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Gorgeous Bird takes flight at Gulfstream
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| Gorgeous Bird is from the immediate family of Birdstone
(Coglianese Photography via Gulfstream Park Facebook) |
Marylou Whitney Stables' homebred Gorgeous Bird (Unbridled's Song) swooped
from the back of the pack and drew off to a seven-length romp in Saturday's
4TH race at Gulfstream Park. By dominating this entry-level allowance
brimming with promising sophomores, the Ian Wilkes pupil has put himself into
the equation for bigger targets on the Kentucky Derby (G1) trail.
Gorgeous Bird, who was exiting a November 22 maiden score at Churchill Downs,
ranked as the 4-1 third choice in his first try versus winners. Bet down to
even-money favoritism was the Todd Pletcher-trained Overcontrol (Tapit), but the
flashy maiden winner flopped after arguing the pace and trailed home a long-way
last.
Under Joel Rosario, Gorgeous Bird bided his time a few lengths behind
fractions of :24 and :47, advanced into a menacing fourth at the three-quarter
mark in 1:12 2/5, and stamped his authority down the lane. The gray negotiated
the mile on a fast track in 1:39 and paid $10.80 to win.
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The Kentucky-bred has compiled a record of 3-2-0-0, $50,132, his only blemish
a sixth in his August 16 debut at Saratoga. He is out of the unraced Elusive
Bird (Elusive Quality), making him a half-brother to Pow Wow Wow (Indian
Charlie), the third-placer in the 2013 Forward Gal (G2).
Gorgeous Bird's second dam is champion Bird Town (Cape Town), heroine of the
2003 Kentucky Oaks (G1) and Acorn (G1). Bird Town is herself a half-sister to
multiple Grade 1-winning millionaire Birdstone (Grindstone). Best known for
foiling Smarty Jones' Triple Crown bid in the 2004 Belmont S. (G1), Birdstone
also landed the Champagne (G1) and Travers (G1).
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| Khozan is a $1 million half-brother to Royal Delta
(Coglianese Photography via Gulfstream Park Facebook) |
Pletcher had better luck in the
6TH
race, when Khozan (Distorted Humor), a three-year-old half-brother to three-time
champion Royal Delta (Empire Maker), overcame post 14 to win his career debut
handsomely.
A $1 million Fasig-Tipton Florida purchase by Al Shaqab Racing, Khozan was
parked out wide while pressing the pace through splits of :22 4/5 and :46. But
the 9-5 favorite soon put his foes away entering the stretch en route to a 3
3/4-length decision. Javier Castellano guided the dark bay through seven
furlongs in 1:23 3/5, faster than the 1:24 1/5 posted by Barbados (Speightstown)
one race later in the Hutcheson (G3). Khozan returned $5.80 while banking
$24,000 for himself.
Bred by Adena Springs in Kentucky, Khozan brought $350,000 as a yearling at
Fasig-Tipton Saratoga before commanding seven figures last March as a
two-year-old in training. In addition to $4.8 million-earner Royal Delta, he is
also a half-brother to current Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (G1) winner
Crown Queen (Smart Strike), Grade 1-placed Carnival Court (Street Sense) and
Grade 2-placed Empire Way (Empire Maker). Their dam, multiple Grade 3 victress
Delta Princess (A.P. Indy), is in turn a full sister to Grade 1 queen Indy Five
Hundred and a three-quarter sister to Group 1 scorer Biondetti (Bernardini).
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