Best-case scenario

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas -- Ghostzapper left no doubt about who the best horse was in the Breeders' Cup Classic, going wire-to-wire to win the $4 million event by 3 lengths at Lone Star Park yesterday. Now, the question becomes, is he better than Smarty Jones?

Lone Star favors speed, and Ghostzapper, who is undefeated on the year at 4 for 4, used his to turn the Classic into a showcase before a crowd of 53,717. Only two candidates are still standing for the top Eclipse Award, and it remains to be seen whether voters will fondly recall what the 3-year-old Smarty Jones did in the spring; he went 6 for 7 on the year, with wins in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

"It's a no-brainer," said trainer Bobby Frankel, who is never shy. "Ghostzapper is the handicap horse of the year and the Horse of the Year. He's the best horse in the country, and they ought to give the best horse in the country the award. He's the best horse by far."

Ghostzapper, who was ridden by Javier Castellano, was a "house horse," meaning he is owned by the owner of the racetrack. Frank Stronach, chairman of Magna Entertainment, owns Lone Star and 14 other tracks. He also bred and owns Ghostzapper's sire, Awesome Again, who won the Classic in 1998 at Churchill Downs. Wilko, who also was sired by Awesome Again, was an upset winner in the Juvenile.

"It's unbelievable," said Stronach. "I consider myself extremely blessed. Racing has been very good to me, and I hope I can give something back. I think this is my greatest thrill because I'm also owner of Awesome Again. I'm proud of both of them. It's fantastic."

Ghostzapper had post No. 1, and he used it to full advantage. Roses in May and John Velazquez chased him from second every step of the way, but Ghostzapper simply drew away through the stretch, covering the 1 1/4 miles in 1:59, establishing a track record at Lone Star, where 10-furlong races are seldom run, and then only by starter allowance horses. The record had been a plodding 2:04 3/5.

"Bobby gave me a lot of confidence in this horse," said Castellano, winning the Classic in his first Breeders' Cup ride. "He told me to move into the third path because he thought the rail was a little dead. I did what he told me to do. Ghostzapper broke sharp out of the gate. All the way in the race, when I asked him, I had plenty of horse. When we went to the quarter pole, I called on him, and he took off."

Ghostzapper paid $7 as the 5-2 favorite, and combined with Roses in May, who came into the race 5 for 5 on the year, for a $46.40 exacta. Pleasantly Perfect, the defending champion and leading candidate to be Horse of the Year, could not keep up with the top two, though he did close resolutely under Jerry Bailey to gain third and round out the $164 trifecta. Pleasantly Perfect also was 5-2, but slightly more money was wagered on Ghostzapper.

Frankel has won five Eclipse Awards as the nation's leading trainer, including the last four, but he has a dismal record in the Breeders' Cup. He came into the day 2 for 57, and was 0 for 5 yesterday before Ghostzapper came through.

"I was thinking, `This is just another Breeders' Cup day for me. I hate this day, and I'm not coming back,' " said Frankel. "But Ghostzapper is a unique horse. He's the best horse I've ever trained. I always felt that in my heart. He's faster than they are. He can sprint, or you can drop him back if you want, and he'll win. We took advantage of his strengths today, and sent him to the lead. Maybe he'll be known as a great horse."

Frankel arrived at the Lone Star barns Thursday morning and immediately said champion mare Azeri, who had been entered the previous day in the Classic instead of the Distaff, had "no chance." It was thought she would take some speed out of Ghostzapper, but she could get no closer than third, and finished fifth at 15-1 under Pat Day.

"They thought Azeri could be on the lead," said Frankel. "No, no. She's not fast enough to be with these horses."

Unlike the connections of Smarty Jones, who retired him following the loss in the Belmont Stakes that cost him the Triple Crown, Stronach indicated he would race Ghostzapper, a 4-year-old, next year.

"If he's sound, we'll run him again next year," said Stronach. "I don't want to take him away from here to run him in Japan or Dubai. Bobby will map out the strategy."

Prior to winning the Classic, Ghostzapper won the Tom Fool at Belmont in July, the Iselin at Monmouth in August, and the Woodward, back at Belmont, in September. Has he done enough to win Horse of the Year? It will be interesting to find out.