BY BROCK SHERIDAN
Stakes-winner Khozalite and Redland Rebels, two Florida-bred colts who won their respective maiden races on the grass as 2-year-olds last year, start their sophomore years on the lawn in the $175,000 Kitten’s Joy Stakes at the Gulfstream Park grass Saturday. Eight 3-year-olds are entered to go a mile-and-a-sixteenth with Khozalite and Redland Rebels running for $25,000 from the Florida-bred incentive fund included in the purse.
After winning a one-mile maiden special weight on the grass at Gulfstream on August 30 in his second start, Khozalite successfully returned to the main track for the seven-furlong second leg of the Florida Thoroughbred Breeders’ and Owners’ Association Florida Sire Stakes on October 18. The bay son of Ocala Stud’s perennial leading Florida Sire Khozan took to the dirt in the seven-furlong test, winning the $200,000 Affirmed by four lengths. He was unsuccessful around two turns in his next start, the third leg of the Florida Sire Stakes. He finished fourth as the favorite in the $300,000 In Reality at a mile-and-sixteenth on November 29—his last start of 2025.
Khozalite is trained by Jose D’Angelo for Half Hollow Stables and ProRacing Stable, for whom he has earned $194,450 in his four races. Pro Racing Stable purchased Khozalite for $55,000 out of the Journeyman Bloodstock Services consignment at last year’s Ocala Breeders’ Sales Spring Sale. He is out of Starship Crystal, by Congrats and was bred in Florida by Monarch Farms Inc.
Khozalite has post one and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.
Redland Rebels makes his stakes debut after two starts as a 2-year-old.
He was fourth against special weight maidens going six furlongs on dirt at Gulfstream in July before trainer Patrick Biancone put him on the turf for his second start. Redland Rebels responded with a six-and-three-quarter-length victory in a one-mile maiden special weight, leading from start to finish and pushing his revenue ledger to $52,600.
Redland Rebels is by Uncle Chuck out of Kombat Cat, by D’wildcat and was bred in Florida by Hickstead Farm. He was a $25,000 purchase by current owner Calypso Racing out of the Kaizen Sales consignment at the 2024 OBS October Yearling Sale.
Junior Alvarado gets the mount on Redland Rebels from post eight.
Others entered are Alpyland with John Velazquez named to ride, Chalky White with Jorge Ruiz up, Edgard Zayas has the call on Glorious Boy, Thousandsticks will be ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Turf Star and rider Tyler Gaffalione and Corey Lanerie will have the reins on Knoty Knicks.
Return to the January 28 issue of Wire to Wire
