Ghostzapper will seek to repeat his Breeders' Cup Classic victory.
Stronach Stables' Ghostzapper and Ken and Sarah Ramsey's Roses in May, the one-two finishers in the $4-million Breeders' Cup Classic – Powered by Dodge (gr. I), will take different paths in 2005, at least until the summer when they could square off again in the Whitney Handicap (gr. I).Trainer Bobby Frankel said Ghostzapper may not make his first start until the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) on Memorial Day weekend. A five-race, all New York, campaign is scheduled, consisting of the grade I Met Mile, Suburban Handicap, Whitney Handicap, Woodward, and Breeders' Cup Classic. The 2005 Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships will be held at Belmont Park, where Ghostzapper is unbeaten in four starts.The son of Awesome Again was off for more than nine months when he returned this year to win the Tom Fool Handicap (gr. II) by 4 1/4 lengths in a blazing 1:20.42.Ghostzapper currently is still stabled at Belmont with assistant trainer Jose Cuevas, who will take the colt to Palm Meadows training center in Boynton Beach, Fla., where Frankel will maintain a string of about 30 horses under Cuevas' care.While Ghostapper is relaxing under the Florida sun, Roses in May will be preparing for his first start in the Feb. 5 Donn Handicap (gr. I), after which he will head to Dubai for the $6-million Dubai World Cup (UAE-I), according to Ramsey.Ramsey is also looking for a grade I spot for Badge of Silver, who finished a game second to Lion Tamer in the Nov. 27 Cigar Mile (gr. I) in only his second start since February. Frankel trains Badge of Silver, and Dale Romans trains Roses in May.
