Biography

Described as a “once in a lifetime” horse by trainer Kiaran McLaughlin, Invasor defined himself as an elite thoroughbred by winning in three countries, at seven tracks, and in some of the world’s most prestigious races.

Bred in Argentina by Haras Clausan, Invasor was a bay son of Candy Stripes out of the Interprete mare Quendom. After breaking his maiden in his career debut in Uruguay as a 3-year-old in February of 2005, Invasor went on to win the Uruguayan Triple Crown that year, capturing the Polla de Potrillos, Gran Premio Jockey Club, and the Gran Premio Nacional, all Group 1 events. Trained as a 3-year-old by Anibal San Martin, Invasor won all five of his starts in 2005 and was named Horse of the Year in Uruguay.

After winning the Uruguayan Triple Crown, Invasor was sold for $1.4 million to Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum to run for Shadwell Stable. Kiaran McLaughlin was assigned as Invasor's new trainer. 

As a 4-year-old, Invasor won the Eclipse Awards for Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male thanks to Grade 1 victories in the Pimlico Special, Suburban Handicap, Whitney Handicap, and Breeders’ Cup Classic. In the Breeders’ Cup Classic, Invasor defeated the favored Bernardini, winner of that year’s Preakness and Travers, as well as standout Lava Man and European champion George Washington.

Invasor made two starts as a 5-year-old in 2007, winning the Donn Handicap before concluding his career with a victory in the Dubai World Cup. Invasor’s time of 1:59.97 for the 1¼ miles at Nad Al Sheba was the second-fastest in the race’s history behind only Dubai Millennium’s clocking of 1:59.50 in 2000.

With a record of 11-0-0 from 12 starts and earnings of $7,804,070, Invasor was retired in June of 2007. Nine of his 11 victories were in Group/Grade 1 races.

Achievements

Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 2006
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 2006

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Classic — 2006

Notable

Won the Gran Premio Jockey Club — 2005
Won the Gran Premio Nacional-Uruguayan Derby — 2005
Won the Polla de Potrillos - Uruguayan Two Thousand Guineas — 2005
Won the Pimlico Special — 2006
Won the Suburban Handicap — 2006
Won the Whitney Handicap — 2006
Won the Donn Handicap — 2007
Won the Dubai World Cup — 2007

Horse Profile for Invasor (ARG) | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

The first horse in more than 20 years to win consecutive division championships as a sprinter, Housebuster was known for decimating his competition by wide margins.

A bay son of Mount Livermore out of the Great Above mare Big Dreams, Housebuster was bred in Kentucky by Murphy Stable and Blanche P. Levy. He was owned by Robert P. Levy and trained as a 2-year-old by Ronald Benshoff before being transferred to Hall of Famer Warren A. "Jimmy" Croll, Jr.

A winner of 14 stakes, including 11 graded events, Housebuster won the Jerome Handicap by 13 lengths, the Lafayette Stakes by 11, the Morven Breeders’ Cup by seven, and the Vosburgh Stakes, Derby Trial, and Frank J. DeFrancis Memorial Dash by five or more each.

As a 2-year-old in 1989, Housebuster won two of his three starts, each of which was at the Meadowlands. The following year, Housebuster posted a record of 9-0-1 from 11 starts and earned $651,236. He won the Grade 1 Jerome, the Grade 2 Withers and six Grade 3 events — the King’s Bishop, Sheridan, Derby Trial, Lafayette, Swale, and Hutcheson. From November of 1989 through early May of 1990, Housebuster fashioned an eight-race win streak. His brilliant 3-year-old campaign was rewarded with the Eclipse Award for Outstanding Sprinter.

Returning as a 4-year-old 1991, Housebuster won the Eclipse Award again as the sport’s top sprinter, as he won four of eight starts, including Grade 1 victories in the Vosburgh and Carter. He also won the Grade 2 Forego and the DeFrancis Dash, in which he defeated future Hall of Famer Safely Kept. He was the first sprinter since Ta Wee in 1970 and 1971 to win consecutive championships in the sprint division.

Housebuster was retired following his 1991 campaign with a career record of 15-3-1 from 22 starts and earnings of $1,229,696.  

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter — 1990
Eclipse Award Champion Sprinter — 1991

Notable

Won the Derby Trial Stakes — 1990
Won the Hutcheson Stakes — 1990
Won the Jerome Handicap — 1990
Won the King's Bishop Stakes — 1990
Won the Lafayette Stakes — 1990
Won the Sheridan Stakes — 1990
Won the Swale Stakes — 1990
Won the Withers Stakes — 1990
Won the Carter Handicap — 1991
Won the Forego Handicap — 1991
Won the Vosburgh Stakes — 1991

Horse Profile for Housebuster | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Lure set a track record in his career debut on the dirt at Belmont Park, but it was the son of Danzig’s prowess on the turf, highlighted by consecutive Breeders' Cup Mile victories, that led to his impressive legacy.

