Khozan likely to stretch out in allowance

"I think the logical move is to come back in an allowance race going longer

and go from there," Pletcher said. 

The 11-time defending Champions Meet training titlist said patience paid off

with Khozan's thoroughly professional victory.

"He had some baby stuff at two, and he has a pedigree that suggests he was

going to get better as he got older. We just kind of took our time," Pletcher

said. "Al Shaqab is very patient. They bought a nice horse and they were in no

rush with him, so we just kind of waited until he told us he was ready. He

showed us it was the right time after his last couple works. He showed up and

ran up to expectations."

Does Pletcher think Khozan can play catch-up in time to make it to

Louisville, Kentucky, on the first Saturday in May?

"It's January 24 and he just made his first start -- that would be against

him a little bit," Pletcher said. "We'll let him guide us in the right

direction."

On the other hand, Saturday's

4TH race romper Gorgeous Bird (Unbridled's Song) may have landed himself on

the Derby trail.

Watching the steady progression of late-developing colt has trainer Ian

Wilkes eagerly anticipating the next step for Marylou Whitney's talented

homebred. Facing winners for the first time, the sophomore romped by seven

lengths in a one-mile optional claiming allowance on Saturday at Gulfstream

Park, his three-year-old debut.

Under jockey Joel Rosario, Gorgeous Bird hit the wire in 1:39 over a fast

main track, topping a nine-horse field that included a pair of impressive maiden

winners from the Pletcher barn, Blame Game (Blame) and favored Overcontrol (Tapit),

and stakes-placed Glenville Gardens (Street Cry) and Morgans Harbour (Graeme

Hall).

"It actually went slower than I thought early in the race, but Joel got him

settled and just worked his way through there and galloped along good," Wilkes

said. "I liked the way he came home. He came home strong. He's a tremendous

horse."

Gorgeous Bird didn't make his debut until last summer, finishing sixth in a 6

1/2-furlong maiden sprint. He made one subsequent start, splitting horses for a

1 1/4-length victory going seven furlongs on November 22 at Churchill Downs.

"He had a race at Saratoga and came out of the race with some shins, so we

backed off and took care of the horse," Wilkes said. "If you take care of the

horse, the horse will take care of you."

Gorgeous Bird's sire captured the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) at two and the

Florida Derby (G1) and Wood Memorial (then-G2) and was fifth in the Kentucky

Derby (G1) at three. He may be the most promising prospect for Whitney since her

homebred Birdstone won the 2003 Champagne (G1) and 2004 Belmont (G1) and Travers

(G1). Gorgeous Bird comes from Birdstone's immediate family.

"I'm glad Mrs. Whitney was here to see the race," Wilkes said. "His work

level from two to three had stepped up, and that's the first step. You never

know until you put them in a race from two to three and see what they can do. I

like the way every step has been perfect so far. He worked good as a

two-year-old, he stepped it up when I brought him down here at three, and the

race (Saturday) was very impressive."

All options remain open for Gorgeous Bird, including Gulfstream Park's

prominent upcoming three-year-old stakes, the $400,000 Fountain of Youth (G2) on

February 21 and $1 million Florida Derby (G1) on March 28, both around two

turns.

"I'll talk to Marylou, but we'll just enjoy this one first," Wilkes said. "I

believe he'll go long. I'm actually quite excited to stretch him out further.

He's been a nice progression so far and I'm looking forward to it."

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