Ivan Dalos's homebred Gamble's Ghost (Ghostzapper) was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' nearly three years ago in an eye-catching debut win at Woodbine, and on Sunday she registered her fifth career graded stakes victory with a dramatic rallying score in the GIII Ontario Matron S. at the Toronto oval. It was the second consecutive win for the 5-year-old mare, who won the GIII Trillium S. over an identical local trip June 17.
Settling off the pace towards the back of the pack behind measured fractions of :24.65 and :50.21, the dark bay angled four wide to commence her rally on the far turn and was left with all but one rival to pass at the head of the lane. She shifted out further to the center of the course in search of a clear path once straightened out for the drive and uncorked a strong, sustained rally to forge past Let It Ride Mom (Into Mischief) and claim the win.
Gamble's Ghost has now won graded stakes at Woodbine in four consecutive years–a streak that began with a third-out score in the GIII Mazarine S. In 2015. She followed with a win in the GIII Selene S. in May 2016 and found the winner's circle in the GIII Maple Leaf S. traveling 10 furlongs last November. She returned from a winter layup with an even third-place effort in a May 21 no conditions allowance event and used that race as a successful springboard to her tally in the Trillium last month.
Pedigree Notes:
Dalos acquired Gamble's Ghost's dam Gambling Girl for $8,029 as a yearling at the 1994 Canadian Breeders Yearlings Sale and the mare went on to capture the 1996 La Prevoyante S. in his colors. In addition to MSP Purrfect Bluff (Lion Heart), she is also responsible for Forest Gamble (Forest Wildcat), herself the dam of last term's Victoria S. winner Blueblood (City Zip). The winner's second dam Dawn's Deputy is a half-sister to Group 1 winner and successful dual-Hemisphere sire Bluebird (Storm Bird).
Sunday, Woodbine
ONTARIO MATRON S.-GIII, C$140,400, Woodbine, 7-15, 3yo/up, f/m, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:44.88, ft.
1–GAMBLE'S GHOST, 124, m, 5, by Ghostzapper&log=">Ghostzapper
1st Dam: Gambling Girl (SW, $209,073), by Secret Claim
2nd Dam: Dawn's Deputy, by Deputy Minister
3rd Dam: Ivory Dawn, by Sir Ivor
'TDN Rising Star' O-Ivan Dalos; B-Tall Oaks Farm (ON); T-Josie
Carroll; J-Eurico Rosa Da Silva. C$90,000. Lifetime Record:
19-9-3-1, $721,560. *1/2 to Purrfect Bluff (Lion Heart), MSP,
$368,944. Werk Nick Rating: A.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.[bullet ad=”webb-carroll-another-wctc-grad”][bullet ad=”ontario-bred”]2—Let It Ride Mom, 119, f, 4, Into Mischief–Golden Marlin, by
Marlin. ($77,000 Ylg '15 KEESEP; $375,000 2yo '16 OBSMAR).
O-Live Oak Plantation; B-Tim Thornton, Robert Watt, Doug
Glass & Greg Foley (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. C$25,000.[bullet ad=”woodford-trained”]3–My Arch Enemy, 118, f, 4, Arch–City Fair, by Carson City.
($90,000 2yo '16 OBSAPR). O-Gary Barber; B-Scott & Evan
Dilworth (KY); T-Mark E. Casse. C$12,500.[bullet ad=”mckathan-brothers-sales-and-training-graduate”]Margins: NK, 1, HD. Odds: 2.25, 3.30, 7.00.
Also Ran: Malibu Bonnie, Sister Nation, Moonlit Promise, Just Be Kind, Daddy's Great Bay, Grizzel (Ire). Click for the Equibase.com chart, the TJCIS.com PPs or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree. VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton.
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