Ghostzapper’s Gal in a Rush Wins Presque Isle Downs Masters

[Wandering Eyes]

Third in the GII Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes last year, Gal in a Rush (m, 6, Ghostzapper–Hudson River Gal, by Dynaformer) went one better in 2025, capturing the Friday evening feature with aplomb. Away from the winner's circle for the past 14 months despite adding several black-type placings to her CV, the Miguel Clement trainee emerged from Friday night's fray with a dramatic inside bid to capture her first win since the 2024 GIII Hendrie Stakes at Woodbine. A closing Ellen Jay (Constitution)–the stakes-winning daughter of Eclipse champion Covfefe (Into Mischief)–was second, while MSW Tricky Temper (Into Mischief) finished third.

Gal in a Rush left the gates cleanly at 10-1, dropping back well off the pace set by Mitole Magic (Mitole) in front, who blazed through :22.18 and :44.26 quarters. Coming off the turn, Gal in a Rush–parked several paths off the rail–took a left turn, diving to the inside in an eye-catching move. She flew toward the wire, devouring Mitole Magic while simultaneously holding off the others by a length. The final time for the West Point Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen, and Titletown Racing Stables runner was 1:14.45 for the six furlongs over the all-weather surface.

Bred in Kentucky by Tom and Mary Lou Teal and Adena Springs, Gal in a Rush sold as a weanling for $130,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale to De Meric Stables, then went through the OBS March sale in 2021, where West Point picked her up for $375,000. Originally trained by Christophe Clement, she's now hit the board 16 times in 24 starts. While the Masters is only her second graded win following the Hendrie, the bay has another eight black-type placings.

Pedigree Notes:

Ghostzapper, the 2004 Horse of the Year who stood in 2025 at Adena Springs North after years in Kentucky–first at Adena Springs and most recently at Hill 'n' Dale–is the sire of Gal in a Rush and 106 other black-type winners. His 60 graded winners include 2025 winners Banishing, Dr. Venkman, Segesta, and Ole Crazy Bone, while he is also the broodmare of 2025 graded winners Book'em Danno (Bucchero) and East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro). Even at age 25, he still sent a yearling through the Keeneland ring last week for $1.175 million.

Gal in a Rush is one of nine stakes winners by Ghostzapper out of a Dynaformer mare, including Canadian champion Theadora B. Gal in a Rush is the sole black-type winner out of her winning dam, a $200,000 Mike Ryan purchase at Keeneland September in 2013. The mare has a 2-year-old Charlatan filly named Charlat River, who was a $65,000 West Point purchase at last year's Keeneland September sale, and a yearling full-brother to Gal in a Rush, who was an $80,000 Faris Breeding buy at this year's Keeneland sale. Hudson River Gal was bred to Kingsbarns for 2026.

 

GAL IN A RUSH ($22.60) dove to the rail and flew up the pine with @JRosarioJockey in the $300,000 Presque Isle Downs Masters Stakes (G2) at @PID_Casino. The Ghostzapper mare is trained by @clementstable for owners @westpointtbred, Chris Larsen, & Titletown Racing Stables. pic.twitter.com/9unjo1A7In

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) September 20, 2025

Friday, Presque Isle Downs
PRESQUE ISLE DOWNS MASTERS S.-GII, $301,000, Presque Isle Downs, 9-19, 3yo/up, f/m, 6 1/2f (AWT), 1:14.45, ft.
1–GAL IN A RUSH, 119, m, 6, by Ghostzapper
              1st Dam: Hudson River Gal, by Dynaformer
              2nd Dam: Miss City Halo, by Carson City
              3rd Dam: Glimmering Halo, by Halo
($130,000 Wlg '19 KEENOV; $375,000 2yo '21 OBSMAR).
O-West Point Thoroughbreds, Chris Larsen, and Titletown
Racing Stables; B-Tom & Mary Lou Teal & Adena Springs
(KY); T-Miguel Clement; J-Joel Rosario. $180,000. Lifetime
Record: 24-5-7-4, $661,257. Werk Nick Rating: A+++.
*Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree
or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Ellen Jay, 119, f, 4, Constitution–Covfefe, by Into Mischief.
1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O/B-LNJ Foxwoods (KY); T-Brad H.
Cox. $60,000.
3–Tricky Temper, 123, f, 4, Into Mischief–Winter Book, by
Any Given Saturday. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($97,000
RNA Ylg '22 FTKOCT; $230,000 2yo '23 OBSAPR). O-Mark H.
Stanley; B-Sequel Thoroughbreds, LLC & Lakland Farm (NY);
T-Jeremiah C. Englehart. $30,000.
Margins: 1, NO, 2. Odds: 10.30, 2.90, 34.80.
Also Ran: Candy Reward, Ticker Tape Home, Mitole Magic, Elysian Field, Stormcast, Ms. Tart, Freedom Speaks, Pandora's Gift (Ire), Naughty Favors. Scratched: Milliat (Ire).
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

 

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