty's Flight
ffmm = Shakney
fmff = Red God
fmfm = Runaway Bride
fmmf = Mr. Prospector
fmmm = Square Generation
mfff = Intentionally
mffm = My Dear Girl
mfmf = The Axe
mfmm = Silver Song
mmff = Jester
mmfm = Haze
mmmf = Hawaii
mmmm = Quick Wit (F-No.23-b)|

References

* [http://www.pedigreequery.com/ghostzapper Ghostzapper's pedigree]
* [http://www.adenastallions.com/stallions/stallion.aspx?id=Ghostzapper Ghostzapper standing at Adena Springs]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyQvNu-XQoQ Video at YouTube of Ghostzapper's win in the 2004 Woodward Stakes]