Bred in Kentucky by a partnership between Claiborne Farm and The Gamely Corp., Lure won his first two starts as a 3-year-old at Aqueduct, including a thrilling dead-heat with Devil His Due in the Gotham Stakes. But after Lure finished second in the Lexington Stakes and sixth in the Riva Ridge Stakes, Hall of Fame trainer Shug McGaughey and co-owner Seth Hancock of Claiborne decided to switch the colt to the grass.

Lure’s pedigree suggested he would take to the turf. Besides being a grandson of Northern Dancer, his dam, Endear, by Alydar, was a half-sister to the top turf runner Tiller. In his first start on grass, Lure crushed an allowance field at Belmont by 10¼ lengths. Following a second in the Kelso Handicap a month later, Lure won the Breeders’ Cup Mile at Gulfstream from gate to wire by three lengths, smashing the course record in the process.

As a 4-year-old in 1993, Lure opened with an allowance win at Keeneland then followed with Grade 3 victories in the Turf Classic at Churchill Downs and the Dixie Handicap at Pimlico. Lure defeated the standout Star of Cozzene in both of those races, but his rival got the best of him in their next two meetings, the Manhattan Stakes and Caesars International Handicap. Lure then bounced back with victories in the Daryl’s Joy and Kelso before taking aim at a repeat in the Breeders’ Cup Mile.

In the 1993 Breeders’ Cup Mile, Lure overcame an outside post position at Santa Anita by taking an early lead and was hand-ridden by Mike Smith to a 2¼-length victory.

Lure won three of seven starts as a 5-year-old in 1994, but a third consecutive Breeders’ Cup mile victory eluded him as he finished a disappointing ninth at Churchill Downs and was retired to Claiborne Farm with a career record of 14-8-0 from 25 starts and earnings of $2,515,289.

Although he never won an Eclipse Award, Lure was ranked No. 85 in The BloodHorse’s top 100 racehorses of the 20th century.

Achievements

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Mile — 1992
Won the Mile — 1993

Notable

Won the Gotham Stakes — 1992
Won the Daryl's Joy Stakes — 1993
Won the Dixie Handicap — 1993
Won the Kelso Handicap — 1993
Won the Turf Classic Stakes — 1993
Won the Bernard Baruch Handicap — 1994
Won the Caesars International Handicap — 1994
Won the Elkhorn Stakes — 1994

Horse Profile for Lure | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Tuscalee earned a special place in North American steeplechasing history by setting records for the most wins in a single year (10) and career (37).

Bred in Maryland by Alfred H. Smith, Tuscalee was a 15.3-hand bay gelding by Tuscany out of the British Buddy mare Verna Lee. Owned by Smith and trained by Joe Aitcheson, Sr., Tuscalee raced from 1963 through 1972. His regular rider was Hall of Fame jockey Joe Aitcheson, Jr.

“Tuscalee was a grand horse who would run his heart out,” said Aitcheson, Jr. “He was one of the greats.”

Tuscalee was named Champion Steeplechase Horse by the Thoroughbred Racing Associations in 1966 when he posted a record of 10-2-0 from 13 starts. High weights never seemed to bother Tuscalee, as he won with imposts of 167 pounds at Montpelier in Virginia and 165 pounds at Fair Hill in Maryland during his championship season.

In 1972, Tuscalee posted his 37th and final steeplechase victory in the National Hunt Cup at Radnor, Pennsylvania, at the age of 12. Other major victories for Tuscalee included two editions of both the Georgetown Steeplechase Handicap and the Indian River Steeplechase. He also won the Midsummer Hurdle, Clark Cup, and Manly Steeplechase Handicap.

Overall, including some flat racing, Tuscalee finished his career with a record of 39-14-10 from 89 starts and earnings of $130,917.

Achievements

Champion Steeplechase Horse — 1966 (Thoroughbred Racing Associations)

Notable

Won the National Hunt Cup — 1966, 1969, 1972
Won the Georgetown Steeplechase Handicap — 1966, 1967
Won the Indian River Steeplechase Handicap — 1967, 1968
Won the Piedmont Hunt Cup — 1966
Won the Tom Roby Steeplechase — 1966
Won the Midsummer Hurdle Handicap — 1966
Won the Fair Hill Steeplechase Handicap — 1966
Won the Manly Steeplechase Handicap — 1966
Won the Noel Laing Steeplechase — 1966
Won the Clark Cup Steeplechase Handicap — 1968
Won the National Steeplechase Stakes — 1970
— Set records for most steeplechase victories in a year (10) and career (37)

Horse Profile for Tuscalee | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Bred in Kentucky by owner Frank Stronach at Adena Springs, Ghostzapper was one of the most spectacular racehorses of the 21st century’s first decade.

