Ghostzapper named 2004 Horse of the Year

By: SPORTS NETWORK

Beverly Hills, CA (Sports Network) - There were no real surprises

Monday night at the 2004 Eclipse Awards ceremony as undefeated

Ghostzapper, winner of the Breeders' Cup Classic, was voted

Horse of the Year over Smarty Jones.

Ghostzapper received 174 first place votes to 95 for Smarty Jones. Ashado

and Kitten's Joy each got one vote.

Ghostzapper was also named Champion Older Male Horse while former

 Horse of the Year Azeri was named Champion Older Female for the

 third consecutive year.

As expected, Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner Smarty Jones

garnered Champion Three-Year-Old Male over the only thoroughbred

to ever defeat him, Birdstone. Smarty Jones' trainer, John Servis, was

 awarded the Big Sport of Turfdom Award. That honor comes from the

Turf Publicists of America.

The Champion Sprinter for 2004 is Breeders' Cup Sprint winner

 Speightstown. Ashado was voted Champion Three-Year-Old Filly while

Sweet Catomine was named Champion Two-Year-Old Filly.

Kitten's Joy is the Champion Male Turf Horse for 2004 and actually finished

second to Smarty Jones in the voting for Three-Year-Old Male.

 Ouija Board, winner of the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf, was voted

Champion Female Turf Horse.

Declan's Moon was named Champion Two-Year-Old Male for 2004.

Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Wilko was third in the voting with

Afleet Alex second. Afleet Alex finished second to Wilko in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile.

Hirapour was voted Champion Steeplechaser for 2004.

Todd Pletcher was voted Trainer of the Year and John Velazquez, the

 regular rider for Pletcher, is the Champion Jockey. Pletcher trains

Ashado and Speightstown.

Kenneth and Sarah Ramsey were voted Owner of the Year and

Frank Stronach's Adena Springs won Breeder of the Year.

The Apprentice of the Year went to Brian Hernandez, Jr. He easily

 outdistanced Pablo Fragoso.