Ghostzapper Stakes

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title: "Ghostzapper Stakes" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["horse-races-in-florida", "graded-stakes-races-in-the-united-states", "recurring-sporting-events-established-in-1990", "1990-establishments-in-florida", "grade-3-stakes-races-in-the-united-states", "gulfstream-park"] topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghostzapper_Stakes" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::data[format=table title="Infobox horseraces"]

Field	Value
class	Grade III
horse race	Ghostzapper Stakes
location	Gulfstream Park
Hallandale Beach, Florida
inaugurated	1985 (as Creme Fraiche Stakes)
race type	Thoroughbred - Flat racing
website
distance	miles
surface	Dirt
track	left-handed
qualification	Four-years-old and older
weight	124 lbs with allowances
purse	$150,000 (since 2023)
::

| class = Grade III | horse race = Ghostzapper Stakes | location = Gulfstream Park Hallandale Beach, Florida | inaugurated = 1985 (as Creme Fraiche Stakes) | race type = Thoroughbred - Flat racing | website = | distance = miles | surface = Dirt | track = left-handed | qualification = Four-years-old and older | weight = 124 lbs with allowances | purse = $150,000 (since 2023) 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:

• 5 - John R. Velazquez (1998, 2010, 2012, 2019, 2024)

Most wins by a trainer:

• 5 - Todd A. Pletcher (2010, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022)

Most wins by an owner:

• 2 - Lazy F Ranch (2007, 2008)
• 2 - Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider (2014, 2015)

Winners

::data[format=table]

Year	Winner	Age	Jockey	Trainer	Owner	Distance	Time	Purse	Grade	Ref
Ghostzapper Stakes
2024	Il Miracolo	4	John R. Velazquez	Antonio Sano	Alexandres	miles	1:43.79	$150,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=7&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/30/2024&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2023	Clapton	4	Emisael Jaramillo	Juan Alvarado	Arindel	miles	1:42.94	$180,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=7&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=04/01/2023&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2022	Fearless	6	Luis Saez	Todd A. Pletcher	Repole Stable	miles	1:50.03	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=6&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=04/02/2022&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2021	Eye of a Jedi	6	Javier Castellano	Steve Budhoo	Steve Budhoo	miles	1:48.83	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=8&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/27/2021&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
Hal's Hope Stakes
2020	Identifier	4	Marcos Meneses	Oscar M. Gonzalez	Gelfenstein Farm	miles	1:50.25	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=6&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/28/2020&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2019	Prince Lucky	4	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Daniel W. McConnell Sr.	1 mile	1:34.84	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=11&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=02/23/2019&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2018	Economic Model	5	Irad Ortiz Jr.	Chad C. Brown	Klaravich Stables & William H. Lawrence	1 mile	1:36.50	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=12&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=02/24/2018&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2017	Tommy Macho	5	Luis Saez	Todd A. Pletcher	Paul P. Pompa Jr. & J Stables	1 mile	1:35.20	$150,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=11&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/14/2017&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2016	Mshawish	6	Javier Castellano	Todd A. Pletcher	Al Shaqab Racing	1 mile	1:34.61	$150,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=7&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/09/2016&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2015	Lea	6	Joel Rosario	William I. Mott	Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider	1 mile	1:35.46	$150,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=7&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/10/2015&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2014	Lea	5	Luis Saez	William I. Mott	Claiborne Farm & Adele B. Dilschneider	1 mile	1:35.30	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/11/2014&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2013	Csaba	4	Luis Saez	Philip A. Gleaves	Bruce Hollander & Cary Shapoff	1 mile	1:35.69	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/13/2013&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2012	Jackson Bend	5	John R. Velazquez	Nicholas P. Zito	Robert V. LaPenta & Fred J. Brei	1 mile	1:38.19	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=9&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/14/2012&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2011	Soaring Empire	4	Jose Lezcano	Cam Gambolati	Ol Memorial Stable & C. E. Glasscock	1 mile	1:35.99	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=9&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/08/2011&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2010	Quality Road	4	John R. Velazquez	Todd A. Pletcher	Edward P. Evans	1 mile	1:36.33	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=8&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/03/2010&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2009	Delightful Kiss	5	Calvin H. Borel	Pete D. Anderson	Hobeau Farm	1 mile	1:36.13	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=8&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/03/2009&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
Hal's Hope Handicap
2008	Chatain	5	Cornelio Velasquez	Angel A. Penna Jr.	Lazy F Ranch	1 mile	1:36.39	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=9&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/06/2008&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2007	Chatain	4	Cornelio Velasquez	Angel A. Penna Jr.	Lazy F Ranch	1 mile	1:33.87	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=9&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/06/2007&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2006	On Thin Ice	5	Shaun Bridgmohan	Joe Orseno	D. J. Stable	miles	1:48.05	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=5&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/07/2006&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2005	Badge of Silver	5	Jerry D. Bailey	Robert J. Frankel	Kenneth L. and Sarah K. Ramsey	miles	1:48.57	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=9&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/08/2005&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2004	Puzzlement	5	Jorge F. Chavez	H. Allen Jerkens	Joseph V. Shields Jr.	miles	1:42.39	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=9&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/03/2004&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2003	Windsor Castle	5	Eibar Coa	Frank A. Alexander	Dogwood Stable	miles	1:42.33	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/11/2003&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
Creme Fraiche Handicap
2002	Hal's Hope	5	Roger I. Velez	Harold J. Rose	Rose Family Stable	miles	1:42.40	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/10/2002&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
2001	Race not held
2000	Dancing Guy	5	Jerry D. Bailey	Newcomb Green	Frances Green	miles	1:44.94	$75,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=11&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/11/2000&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1999	Jazz Club	4	Pat Day	Neil J. Howard	William S. Farish & Joseph Jamail	miles	1:42.76	$75,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/13/1999&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1998	K. J.'s Appeal	4	John R. Velazquez	Frank A. Alexander	Releib Stable	miles	1:42.34	$75,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=11&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/14/1998&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1997	Louis Quatorze	4	Pat Day	Nicholas P. Zito	William J. Condren, Georgia E. Hofmann & Joseph Cornacchia	miles	1:43.43	$75,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=4&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/15/1997&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1996	Geri	4	Jerry D. Bailey	William I. Mott	Allen E. Paulson	miles	1:41.49	$75,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=9&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/16/1996&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1995	Warm Wayne	4	Jerry D. Bailey	Reynaldo H. Nobles	Due Process Stables	miles	1:43.11	$75,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=8&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/11/1995&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1994	Forever Whirl	4	Herb McCauley	Martin D. Wolfson	Irving Ellis & Alan Reskin	miles	1:41.81	$75,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=6&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/12/1994&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1993	Classic Seven	5	Carlos E. Lopez Sr.	Thomas M. Cairns	Thomas M. Cairns & John O. Berry	miles	1:43.49	$100,000	III	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=03/28/1993&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1992	Peanut Butter Onit	6	Jose A. Santos	Frank J. Lange	Elaine J Meltzer	miles	1:43.78	$75,000	Listed	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/18/1992&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
1991	New York Swell	8	Jose O. Alferez	Lawrence W. Jennings Jr.	Ballet Stable	miles	1:42.50	$75,000	Listed	url=http://www.equibase.com/premium/eqbPDFChartPlus.cfm?RACE=10&BorP=P&TID=GP&CTRY=USA&DT=01/26/1991&DAY=D&STYLE=EQB
Creme Fraiche Stakes
1990	Big Sal	5	Earlie Fires	Cam Gambolati	Sarkisian & Tierney	7 furlongs	1:24.80	$33,900		url=https://www.newspapers.com/search/legacy#lnd=1&query=Big+Sal+Creme+Fraiche&ymd=1990-04-27
::