A son of Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Awesome Again out of the Relaunch mare Baby Zip, Ghostzapper broke his maiden in his career debut at Hollywood Park in November 2002 for Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel. Ghostzapper made only one other start that year, finishing fourth in an allowance race at Santa Anita. It was the only time in his 11-race career that he finished out of the money.

As a 3-year-old, Ghostzapper won an allowance at Belmont Park and one at Saratoga Race Course before finishing third in the King’s Bishop at Saratoga, which was his second and final career defeat. Ghostzapper closed out his 2003 campaign with his first Grade 1 victory in the Vosburgh Stakes at Belmont in September.

An injury kept Ghostzapper off the track until July 4, 2004, but his return to the races was spectacular. Ghostzapper secured an easy victory in the Grade 2 Tom Fool Handicap, then romped by 10¾ lengths in the Grade 3 Philip H. Iselin Handicap at Monmouth Park. His jaw-dropping performance in the 1⅛-mile Iselin earned Ghostzapper a Beyer Speed Figure of 128, the highest figure in the history of American racing for a non-sprinting distance. 

Ghostzapper followed his Iselin romp with a spectacular victory in the Grade 1 Woodward Stakes over a strong field that included Saint Liam, the 2005 Horse of the Year. With Hall of Fame jockey Javier Castellano in the irons, Ghostzapper concluded his 4-year-old season with a remarkable effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Lone Star Park in Texas. In a star-studded field that included Azeri, Funny Cide, Birdstone, Perfect Drift, Pleasantly Perfect, and Roses in May, Ghostzapper drew away and covered the 1¼-mile distance in 1:59.02 to set a track and Breeders’ Cup Classic stakes record.

The 4-for-4 campaign garnered Ghostzapper Horse of the Year and Champion Older Male honors in the 2004 Eclipse Award voting. He returned to the races in late May of 2005, winning the Grade 1 Metropolitan Handicap. Ghostzapper was retired a couple weeks later with a hairline fracture in his left front ankle. He closed out his career on a six-race win streak for an overall record of 9-0-1 from 11 starts with earnings of $3,446,120. 

Achievements

Eclipse Award Horse of the Year — 2004
Eclipse Award Champion Older Male — 2004

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Classic — 2004

Notable 

Won the Vosburgh Stakes — 2003
Won the Tom Fool Handicap — 2004
Won the Philip H. Iselin Handicap — 2004
Won the Woodward Stakes — 2004
Won the Metropolitan Handicap — 2005
— Set a stakes and track record in the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic

Horse Profile for Ghostzapper | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information

Biography

Foaled at Kentucky’s famed Woodburn Stud, Duke of Magenta was one of the most accomplished sons of the legendary stallion Lexington. His 3-year-old campaign of 1878 was one of the most prolific of the 19^th century.

A light bay standing 16 hands, Duke of Magenta was owned by George L. Lorillard and trained by Hall of Famer R. Wyndham Walden. When he arrived at the races as a 2-year-old in 1877, Duke of Magenta showed considerable talent. As a juvenile he won the Flash Stakes, Grinstead Stakes (in a dead heat with Spartan), Nursery Stakes, and Central Stakes, and finished second in his three other races for a record of 4-3-0 from seven starts and earnings of $9,987.

As a 3-year-old, Duke of Magenta enjoyed one of the most sensational seasons of the 19th century. He began his sophomore year of 1878 with a victory in the Preakness Stakes in late May and followed with wins in the Withers Stakes and Belmont Stakes. After suffering a defeat in the Jersey Derby at old Monmouth Park (it was reported he was feverish), Duke of Magenta never lost again.

Shipped to Saratoga, Duke of Magenta won the Travers Stakes (defeating Jersey Derby winner Spartan), Sequel Stakes, Kenner Stakes, and Harding Stakes in a three-week period at the Spa. Given a break, he returned in October to win the Jerome Stakes and Annual Sweepstakes at Jerome Park, and the Dixie Stakes and Breckenridge Stakes at Pimlico to conclude his remarkable year with a record of 11-0-1 from 12 starts and earnings of $35,925.

