Broodmare of the Year Baby Zip Euthanized
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Photo: Cheryl Manista
Baby Zip was the 2005 Broodmare of the Year and the dam of both City Zip and Ghostzapper
Baby Zip, the 2005 Broodmare of the Year and dam of grade 1 winners and sires City Zip and Ghostzapper , was euthanized at age 26 due to complications from laminitis, Frank Stronach's Adena Springs Kentucky announced April 20.
A bay daughter of Relaunch out of the Tri Jet mare Thirty Zip, Baby Zip was bred in Kentucky by J. Robert Harris Jr. A stakes winner at 2, Baby Zip was purchased privately by Stronach following her racing career for his Adena Springs breeding operation.
Baby Zip first achieved national prominence as the dam of City Zip, a Carson City runner who won the 2000 edition of the Hopeful Stakes (G1) and seven other stakes while earning $818,225.
Following a brief stint in New York, City Zip relocated to Lane's End Farm in Kentucky, where he has enjoyed a very successful career at stud. He has sired such grade 1 standouts at Catch a Glimpse, Finest City, and Dayatthespa.
Baby Zip is perhaps best known as the dam of Stronach Stables' homebred Ghostzapper, a son of Awesome Again trained by Bobby Frankel who won nine of his 11 starts, including the 2004 Breeders' Cup Classic Powered by Dodge (G1). Named 2004 Horse of the Year and champion older male, Ghostzapper returned in 2015 to capture the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) in his final start. He retired with earnings of $3,446,120 and was inducted into the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame in 2012.
Ghostzapper also ranked prominently among leading North American sires for the last decade and is the sire of 2017 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1) hopeful McCraken. City Wolf , by Giant's Causeway , is the last stakes winner produced by Baby Zip. City Wolf stands alongside Ghostzapper at Adena Springs Kentucky.
Baby Zip's final foal was Kid's Zip, an Unbridled's Song gelding born in 2012. She had eight winners and three graded stakes winners from 12 starters.
"Baby Zip's influence on our stud book will remain prominent for generations to follow," said Adena Springs' general manager Eoin Ryan. "It's a rarity to produce a pair of stallions that have made such a strong impact on our breed. We'll certainly miss having her around the farm."