You're Listening to an article from Canadian Thoroughbred.com. Scary Good: Ontario bred Ghost Me Overcomes Trouble in My Dear By:
JENNIFER MORRISON | .
Breeders Jay and Christine Hayden made the trek to Woodbine from their Saintsbury Farm near Lucan, Ontario on July 12 to see a filly they brought into the world compete in the My Dear Stakes.
The long trip was worth it as GHOST ME. a 2-year-old filly by Ghostzapper their stakes-winning mare Unspured by Lemon Drop Kid, scored a theatrical win in the 5 1/2 furlong dash for owners R.A. Hill Stables, Rick Pitino’s RAP Racing, Reagan Swinbank and Tom and Daryn Brockley. Trained by George Weaver, Ghost Me had won her career debut on the grass at Aqueduct on June 12 as the odds on favourite. She was the 2 to 1 public’s choice in the My Dear with Sahin Civaci getting the mount but her backers had to sweat it out until very late in the race.
Outrun early by the very quick Barometric, a maiden winner for Tim Hamm, Ghost Me stayed inside and stalking the pace until Sarayu clipped heels and stumbled badly in front of her.
“It was a tough trip and she overcame it,” said Civaci. “The 5 horse (Sarayu) clipped heels or stumbled in front of us. I thought she was going to go down.”
“After that, coming home it got really tight and she hesitated, just for a second. But she overcame that and she came with a good kick.”
Indeed, Ghost Me was polished as she charged up the rail to win over Mrs. D, owned by JDLP Holdings. First time starter Worldy Charm, by Vekoma, finished third for Tracy Farmer.
Ghost Me ran the distance in 1:05.27.
The Haydens, fresh off selling the their most expensive yearling last fall (a $550,000 Nyquist colt), kept Unspurned to race when she was not bought at auction due to a bone spur. Unspurned won over $400,000 and is now the dam of two stakes winners, both trained by Weaver. Pop Idol won the Shady Well Stakes at Woodbine in 2024 and the Galway Stakes last year.
Ghost Me was a $385,000 Keeneland September yearling last fall.
Unspurned as a yearling colt and weanling filly by Charlatan.
Earlier on Sunday, the Haydens celebrated a win for their stallion MOHAYMEN with beginner CHAMPAGNE SUNDAY, who won the first race, a maiden optional claiming race for 2-year-olds. Champagne Sunday was bred by Northern Dawn Sable and she is owned by Big Z Thoroughbreds and Dave Cotey.
Read more about the Haydens at the CTHS Ontario website:
