Ghostzapper (Grade 3)- $150.000 Purse
GP- For Four Year Olds and Upward
One Mile and One Sixteenth on the Dirt
March 30, 2024

Angle Of Attack came into the Ghostzapper hot and ready to attack a graded race for the second time in his career. That one was not a career highlight, but after that he would roll off three straight wins in starter allowances to get this opportunity. There was plenty of reason to like this one, and the betting public agreed by making him the post time favorite. He was our second choice, and our top choice surprisingly went off as the longest shot on the board (but still finished third). All of our picks did well, as we can lay claim to calling the trifecta (boxed) which paid $596.40. Luz International can claim something a lot more exciting: real money, as his horse takes home the victory. It’s the first win in the Ghostzapper for both the trainer and the jockey, T Gaffalione. Congratulations to them! The race was won in a time of 1:40.75. Only three editions of the race have been run at this distance, but this is the quickest such time of those three. Let’s take a look at it now:

(1/4 Mile- :22.45)- Pompano Beach is ready to run early, jumping out to the lead for Threshold right out of the gate, and looking to open up by about two lengths. Angle Of Attack, our eventual winner from Luz International, will take the second spot but not press the pacesetter. Bonus Baby, out of Night Rider Stables, is within a length, and then in the middle of the field, we have a group of three running alongside one another. From inside to outside, this consists of Marcus Antoninus (Fractious), Prevent (Mb Stables), and Calling Ole Sam (Nakamura Stables). Noble Faerie (Riggins Racing) runs right behind them, and then it’s a break of about two lengths to the trailer, Southern Man (TwinTowersRacing).

(½ Mile- :45.81)- Completing the run around the turn and moving into the backstretch, Pompano Beach is still in control out in front and there is no one interested in running with him still. This leads to a nearly three length advantage for the leader at this point. Along the rail, Bonus Baby pokes his head in front of Angle Of Attack right now, but each of these are running well while not challenging the leader. Meanwhile, Calling Ole Sam is emerging as the best of the group of three that was running together and looking to inch away from those two. Prevent is no longer a part of that, as he backs off, and that sees Noble Faerie essentially claiming that spot. Marcus Antoninus keeps pace with them to the inside. Southern Man way back now, six lengths behind Prevent, and eleven lengths from the leader.

(Top of Stretch, 1.5F To Go)- Not much changes for the rest of the backstretch, and Pompano Beach will enter the turn while still carrying a nearly three length advantage. That lead shrinks in the turn, as midway through it, we see Angle Of Attack gets ready to unleash an attack. T Gaffalione moves him out a lane, and his ride responds with plenty of run. At the top of the stretch, he now only had a length to make up, and it seemed inevitable that he would get that. But he was not the only one gaining ground, as Bonus Baby still tried to keep running with him while running third, and the group of Calling Ole Sam, Noble Faerie, and Marcus Antoninus were also a lot closer now. Even Prevent was gaining here, and coming from way back, Southern Man was showing a lot of interest.

(Finish- 1:40.75)- Pompano Beach shows some fight in the stretch, but Angle Of Attack was just too much for him to handle. By moving to the outside of the leader, Angle Of Attack was able to maintain his stride and worked his way by for the lead with half a furlong to go. No one else was coming, that had time to challenge him, and he would go on to score the victory by a length. Pompano Beach’s effort still secured second for himself, and it was very tight for third with a five-way photo for show. In the end, a dead heat was declared for third between Marcus Antoninus and late running Southern Man, and they were barely ahead of Calling Ole Sam, Bonus Baby and Noble Faerie. Prevent was at the back but only beaten by two.

About The Winner- Angle Of Attack, trained by Luz International and ridden to victory by T Gaffalione, is a five-year-old gelding by Positive Reason and is out of Progress Report. He was bred in California by Fractious as a yearling and was acquired by Luz International via Mojica Racing with a $20.000 claim in April 2023. Congratulations to the connections! The win is his fourth consecutive, and thirteenth in 31 starts. It’s his first stake win of any sort. His career earnings improve to $362.780.

Track: Fast
Time: :22²  :45⁴  1:09⁴  1:40³

$2 Mutuel Prices:

$1 Exacta: 6 – 7 Paid 40.30
$1 Trifecta: 6 – 7 – 2 Paid 596.40, 6 – 7 – 4 Paid 149.80

Scratched: None

— NS

Categories: Grade III, STAKES ARTICLES