References

References

1. (2021). "CREME FRAICHE (USA) b. G, 1982 - 64 Starts, 17 Wins, 12 Places, 13 Shows Career Earnings: $4,024,727". Thoroughbred Database.
2. "Hal's Hope Stakes (Gr. 3)".
3. (2021). "HALS HOPE (USA) dkb/br. H, 1997 - 33 Starts, 9 Wins, 5 Places, 2 Shows Career Earnings: $1,098,422". Thoroughbred Database.
4. (2021). "HALS HOPE STAKES - GULFSTREAM PARK, FL". Thoroughbred Database.
5. (2021). "Gulfstream Condition Book #2". equibase.com.
6. (30 March 2024). "2024 Ghostzapper Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
7. (1 April 2023). "2023 Ghostzapper Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
8. (2 April 2022). "2022 Ghostzapper Stakes Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase.
9. (27 March 2021). "2021 Ghostzapper Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
10. (28 March 2020). "2020 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase.
11. (23 February 2019). "2019 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase.
12. (24 February 2018). "2018 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 12)". Equibase.
13. (14 January 2017). "2017 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase.
14. (9 January 2016). "2016 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
15. (10 January 2015). "2015 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 7)". Equibase.
16. (11 January 2014). "2014 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase.
17. (13 January 2013). "2013 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase.
18. (14 January 2012). "2012 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase.
19. (8 January 2011). "2011 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase.
20. (3 January 2010). "2010 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
21. (3 January 2009). "2009 Hal's Hope Stakes Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
22. (6 January 2008). "2008 Hal's Hope Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase.
23. (6 January 2007). "2007 Hal's Hope Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase.
24. (7 January 2006). "2006 Hal's Hope Handicap Grade 3 - (race 5)". Equibase.
25. (8 January 2005). "2005 Hal's Hope Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase.
26. (3 January 2004). "2004 Hal's Hope Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase.
27. (11 January 2003). "2003 Hal's Hope Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase.
28. (10 March 2002). "2002 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase.
29. (11 March 2000). "2000 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase.
30. (13 March 1999). "1999 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase.
31. (14 March 1998). "1998 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 11)". Equibase.
32. (15 March 1997). "1997 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 4)". Equibase.
33. (16 March 1996). "1996 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 9)". Equibase.
34. (11 March 1995). "1995 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 8)". Equibase.
35. (12 March 1994). "1994 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 6)". Equibase.
36. (28 March 1993). "1993 Creme Fraiche Handicap Grade 3 - (race 10)". Equibase.
37. (18 January 1992). "1992 Creme Fraiche Handicap Listed - (race 10)". Equibase.
38. (26 January 1991). "1991 Creme Fraiche Handicap Listed - (race 10)". Equibase.
39. (27 April 1990). "Big Sal wins Creme Fraiche Stakes – (race 9: held 26 April 1990)". [[Tampa Bay Times]].

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