Ghostzapper Likely to Pass On Suburban

(from Belmont Park notes)
Trainer Bobby Frankel said that reigning Horse of the Year and Metropolitan Mile (gr. I) winner Ghostzapper would likely pass on the Suburban Handicap (gr. I) July 2.

"He looks good and he's eating good, but I want to give him a little more time because he ran so hard," Frankel said. "The Suburban would be coming back soon after he just had a long layoff. I want to do the best thing for the horse."

Frankel believes that, in general, horses are running faster now than in previous decades, and that is one reason why they can't make as many starts.

"It's not the weakening of the breed," he said. "Horses are running faster now than they were 20 years ago."

The only thing that upset Frankel concerning Ghostzapper's sparkling 6 1/2-length victory in the Met Mile was a lack of national television coverage.

"You've got the best horse you've had in the last 20 years running around here, and you don't have it on television," said Frankel. "The Woodward isn't even on television. The Whitney is on ESPN2 the next day.

"He's the best horse in American and nobody knows about it. If you're not a hard-core bettor, you don't know who he is. I know he doesn't run that often, but if he runs three more times this year, those races should be on TV. This horse should have a huge fan following."

To purchase photographs of Ghostzapper and other great thoroughbreds, click here.