Shaman Ghost comes from (Breeders' Cup) Classic family

Adena Springs has put a premium on breeding classic-distance horses, as evidenced by the four Breeders’ Cup Classic winners on its stallion roster. Owned by Frank Stronach, Adena Springs appears to have a homebred contender for this year’s renewal in Shaman Ghost, who upset the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes on Saturday at Saratoga. The colt could be a third-generation BC Classic winner for his male line.

Adena’s Awesome Again won the Classic at Churchill Downs in 1998 before retiring to the operation’s Kentucky base. From his first crop came 2004 Horse of the Year Ghostzapper, who won that year’s Classic at Lone Star Park.

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Ghostzapper retired to stand alongside his sire in 2006. His fee of $200,000 made him the most expensive new stallion of recent years, until Triple Crown winner American Pharoah commanded the same fee this year. Ghostzapper’s top progeny includes Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint winner and champion Judy the Beauty, Canadian champions Hunters Bay and Shaman Ghost, and Grade 1 winners Moreno and Better Lucky.

Shaman Ghost won last year’s Queen’s Plate, first leg of the Canadian Triple Crown, to earn his divisional Sovereign Award. This year, he won the Grade 2 Brooklyn in June at Belmont Park before adding the Woodward.

Shaman Ghost has a half-brother by first-year yearling sire Point of Entry, a multiple Grade 1 winner standing at Adena Springs, who is cataloged for the Keeneland September yearling sale, which begins next week.