Ghostzapper's Biography
Ghostzapper is a Kentucky bred bay colt who was born on April 6, 2000. He is sired by millionaire Awesome Again out of 2005 Broodmare of the Year, Baby Zip. For more information on his pedigree click here.
Ghostzapper was lightly raced as a 2yo in 2002. He made only 2 starts, breaking his maiden in his first race at Hollywood Park, a Maiden Special Weight. He won that debut by 9 lengths. In his second and last start as a 2 year old in an Allowance Race at Hollywood Park he came in 4th. The only time in his career that we would come in off the board.
His 3yo campaign in 2003 kicked off with a pair of Allowance wins. He won in June at 6 furlongs in a time of 1:09 1/5 by 3 1/4 lengths in his 3yo debut at Belmont Park. He came back a little over a month later in July to win another Allowance race, this time at 7 furlongs in 1:21 3/5 at Saratoga Racetrack. Ghostzapper's first stakes race came in August, where he faced G1 competition n the King's Bishop Stakes where he came in third by only 2 necks. In his last start of his 3yo season, he returned again to Grade 1 stakes company in the 6.5 furlong Vosburgh Stakes. He won by a commanding 6 1/2 lengths over Aggadan and Posse in a time of 1:12 3/5. A quarter crack kept Ghostzapper out for the rest of the season in 2003.
Ghostzapper kicked off his 2004, 4yo season with a win in July's Tom Fool Handicap G2 over 7 furlongs in a time of 1:20 2/5. He won by a commanding 4 1/4 lengths, and recorded the years highest spring Beyer of the year, 120. Up until this point, Ghostzapper was known primarily as a sprint horse, as he had never raced past 7 furlongs. Trainer Robert Frankel wanted to point his horse to the Breeder's Cup Classic race in October at 1 1/14 miles. If he was to do this, he needed to get Ghostzapper into some longer distance races. So for his next start, Frankel entered him in the Philip Iselin Breeders' Cup Handicap G3 at Monmouth Park in July. The Iselin is run at 9 furlongs, or 1 1/8 mile. That day in Auguest at Monmouth was a muddy one indeed, but Ghostzapper won the race by an astounding 10 lengths in a time of 1:47 3/5. Once again he earned a high beer of 128, which would be the highest beer of any for the year!
Ghostzapper continued on his quest for the Breeders' Cup Classic race, with another 9 furlong prep race, the Woodward Stakes G1 at Belmont Park. Ghostzapper faced eventual 2005 Horse of the Year, St Liam. The two horses battled down the stretch at Belmont, bumping each other numerous times, but Ghostzapper got his head in front for the win. Ghostzapper went 9 furlongs in 1:46 1/5.
In his final race of 2004, the time had come to face one of the toughest Breeders' Cup Classic G1 fields in a long time at Lonestar Park. Running 10 furlongs against horses such as Roses In May, Pleasantly Perfect and Perfect Drift. Pleasantly Perfect was the returning Breeders Cup Classic winner and went off as the co-favorite with Ghostzapper. Ghostzapper went wire to wire in amazing fashion as he pulled away in the stretch to win by 3 lengths in a final time of 1:59.2, which was a new track record and a new Breeders Cup Classic record.
An amazing 4 for 4 race record, with a Breeders' Cup Classic win in 2004 was enough for Ghostzapper to beat Smarty Jones for 2004 Horse of the Year
Ghostzapper was a total freak. He was an unbelievable horse. I haven’t seen a horse in a long time that was as good as he was.- Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel
In 2005, Ghostzapper did return to racing for one race. Usually with thoughts of millions of dollars in breeding, a Horse of the Year does not return to racing. However, Frank Stronach wanted to bring his colt back for another season as he felt it would be good for the sport of racing. He raced in May in the 1 mile Metropolitan Handicap G1 and won easily by 6 1/4 lengths in a time of 1:33 1/5. He again recorded the highest Beyer of the year with a 123.
That would be his last start, as he was retired in June 2005 when it was discovered he had a hairline fracture in his left front ankle. Who knows what Ghostzapper could have accomplished in 2005! He may have very well recorded many more G1 wins, as well as another Breeders' Cup Classic win. He retired with earnings of $3,446,120 and won 9 of his 11 starts. He was inducted into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2012.
Ghostzapper currently enjoys stud duty at Adena Stallions, which is owned by Frank Stronach. His 2012 stud fee is $20,000. He entered stud in 2006 and was the #1 First Crop Yearling, Weanling and Covering Sire. He has sired stakes winners on dirt, turf and all-weather tracks. He has proven to be a influential sire and has shown to pass on his speed to his offspring.
Visit our Ghostzapper Race Replays page to view some of Ghostzappers most memorable races!
Please visit Ghostzapper's Official site at Adena Springs here: Ghostzapper.
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