Champion Older Male (2004)
United States Horse of the Year (2004)
World's Top Ranked Horse (2004)

April 6 - Ghostzapper

Ghostzapper - that home bred of Frank Stronach that went on to win the Breeders' Cup Classic at one of Stroncach's tracks, Lone Star Park. Sure, most of you knew that but here's something I learned when Frank gave us a quote for the book, A Brush With Greatness, to go along with text and painting of Ghostzapper. Frank said that when it was time to come up with a name for Ghostzapper, he had the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star on his calendar and was targeting this yearling to race at his track in the Breeders' Cup Classic - THREE YEARS LATER!!! And if you know the odds of things going right every step or the way or nothing going wrong, what are the chances? Unyielding, Frank also knew that the Breeders' Cup at Lone Star Park would take place on Halloween. Yep - Frank named Ghostzapper because "he wanted to see his ghost winning at his track on Halloween." WOW!!! . . . (Even I can't make that story up!)

The first time I painted Ghostzapper, it was the Classic with Javier Castellano in the irons (trained by Bobby Frankel.) When Frank saw the painting, he smiled and told me that he wanted me to paint him again, this time with the legs and he wanted me to "paint him the way Richard Stone Reeves does it." Having been to Adena Springs in both Kentucky and Florida, you see the other conformation paintings of Frank's stallions by Reeves. I know Adena Springs in Kentucky is for sale, but the conformation painting of Ghostzapper still greets you when you enter the massive office.

Ghostzapper was an explosive and brilliant champion who many fans count among the very best American racehorses of the 21st century. He was foaled in 2000 and trained by Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel for owner and breeder Frank Stronach of Adena Springs. His sire was Awesome Again, the 1998 Breeders Cup Classic winner, and his dam was Baby Zip, a daughter of Relaunch. He was a powerful dark bay colt with breathtaking turn of foot.

Ghostzapper showed his class as a three year old in 2003 and then truly arrived at four years old in 2004. He turned in one of the greatest single seasons in modern racing. He won the Vosburgh Stakes, the Iselin Handicap, the Tom Fool Handicap, and the Woodward Stakes before heading to the biggest race of all. The 2004 Breeders Cup Classic at Lone Star Park was his showcase. Ghostzapper ran a track record time of 1:59.02 for the mile and a quarter and won by three lengths over Roses in May. He was named the 2004 Horse of the Year and Champion Older Dirt Male.

He came back as a five year old in 2005 and added another huge win in the Met Mile at Belmont Park, beating other top milers in the country. Injuries forced him into early retirement after that race. He finished his career with 9 wins from 11 starts and earnings of over 3.4 million dollars. Many of his Beyer speed numbers were among the highest of his era, and his 2004 Breeders Cup Classic is still talked about as one of the most dominant performances ever in the race.

Ghostzapper went to stud at Adena Springs in Kentucky, where he became a top sire of grade one winners. His best runners include Judy the Beauty, who won the 2014 Breeders Cup Filly and Mare Sprint; Shaman Ghost, who won the 2017 Pegasus World Cup; Mind Your Biscuits, a two time Dubai Golden Shaheen winner; and Whitmore, a champion sprinter. Ghostzapper is remembered as a horse who combined speed, power, and brilliance like few others, a true crown jewel of the Frank Stronach breeding program.

Sources:

• Ghostzapper - Wikipedia

• Adena Springs - Ghostzapper

• Bloodhorse - Ghostzapper