Rhyme Schemes

Rhyme Schemes pictured winning the Saratoga Special. Susie Raisher photo.

Ghostzapper was one of the most brilliant horses ever seen in American racing. The 2004 American Horse of the Year and the top-rated horse of 2004 on the World Thoroughbred Racehorse Rankings, he was given a Beyer Speed Figure of 128 for his performance in the 2004 Philip H. Iselin Handicap (G3), the highest BSF ever awarded for a non-sprint distance. He won Grade 1 races from 6.5 to 10 furlongs and earned Equibase speed figures of 120+ in his last six starts. Now, some of that brilliance is available to Louisiana breeders in the form of his son Rhyme Schemes, a precocious juvenile with the pedigree to go long and at the highest level.

Ghostzapper has always been noted for his ability to bequeath speed to his offspring, but that speed has typically taken time to develop. Rhyme Schemes was the exception to that rule. After breaking in mid-pack in his first start and never attaining a desirable position, he showed he had learned from that experience in his second start, a maiden special weight at Ellis Park. Going 5½ furlongs on the dirt, Rhyme Schemes broke on top and stayed there, romping home by 9½ lengths in a solid time of 1:02.82. His victims that day included 2023 Champagne Stakes (G1) and 2024 Rebel Stakes (G2) winner Timberlake, 2026 Poker Stakes (G3) winner Pass the Hat, and 2024 stakes winner Ponce de Leon.

From there, Rhyme Schemes went to Saratoga and stepped up to graded company, entering the Herb Moelis Memorial Saratoga Special Stakes (G2). Showing increased maturity, he raced comfortably in mid-pack early before taking command in upper stretch. From there, he ran away from his field, again finishing 9½ lengths in front while stopping the timer for the 6½ furlong race in 1:17.12.  Finishing over 29 lengths behind him was Woodcourt, four times stakes-placed and an earner of nearly three-quarters of a million dollars thus far in his career.

Unfortunately, Rhyme Schemes was not able to race again for close to a year, missing the major fall juvenile events and the Triple Crown series. Brought back in an optional claimer at Ellis Park on August 3, 2024, he showed his old speed at the start and hung on gamely at the finish, losing by half a length to the grade 1-placed 4-year-old Cyclone Mischief. The time for the race was a smart 1:08.87 for six furlongs, less than a second off the track record set by multiple grade 2 winner Limousine Liberal in 2015. Left 5¾ lengths behind Rhyme Schemes was Awesome Aaron, winner of the following year’s Pimlico Special (G3). It was a promising first step for a comeback, but it was to go no further than that. Attempts to get Rhyme Schemes back to the track for further racing were unsuccessful, and he entered stud in 2026 at Clear Creek Stud.

Ghostzapper needs nearly as little introduction as a sire as he does as a racehorse. According to the Jockey Club, he has 108 stakes winners to his credit, including eight champions and seventeen millionaires. His runners have ranged from champion female sprinters Goodnight Olive and Judy the Beauty to Queen’s Plate winners Moira and Shaman Ghost, both successful in grade 1 races at a mile and a quarter or more in the United States. Rhyme Schemes is unusual in this glittering company, however; he is one of only four sons of Ghostzapper to have won a North American graded stakes race as a juvenile. Yet he has the background to suggest that he might have achieved much more with maturity had misfortune not intervened.

Rhyme Schemes is the second foal and second winner from the winning Distorted Humor mare Katherine, whose dam, Eileen’s Dream, is also a winner. Sired by Bernardini, Eileen’s Dream is a full sister to Adream, dam of 2026 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by Resorts World Casino (G2) ainner Albus (by Yaupon) and 2018 Allaire DuPont Distaff Stakes (G3) winner Song of Spring (by Spring At Last). Through another daughter, Dulces Suenos (by Super Saver), Adream is the second dam of stakes winner Soul Sacrifice (by the Tiznow horse Home of the Brave).

Produced from the Unbridled mare Turbo Dream, Eileen’s Dream is also a half sister to 2007 Prioress Breeders’ Cup Stakes (G1) and Darley Test Stakes (G1) winner Dream Rush (by Wild Rush), dam of 2012 Frizette Stakes (G1) winner Dreaming of Julia (by A.P. Indy), multiple grade 3 winner Dream Pauline (by Tapit), and multiple stakes winner Atreides (by Medaglia d’Oro). The 2022 Kentucky Broodmare of the Year, Dreaming of Julia is, in turn, the dam of two-time Eclipse Award winner Malathaat (by Curlin) and 2022 Demoiselle Stakes (G2) winner Julia Shining (by Curlin). Returning to Eileen’s Dream, she is also a half sister to stakes-placed Dream Sweeper (by Salt Lake), second dam of 2025 Starlet Stakes (G2) winner Consequent (by Into Mischief) and multiple stakes winner Show Card (by Into Mischief) via her Uncle Mo daughter Cognitive.

Rhyme Schemes is a strongly made, short-coupled horse with good muscling and should pair well with a wide variety of mares. He may be particularly attractive to breeders who want to add the potential for two-turn stamina to their mares’ foals without sacrificing too much in the way of speed or precocity, yet he has much to offer stamina-oriented mares that need an injection of speed. His pedigree is free of the popular lines of Storm Cat, Unbridled’s Song, and Tapit, potentially making him a good choice for mares descended from those stallions. Other pedigree elements that may work well with him include Curlin, Dynaformer, and Carson City.

Rhyme Schemes is standing at Clear Creek Stud near Folsom. He stood the 2026 season for $3,000 live foal with discounts available for multiple mares submitted by the same owner. His first foals will arrive in 2027.