Khozan Gets First Winner at Gulfstream Park

First-time starter and Stonehedge homebred Solid as a Rock became the first winner for Journeyman Stallions' freshman sire Khozan  when the filly captured a $65,000 maiden special weight by three lengths May 2 at Gulfstream Park.

Trained by Kathleen O'Connell, Solid as a Rock won the 4 1/2-furlong race on Gulfstream's main track gate-to-wire and stopped the timer in :51.97, nearly a second off the track record.

Solid as a Rock is the fourth foal and second winner out of Irish-bred Silver Rock, a stakes-placed daughter of Rock of Gibraltar. The mare is a half sister to Silver Cup (by Almutawakel), who won the group 2 Premio Regina Elena (Italian One Thousand Guineas) and was a three-time grade 2 winner in the United States. Stonehedge owner Gilbert Campbell acquired Silver Rock for $100,000 at the 2013 Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale.

Because Khozan is a half brother to multiple champion Royal Delta (Empire Maker ) and grade 1 winners Delta Prince (Street Cry) and Crown Queen (Smart Strike), Al Shaqab Racing went to $1 million to buy him as a 2-year-old at The Florida Sale in 2014 out of the Hartley/DeRenzo Thoroughbreds consignment. The son of Distorted Humor  raced and won twice at 3 before injury sidetracked his racing career ahead of an anticipated start in the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1).

Khozan entered stud at Journeyman Stallions, where he stands for $4,000. If Khozan does not become Florida's leading freshman sire, Journeyman has agreed to waive the stud fee for the first 25 contracts to Khozan this year.