Journeyman Offers Top Freshman Sire Guarantee on Khozan

Brent and Crystal Fernung are so confident their stallion Khozan  has the quality to be Florida's leading freshman sire next year that they are putting the breeding fees from 25 matings on the line.

"In my opinion, Khozan far and away represents the best combination of talent and pedigree of any stallion in Florida, and we're thrilled with the quality of Khozan's first yearlings," said syndicate manager Brent Fernung in a Dec. 10 statement. "Consequently, we are willing to put our money where our mouth is. The first 25 contracts issued to Khozan for the 2019 breeding season come with this guarantee: If Khozan is not Florida's leading first-crop sire in 2019, you don't have to pay the stud fee for your 2020 foal."

Khozan, who stands for $4,000 at the Fernungs' Journeyman Stud near Ocala, Fla., is a Distorted Humor  half brother to three-time champion Royal Delta, as well as grade 1 winner Crown Queen and recent grade 1-placed, grade 2 winner Delta Prince. The latter won this year's King Edward Stakes (G2T) at Woodbine and was second in the Fourstardave Handicap (G1T) at Saratoga Race Course. 

Bred by Adena Springs and raced by Al Shaqab Racing, Khozan started twice at Gulfstream Park at 3 in 2015. He broke his maiden at first asking and followed up with a 12 3/4-length length victory in an allowance race a month later. An injury while training for the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1) caused him to be retired early to stud.

Other stallions standing at Journeyman are Fury Kapcori  ($3,000), Winslow Homer ($2,500), and Exclusive Quality ($1,500).