BY AVALYN HUNTER

Since 2000, Khozan has ruled as the king of Florida stallions. In 2024, the competition wasn’t even close as Khozan racked up more than $5.6 million in progeny earnings, double the amount credited to his nearest rival in Florida and fourth among all North American sires standing outside Kentucky. He also led the Florida sire list by number of winners with 119 of his progeny finding the winner’s circle in 2024, second only to Tapiture among stallions not based in Kentucky.

As a son of 2011 champion sire Distorted Humor and a half-brother to 2011 champion 3-year-old filly Royal Delta (by Empire Maker x Delta Princess, by A.P. Indy), much was expected from Khozan from birth. The expectations grew higher as Royal Delta won two more championship titles in the older female division in 2012 and 2013, followed by Crown Queen (Smart Strike x Delta Princess) winning the 2014 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (Grade 1). (Later, Khozan would gain a third grade 1-winning half sibling in the Street Cry horse Delta Prince, winner of the 2019 Maker’s Mark Mile.)

Khozan made his first start on Jan. 24, 2015 and did not disappoint, posting an Equibase figure of 111 for a three-and-three-quarters-length victory in a seven-furlong Gulfstream Park maiden special weight. He followed up brilliantly in a one-mile optional claimer over the same track on Feb. 22, scoring by 12 ¾ lengths. That made him the “buzz horse” for the Besilu Stables Florida Derby (G1), but a sesamoid injury in his last work before the big race ended his racing career.

 

The racing world’s loss was Florida breeders’ gain. As of Jan. 20, 2025, Khozan has sired 238 winners (including 89 juvenile winners) and 17 stakes winners, including Polla de Potrillos (G1)-winner Airbus in Peru and North American graded stakes winners Background, Foggy Night, Hot Peppers and R Harper Rose. To date, his runners have racked up more $25.3 million in progeny earnings.

A medium-sized, well-balanced horse with good muscling at his shoulder and hip, Khozan has shown the ability to suit a wide variety of bloodlines and physical types in his mares. As Journeyman Stud’s Brent Fernung put it, “Give him a speedy mare and he’ll get you a sprinter; breed him to a two-turn mare, and he’ll get a horse that can carry speed a distance. Physically, he seems to take whatever the mare offers and improve on it, putting some stretch and leg on blocky types and adding power to the rangy ones.”

Khozan is now at Ocala Stud after standing at Journeyman in 2016-2024, and the O’Farrells deeply appreciate the opportunity to stand such a well-proven horse. “Our aim with Khozan is to keep building on the success he has already had,” Ocala Stud’s David O’Farrell said. “The Fernungs did a wonderful job with him at Journeyman Stud, and we are grateful that Stonehedge Farm decided to entrust him to us.”

Khozan is standing the 2025 season at Ocala Stud for $6,000 live foal.

Return to the January 22 issue of Wire to Wire