Wolfie’s Dynaghost shares similarities with his graded stakes-winning millionaire half-brother, Sadler’s Joy, but running style isn’t one of them.
While Sadler’s Joy, a son of Kitten’s Joy, was known for his late kick, a style he used to win the 2017 Sword Dancer Stakes (G1T) among other graded events, Wolfie’s Dynaghost is most effective when he flaunts his speed.
It works for him, a point on display when he went gate to wire in the $300,000 River City Stakes (G3T) Nov. 8 at Churchill Downs. Clipping off blistering splits in the 1 1/8-mile turf race of :22.79, :46.22, 1:09.59, and 1:33.36, the 7-year-old gelded son of Ghostzapper sustained his run to the wire, crossing the finish 2 3/4 lengths ahead of runner-up Taking Candy in 1:45.58. His time was just .07 off the course record set by multiple grade 1 winner She Feels Pretty earlier this year.
Wolfie’s Dynaghost was foaled on the bucolic Hidden Brook Farm property in Paris, Kentucky.
“And look, he ran like his father today,” trainer Brian Lynch said. “He looked like Ghostzapper coming down the lane.”
A Hall of Fame racehorse and highly accomplished sire, Ghostzapper led from start to finish in the 2004 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), among other races. Winding down his stallion career, he stood in 2025 for a private fee at Frank Stronach’s Adena Springs North in Ontario, Canada.
A versatile gelding with victories on dirt, synthetic, and turf, Wolfie’s Dynaghost won for the 13th time in 31 starts for owners/breeders Rene and Lauren Woolcott of Woodslane Farm. The River City was his sixth stakes victory and second at the graded level. He has earned $1,230,347.
Saturday was his first outing for Lynch, who praised the care and condition of the gelding when he arrived in his barn this fall after being under the care of trainer Jonathan Thomas. Lynch captured the River City for a second time after striking with Heart to Heart in 2015.
Jockey Luis Saez said he wanted Wolfie’s Dynaghost to “be happy” running freely. “It was one of the fastest races I ever rode. But I just let it run because he was doing it so comfortably,” he added.
Taking Candy rallied to grab second but was never a threat to the winner. Mercante and Lagynos also closed to finish in a dead heat for third. Favored Chasing the Crown never fired in finishing a non-threatening seventh.
-edited from www.Bloodhorse.com
