Khozan on top of Florida sire standings
While race meets around the country have been curtailed, postponed, or canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic, Gulfstream Park is among those that have continued on steadily. And young Florida sire Khozan has continued on to national attention as well.
Khozan, a lightly raced half-brother to Hall of Fame racemare Royal Delta, was a breakout success with his first runners last year. The Journeyman Stud resident was not only Florida’s leading freshman and juvenile sire of 2019, his numbers were good enough to finish eighth nationally in a powerhouse freshman sire class, despite having fewer runners than any of the Kentucky-based stallions ahead of him. As his runners have turned the corner from age 2 to 3, Khozan has emerged as Florida’s leading general sire through the first quarter of 2020. Led by stakes winner Liam’s Lucky Charm, Khozan’s progeny bankroll for the season stands at $720,212 through Sunday.
:: DRF BREEDING LIVE: Real-time coverage of breeding and sales
Double Diamond Farm’s First Dude, Florida’s leading sire of 2018 when he was represented by Eclipse Award champion Shamrock Rose, sits second to Khozan, with progeny earnings of $706,370. First Dude’s top earner this season is Rogue Too, who has won six consecutive races, including the Latonia Stakes at Turfway. Arindel Farm’s Brethren, who sired one of the first 2-year-old winners of the season, rounds out the top three at $569,635. Completing the top five are the Ocala Stud duo of Adios Charlie, the state’s leading general sire of 2019, with $543,635, and Awesome of Course at $475,735, led by Florida Derby runner-up Shivaree.
Khozan, by Distorted Humor, won his two starts in dominant fashion, but was injured while preparing for his stakes debut and retired. Liam’s Lucky Charm was Khozan’s top earner of 2019, as he won the Affirmed Stakes division of the Florida Sire Stakes and finished second and third in two other stakes in the series behind Chance It. Liam’s Lucky Charm began his 2020 season with an open-company win in the Pasco Stakes at Tampa Bay. More recently, he stretched out and finished 10th in the Grade 2 Risen Star at Fair Grounds and ninth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream, both Kentucky Derby points races. Khozan also is the sire of Untitled, runner-up in the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes, and Zimba Warrior, third in the Grade 3 Sham Stakes.