The 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic
Breeders' Cup > Classic > 2004
The 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic
Winner: Ghostzapper
The 2004 Breeders’ Cup World Championships took place at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas on October 30. It was the 21st edition of the premier North American horse racing event and featured a number of exciting races and finishes. One of the highlights of the card was the Breeders’ Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1).
The $4 million Breeders’ Cup Classic contest featured a field of 13 horses, with Ghostzapper at odds of 5-2 set as the pre-race favorite. Also included in the field were 2003 Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect (also set up with odds of 5-2 but not deemed a co-favorite) and 2002 Horse of the Year winner Azeri at 15-1 odds.
Roses in May and Ghostzapper tied for the lead after the first quarter, but it was Ghostzapper who would run away from the pack and set fractions of :47.11 and 1:11.32 after three quarters. Ghostzapper and jockey Javier Castellano would jolt ahead by two lengths with one furlong left and would beat the rest of the field by three lengths in a winning time of 1:59.02, setting a new track record. Roses in May finishes second, while 2003 Classic winner Pleasantly Perfect finished third, coming all the way back from 10th.
Ghostzapper paid $7.00, $4.00, and $3.60 across the board for the win. Roses in May returned $8.00 to place and $5.20 to show, while Pleasantly Perfect paid $3.00 for his third-place showing. A $2 Trifecta of 1-6-12 paid $831.
“He broke well and I took him off the rail. There was no question that he wouldn't go wire to wire. He's that sharp. Bobby said whatever you want to do with him, it's your job,” said Ghostzapper jockey Javier Castellano.
“It's great to win a Classic especially the second time around. It's unbelievable. I consider myself extremely blessed. The horse industry, horse racing, has been very good tome and I hope I can give something back. I told Bobby (Frankel) I won't want to ship him to Japan or Dubai. He should stay here. We will race him one more time,” said winning owner Frank Stronach.