The Ghostzapper Stakes is a Grade III American Thoroughbred horse race for four-years-old and older at a distance of one and one-sixteenth miles on the dirt run annually in March at Gulfstream Park located in Hallandale Beach, Florida. The event currently offers a purse of $150,000.

History

The inaugural running of the event was on 26 April 1990 as the Creme Fraiche Stakes over a distance of 7 furlongs and was won by Big Sal ridden US Hall of Fame jockey Earlie Fires by who led all the way in a time of 1:24

The event was named in honor of the 1985 Belmont Stakes winner, Creme Fraiche who also won Grade I Donn Handicap and W.L. McKnight Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

The following year, 1991 the event's conditions were changed to a handicap and the distance extended to miles.

In 1993 the American Graded Stakes Committee upgraded the race to Grade III.

In 2003 the event was renamed to the Hal's Hope Handicap after the Florida-bred Hal's Hope who had won the event in 2002 and who also won the 2000 Grade I Florida Derby, 2000 Holy Bull Stakes and the 2002 Grade I Gulfstream Park Handicap.

In 2005 the distance of the event was extended to miles but after two runnings the distance was decreased to one mile.

In 2009 the conditions of the event were changed to a stakes allowance which reflected in the modification of the event's name.

In 2020 the distance of the event was increased to miles.

In 2021 the event was renamed to the owner of Gulfstream Park, Frank Stronach's US Hall of Fame and 2004 US Horse of the Year Champion, Ghostzapper as the Ghostzapper Stakes.

In 2023 the distance of the event was decreased from miles to miles. Records Speed record: miles – 1:48.57 Badge of Silver (2005) miles – 1:41.49 Geri (1996) 1 mile – 1:33.87 Chatain (2007)

Margins: 8 lengths – K. J.'s Appeal (1998)

Most wins: 2 – Chatain (2007, 2008) 2 – Lea (2014, 2015)

Most wins by a jockey: 6 - John R. Velazquez (1998, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2024, 2026)

Most wins by a trainer: 6 - Todd A. Pletcher (2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2026)

Most wins by an owner: 2 - Lazy F Ranch (2007, 2008) 2 - Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider (2014, 2015) 2 - Repole Stable (2022, 2026)

Winners Year Winner Age Jockey Trainer Owner Distance Time Purse Grade RefGhostzapper Stakes2026Grande4John R. VelazquezTodd A. PletcherRepole Stable miles1:44.26$150,000III2025White Abarrio6Irad Ortiz Jr. Saffie A. Joseph Jr.C2 Racing Stable, Gary Barber & La Milagrosa Stable miles1:41.97$150,000III2024Il Miracolo 4John R. Velazquez Antonio SanoAlexandres miles1:43.79$150,000 III2023Clapton 4Emisael JaramilloJuan AlvaradoArindel miles1:42.94$180,000 III2022Fearless 6Luis Saez Todd A. PletcherRepole Stable miles1:50.03$100,000 III2021Eye of a Jedi 6Javier Castellano Steve Budhoo Steve Budhoo miles1:48.83 $100,000 IIIHal's Hope Stakes2020Identifier 4Marcos MenesesOscar M. Gonzalez Gelfenstein Farm miles1:50.25$100,000III2019Prince Lucky 4John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Daniel W. McConnell Sr.1 mile1:34.84$100,000III2018Economic Model 5Irad Ortiz Jr.Chad C. Brown Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence1 mile1:36.50$100,000III2017Tommy Macho 5Luis SaezTodd A. Pletcher Paul P. Pompa Jr. & J Stables1 mile1:35.20$150,000III2016Mshawish 6Javier CastellanoTodd A. Pletcher Al Shaqab Racing1 mile1:34.61$150,000III2015Lea 6Joel RosarioWilliam I. Mott Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider 1 mile1:35.46$150,000III2014Lea 5Luis SaezWilliam I. Mott Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider 1 mile1:35.30$100,000III2013Csaba 4Luis SaezPhilip A. Gleaves Bruce Hollander & Cary Shapoff1 mile1:35.69$100,000III2012Jackson Bend 5John R. VelazquezNicholas P. Zito Robert V. LaPenta & Fred J. Brei1 mile1:38.19$100,000III2011Soaring Empire 4Jose LezcanoCam Gambolati Ol Memorial Stable & C. E. Glasscock1 mile1:35.99$100,000III2010Quality Road 4John R. VelazquezTodd A. Pletcher Edward P. Evans1 mile1:36.33$100,000III2009Delightful Kiss 5Calvin H. BorelPete D. Anderson Hobeau Farm1 mile1:36.13$100,000IIIHal's Hope Handicap2008Chatain 5Cornelio VelasquezAngel A. Penna Jr. Lazy F Ranch1 mile1:36.39$100,000III2007Chatain 4Cornelio VelasquezAngel A. Penna Jr. Lazy F Ranch1 mile1:33.87$100,000III2006On Thin Ice 5Shaun BridgmohanJoe Orseno D. J. Stable miles1:48.05$100,000III2005Badge of Silver 5Jerry D. BaileyRobert J. FrankelKenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey miles1:48.57$100,000III2004Puzzlement 5Jorge F. ChavezH. Allen Jerkens Joseph V. Shields Jr. miles1:42.39$100,000III2003Windsor Castle 5Eibar CoaFrank A. Alexander Dogwood Stable miles1:42.33$100,000IIICreme Fraiche Handicap2002Hal's Hope 5Roger I. VelezHarold J. Rose Rose Family Stable miles1:42.40$100,000III2001Race not held2000Dancing Guy 5Jerry D. BaileyNewcomb Green Frances Green miles1:44.94$75,000III1999Jazz Club 4Pat DayNeil J. Howard William S. Farish & Joseph Jamail miles1:42.76$75,000III1998K. J.'s Appeal 4John R. VelazquezFrank A. Alexander Releib Stable miles1:42.34$75,000III1997Louis Quatorze 4Pat DayNicholas P. Zito William J. Condren, Georgia E. Hofmann & Joseph Cornacchia miles1:43.43$75,000III1996Geri 4Jerry D. BaileyWilliam I. Mott Allen E. Paulson miles1:41.49$75,000III1995Warm Wayne 4Jerry D. BaileyReynaldo H. Nobles Due Process Stables miles1:43.11$75,000III1994Forever Whirl 4Herb McCauleyMartin D. Wolfson Irving Ellis & Alan Reskin miles1:41.81$75,000III1993Classic Seven 5Thomas M. CairnsThomas M. Cairns & John O. Berry miles1:43.49$100,000III1992 6Jose A. SantosFrank J. Lange Elaine J Meltzer miles1:43.78$75,000Listed 1991New York Swell 8Jose O. Alferez Ballet Stable miles1:42.50$75,000 Listed Creme Fraiche Stakes1990Big Sal 5Earlie FiresCam Gambolati Sarkisian & Tierney7 furlongs1:24.80$33,900

See also List of American and Canadian Graded races

References