They bet him like he couldn't lose, and Grande (Curlin) came through for his supporters to win his first graded stakes in the GIII Ghostzapper Stakes on Florida Derby Day at Gulfstream Park.One of the most talked about 3-year-olds last season, both for his ability and as a high-profile vet scratch from Kentucky Derby 151 due to a foot issue, the son of Curlin has lost only once in his career–a runner-up effort in the GII Wood Memorial Stakes that preceded the Kentucky Derby drama, and subsequent layoff until last month. Returning against optional claimer foes Feb. 14 going a mile over this main track, he was challenged every step of the way by GSW Praetor (Into Mischief) and came back in the lane to win by three-quarters of a length. The rest of the field was over 15 lengths behind that pair. Grande earned a career-best 105 Beyer for that effort.Adding blinkers for this second jump, and hammered at the windows to the tune of 1-9 overwhelming favoritism, he jumped well to immediately claim dominion over the rail and coasted along through easy fractions of :24.57 and a half-mile in :49.42. With Capital Idea (Classic Empire) never far away as they swung into the final bend, John Velazquez roused his charge for some effort leaving the furlong marker as his longtime shadow looked to make the race interesting in the lane. The pair distanced themselves from the field, but Capital Idea ultimately could not close the gap, and Grande secured the hardware by three-quarters of a length. The 63-1 wild longshot Racing Driver (Dialed In), who was close up in the early stages but faded later, held on for third. It was all #2 GRANDE ($2.20) who went gate-to-wire in the Ghostzapper Stakes Presented by FanDuel TV (G3) at @GulfstreamPark. The son of Curlin was ridden by @ljlmvel and is trained by Todd Pletcher. @RepoleStable owns. pic.twitter.com/jPKbtv9bxO— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) March 28, 2026Pedigree Notes:Grande is the second successful stakes horse behind his half-sister, Canadian graded winner Ticker Tape Home (Medaglia d'Oro). That sibling is a frequent face at Woodbine, and she's hit the board seven times in black-type events on the turf and synthetic, including two victories. Their dam, Journey Home (War Front), is a half-sister to the dam of SW & MGSP Scipio (Caravaggio). Her most recent reported offspring is a 2026 colt by Oscar Performance.This is the distant female family of GISW Nadal (Blame) and GSW Perfect Shot (Gun Runner) as well as champion juvenile filly Pleasant Stage and multiple Grade I winner Marsh Side.Saturday, GulfstreamGHOSTZAPPER S. PRESENTED BY FANDUEL TV-GIII, $150,000, Gulfstream, 3-28, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:44.26, ft.1–GRANDE, 120, c, 4, by Curlin 1st Dam: Journey Home (GSW, $225,997), by War Front 2nd Dam: Soul Search, by A.P. Indy 3rd Dam: Solar Colony, by Pleasant Colony1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($300,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). O-Repole Stable; B-KatieRich Farms (KY); T-Todd A. Pletcher; J-John R. Velazquez. $91,140. Lifetime Record: 5-4-1-0, $361,940. *1/2 to Ticker Tape Home (Medaglia d'Oro), GSW, $361,803. Werk Nick Rating: A. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.2–Capital Idea, 120, g, 5, Classic Empire–Rever de Vous, by Distorted Humor. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($260,000 Ylg '22 KEESEP). O-Paul Woosley; B-Steven & Brandi Nicholson (KY); T-William I. Mott. $29,400.3–Racing Driver, 120, c, 4, Dialed In–Munhall Miss, by Notional. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. ($20,000 RNA Ylg '23 FTKJUL; $35,000 Ylg '23 OBSOCT; $170,000 2yo '24 OBSAPR). O-JR Ranch, Marquee Bloodstock, High Step Racing and OGMA Investments LLC; B-Mark R. Moran (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado. $14,700.Margins: 3/4, 7 3/4, 1. Odds: 0.10, 7.40, 63.90.Also Ran: Lightning Tones, Cadet Corps, Steal Sunshine, Freedom Principle. Scratched: Forged Steel, Timeout. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.The post Grande Posts Big Win in Ghostzapper, Extends Perfect Start to 2026 Campaign appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.