Ghostzapper 10th to first in Vosburgh

ELMONT, N.Y. - In a smashing performance, Ghostzapper won Saturday's $500,000 by 6 1/2 lengths at Belmont Park for his first stakes win.

Aggadan, at 63-1, finished second, 1 1/4 lengths in front of Posse. Gygistar, the 8-5 favorite, finished fourth and was followed under the wire by My Cousin Matt, Voodoo, Highway Prospector, Papua, Ajedrez, and Peeping Tom.

As is his custom, Ghostzapper, who was ridden by Javier Castellano, languished at the back of the pack in the 6 1/2-furlong Vosburgh during the early running. Voodoo set the pace through fractions of 21.89 seconds for the opening quarter and 44.26 for the half.

After a half-mile, Ghostzapper, the second choice, was 10 lengths off the lead. He launched a monstrous move from the outside at the top of the stretch and motored past Aggadan and Voodoo in the final sixteenth.

Ghostzapper ($8.20) covered the distance in a time of 1:14.72 over a fast track. The track record is 1:14.40.

John Velazquez, Gygistar's rider, said he was in a tight spot on the rail in the stretch.

"It cost me second, but I don't think I could have won, the winner was going so easy," Velazquez said.

Ghostzapper provided trainer Bobby Frankel with his 21st Grade 1 win of the year.

D. Wayne Lukas holds the record for the most Grade 1 wins in one season with 22.

Frankel, who trains Ghostzapper for Frank Stronach, already has a solid threat in Aldebaran for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Park on Oct. 25. Frankel said he would speak with Stronach before committing to the Sprint.

"It's a different story running three-quarters at Santa Anita, getting dirt in his face," Frankel said. "It's tough because he doesn't like dirt in his face and they don't throw back sand there, they throw back clods. I was surprised how quick he caught these horses. I told [Castellano] don't worry about keeping close to them. Just make one run."

Castellano, who followed orders to the letter, said "He just went by them all."

Ghostzapper joins Trippi, Another Reef, Track Barron, A Phenomenon, and Plugged Nickle as the only 3-year-olds to win the Vosburgh since 1980.

Ghostzapper, a son of Awesome Again, was making his sixth start in the Vosburgh. In his stakes debut, Ghostzapper finished third in the Grade 1 King's Bishop at Saratoga on Aug. 23.