Expensive Ghostzapper Firster a Rising Star at Churchill

[Wandering Eyes]

St Elias and West Point Thoroughbreds BUGLE NOTES (c, 3, Ghostzapper–Pension, by Seeking the Gold) had to do it tough following a tardy dispatch, but just kept on coming and edged clear late to score by two lengths to become a ‘TDN Rising Star’ during the early portion of the Oaks undercard Friday at Churchill. At $825,000, the bay colt was the most expensive of 38 of his sire’s yearlings to sell in 2016 and he was duly sent off the 9-10 chalk to get his career off on a winning note. One of the last away from the gates, Bugle Notes jumped into the bridle, but had no choice but to race four and five deep on the track in the run to the turn. Able to sustain his momentum despite the considerable ground loss on the bend, he swept up to lead despite drifting in a bit on second-time starter Bueno Bueno Bueno (Majesticperfection) at the furlong grounds and stuck to his task to take it by about two lengths. A half-brother to SW Giant Payday (Giant’s Causeway) and GSW Annual Report (Harlan’s Holiday), Bugle Notes is out of a daughter of GISW Furlough (Easy Goer), the dam of GSW Happy Hunting (Seeking the Gold) and SW Pardon (Elusive Quality). The third dam includes Furlough’s Grade I-winning half-sister Finder’s Fee (Storm Cat) and GI Breeders’ Cup Sprint hero Dancing Spree (Ninjinsky II). Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0. O-St Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds; B-Gainesway Thoroughbreds Ltd (KY); T-Todd A Pletcher.

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