Columnist Ralph Siraco: Ghostzapper gives Frankel biggest win of his career

Ralph Siraco

Monday, Nov. 1, 2004 | 9:22 a.m.

Ralph Siraco's horse racing column appears Monday and his Southern California selections run Tuesday-Sunday.

On Saturday, the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships lived up to its billing. Again. In true Texas style, the 21st edition of the sport's biggest day showcased big efforts for big money -- for the players and participants. And host track Lone Star Park had anything but a Lone Star.

At least five of the eight championship races produced Eclipse Award performances. Trainer Todd Pletcher got the Breeders' Cup monkey off his back by combining with jockey John Velazquez to win a pair of races. Jockeys Ramon Dominguez and Javier Castellano got their first Breeders' Cup victories while Jerry Bailey, who leads all Breeders' Cup riders with 14 wins, had to settle for three runner-up and two third-place finishes for his best on the day. Pat Day, who leads all riders in money won with $22,913,360, didn't hit the board with five mounts as Azeri's fifth in the Classic was his best finish of the day.

It was a day for new faces with upsets producing some new champions.

But it was the centerpiece Breeders' Cup Classic that produced not only the biggest victory of trainer Bobby Frankel's career, but also the fastest running of the richest thoroughbred race in America.

It may not have taken 86 years, but Frankel's version of the Bambino curse was lifted in record fashion. After finishing second in the Classic for the past three years, Frankel watched his Ghostzapper manhandle one of the best fields ever assembled for the $4 million race. While runners-up Aptitude in 2001 and Medaglia d'Oro last year and in 2002 were counted among equines who held Frankel to just a pair of Breeders' Cup victories in 62 previous tries, Ghostzapper's startling Classic victory wiped out all of those near-misses in one fell swoop. In the process he may have stolen Horse of the Year honors away from Smarty Jones.

Here is how the day went:

THE DISTAFF opened the championship card. Ashado ($6) got a perfect trip from her rail post in the 1 1/8-mile race under Velazquez to hold off unlucky Storm Flag Flying. The 2-1 favorite gave Pletcher his first Breeders' Cup win and all but secured the 3-year-old filly title. Stellar Jayne was third.

JUVENILE FILLIES winner Sweet Catomine ($6.60), under Corey Nakatani, encountered traffic trouble on the last turn, overcame the roadblock, re-rallied and came rolling home almost four lengths in front of runner-up Balletto. Many thought her performance was better than Halfbridled's victory in the event last year. Runway Model was third. She was the second favorite to win and would ultimately run her 1 1/16 miles faster (1:41.65) than the boys (1:42.09) in the Juvenile later in the card. Eclipse Award for 2-year-old filly? Done.

THE MILE busted the Ultra Pick 6 wide open. Singletary (he was named after the Chicago Bears' Mike Singletary) got the trip to win. Sitting in traffic, a seam opened for Singletary at the top of the straight and jockey David Flores rolled through to hold off fast-closing 31-1 shot Antonius Pius. The $35 win mutuel ignited the largest Superfecta payoff of the day. Coupled with defending champ Six Perfections, who finished third, and fourth-place finisher Soaring Free, the 10-7-11-4 winning combination returned a whopping $107,388. It was the only Breeders' Cup mount for Flores and the first Breeders' Cup runner for trainer Donald Chatlos.

THE SPRINT gave the team of trainer Pletcher and jockey Velazquez their second win of the day. Speightstown sat just behind the pacesetters from his inside post and shot through an opening at the top of the stretch to win. Race favorite Kela rallied for second with long shot My Cousin Matt third. With his Breeders' Cup victory and a 5-for-6 record this year, Speightstown may have done enough to take this Eclipse trophy. Ending the first Pick 4, it paid $3,130.20.

THE FILLY & MARE TURF showcased a champion filly from over the pond. Ouija Board, under jockey Kieren Fallon, outclassed and outran her rivals with a solid performance in the grass marathon. Sitting just behind a pedestrian pace, the sophomore sensation shot to the lead and never looked back. Film Maker held the runner-up spot over the closing Wonder Again. As the odds-on favorite, Ouija Board paid $3.80 to win. She might have earned the Eclipse Award for grass filly or mare with just this one stateside performance.

THE JUVENILE featured the second upset of the day. Wilko ($58.60), with Frankie Dettori up, came charging through the homestretch to catch Afleet Alex at the finish. Sun King was third while race favorite Roman Ruler failed to fire. Purchased before the race by American Paul Reddam, the British-raced juvenile will now stay in the United States for a Kentucky Derby challenge next year. Juvenile-Derby jinx next?

THE TURF featured a Texas rodeo-like running. Better Talk Now came roaring through the final straight in the 1 1/2-mile marathon like a bull through a china store. Jockey Ramon Dominguez was pulling to the right while his runaway partner was lugging to the left, causing Magistretti and race favorite Kitten's Joy to alter course. Although Kitten's Joy managed to re-rally for second, after a stewards inquiry there was no change in the order of finish. Powerscourt was third. Kitten's Joy was the shortest-priced favorite on the day while Better Talk Now returned $57.80. Another boxcar payoff.

THE CLASSIC produced a vintage race. Ghostzapper, with Javier Castellano up, took the lead from the start and led every step of the way in the 1 1/4- mile event. His three-length victory over Roses In May was impressive and his clocking of !:59:02 was the fastest in Classic history. Defending champion Pleasantly Perfect, after a wide trip, rallied for third, four lengths behind the runner-up. The 2002 Horse of the Year Azeri, taking on the boys, finished fifth while Belmont Stakes and Travers winner Birdstone was seventh and 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Funny Cide was 10th. As the favorite, Ghostzapper paid $7 to win with the Pick 4 ending in the Classic paying $46,791.20. The Ultra Pick 6 had no perfect tickets while 5 of 6 paid $56,149.60. Ghostzapper might have wrapped up the gold Eclipse trophy.

After the victory, Frankel was asked about Ghostzapper's performance. He responded by saying Ghostzapper was just faster than the others. So, too, was Breeders' Cup Day.