Duke of Magenta was sold at the conclusion of his 3-year-old season by Lorillard to his brother, Pierre Lorillard, who sent him to race in England. Those plans, however, never came to fruition. Duke of Magenta became ill on the voyage and was sent home. He never raced again and was retired with a record of 15-3-1 from 19 starts and earnings of $45,912.

In the book "Racing in America," Duke of Magenta was described as “the best racehorse of his day. Many considered him the best of all Lexington’s sons.”

Although he had not raced in a year, Duke of Magenta appeared at Jerome Park during the October meeting of 1879 and was paraded before an appreciative crowd.

Duke of Magenta was regarded as a fair performer as a stallion, siring a few good runners, including Young Duke. He spent his older years at a farm in Brookline, Massachusetts, and died there Sept. 20, 1899, at the age of 24.  

Achievements

Co-Champion 2-Year-Old Colt — 1877
Horse of the Year — 1878
Champion 3-Year-Old Colt — 1878

Triple Crown Highlights

Won the Preakness Stakes — 1878
Won the Belmont Stakes — 1878

Notable

Won the Central Stakes — 1877
Won the Flash Stakes — 1877
Won the Grinstead Stakes — 1877
Won the Nursery Stakes — 1877
Won the Annual Sweepstakes — 1878
Won the Breckinridge Stakes — 1878
Won the Dixie Stakes — 1878
Won the Harding Stakes — 1878
Won the Jerome Stakes — 1878
Won the Kenner Stakes — 1878
Won the Sequel Stakes — 1878
Won the Travers Stakes — 1878
Won the Withers Stakes — 1878
 

Biography

A two-time Eclipse Award winner, Open Mind was a chestnut filly bred in New Jersey by Due Process Stables. Trained by D. Wayne Lukas, Open Mind won seven Grade 1 races in her career and owned a 10-race win streak.

Open Mind won her career debut on Aug. 15, 1988, in her home state at Monmouth Park. She won the New Jersey Breeders’ Stakes in her next start before finishing second in consecutive races — the Maryland Lassie Stakes and Frizette Stakes — prior to the Breeders’ Cup.

At Churchill Downs, Open Mind made a late drive to defeat Darby Shuffle by 1¾ lengths in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies. Two weeks later, Open Mind added her second Grade 1 victory of the year when won the Demoiselle Stakes at Aqueduct, closing out her juvenile season with a record of 4-2-0 from six starts and earnings of $724,064 to be voted the Eclipse Award for Champion 2-Year-Old Filly.

As a sophomore, Open Mind became a sensation. Including her two wins at the end of her 2-year-old campaign, Open Mind stretched her win streak to 10. She won the Forward Gal, Bonnie Miss, and Pimlico Oaks before returning to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Oaks, which she easily won by 2¼ lengths.

Open Mind was then sent to New York, where she won the Acorn, Mother Goose, Coaching Club American Oaks (by disqualification), and Alabama in succession. The Coaching Club American Oaks victory completed a sweep of the New York Filly Triple Crown. Open Mind became the seventh horse to win the Acorn, Mother Goose, and Coaching Club American Oaks, joining Hall of Famers Dark Mirage, Shuvee, Chris Evert, Ruffian, Davona Dale, and Mom’s Command.

After winning the Alabama Stakes for her 10th straight victory, Open Mind finished third in both the Ruffian Handicap and Breeders’ Cup Distaff, concluding her 3-year-old season with a record of 8-0-2 from 11 starts and earnings of $1,120,308. She won the Eclipse Award for Champion 3-Year-Old Filly.

Following her 3-year-old season, Open Mind was sold to Kazuo Nakamura for $4.6 million when owner Eugene Klein decided to liquidate his racing stock. Open Mind raced twice as a 4-year-old without hitting the board before she was retired with a career record of 12-2-2 from 19 starts and earnings of $1,844,372.

Open Mind died in Japan in 1998 at the age of 12.   

Achievements

Eclipse Award Champion 2-Year-Old Filly — 1988
Eclipse Award Champion 3-Year-Old Filly — 1989

Breeders' Cup Highlights

Won the Juvenile Fillies — 1988

Notable

Won the Demoiselle Stakes — 1988
Won the Acorn Stakes — 1989
Won the Alabama Stakes — 1989
Won the Bonnie Miss Stakes — 1989
Won the Coaching Club American Oaks — 1989
Won the Forward Gal Stakes — 1989
Won the Kentucky Oaks — 1989
Won the Mother Goose Stakes — 1989
Won the Pimlico Oaks — 1989

Horse Profile for Open Mind | Equibase is Your Official Source for Thoroughbred Racing Information