Trainer José D’Angelo allowed himself a rare smile on Saturday morning at Palm Meadows as he leaned over the rail and planted a quick kiss on Khozalite’s neck. The colt had just finished his final piece of work, and the small gesture spoke louder than any stopwatch figure. In that moment, the build-up to the In Reality Stakes felt real. Horses, handlers, and even a few early-rising onlookers shared the quiet anticipation of a stable preparing two rising stars for their biggest test yet.
Khozalite, owned by Half Hollow Stables LLC and ProRacing Stable LLC, swept through the second leg of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes last month with a commanding four-length win in the Affirmed. His connections know the $300,000 1 1/16-mile finale on November 29 at Gulfstream Park will demand another step forward, especially with a stablemate now emerging as a genuine threat.
That stablemate is Prost, the lightly raced but electrifying son of Khozan who announced himself with a nine-length debut victory on October 11. D’Angelo’s decision to bring him straight into the deep end says everything about the regard in which he is held.
“They are my two horses for the stallion stakes,” D’Angelo said after watching both colts breeze. “Prost is talented too. He got started later than Khozalite. I was looking at the In Reality Stakes when I ran him at seven furlongs first time. I knew he was good, but he surprised me with the way he won.”
Khozalite Tunes Up for the In Reality Stakes Test
Khozalite, already proven over a mile on turf and seven furlongs on dirt, breezed five furlongs in 1:02.05 and looked every bit the seasoned professional of the pair. His trainer, visibly pleased, noted the colt’s adaptability.
“Distance is no problem for him,” D’Angelo said. “He can run on both surfaces and has the talent to handle whatever we ask.”
Just weeks earlier, the colt had transitioned seamlessly from turf to dirt to capture the Affirmed, underlining his versatility and competitive nature heading into the finale.
Prost Impresses Again in Key Preparation Work
Prost responded to the challenge with a sharp four-furlong work in 49.70 seconds, followed by a strong, willing gallop-out that left D’Angelo nodding in approval.
“He worked very good today,” the trainer said. “It was everything I was looking for.”
With one colt proven and the other explosive, the stable now faces the rare situation of pitting two emerging contenders against each other at the season’s most significant moment.
Mythical Sharpens Aim at My Dear Girl Finale
While the colts dominated the morning conversation, graded-stakes winner Mythical added her own headline in preparation for the $300,000 My Dear Girl, the final leg of the series for 2-year-old fillies. The Arindel homebred breezed four furlongs at Gulfstream Park, maintaining her sharp form after a breathtaking 12¾-length domination in the Susan’s Girl.
The daughter of St Patrick’s Day has been outstanding since debuting with an 8½-length romp at Gulfstream, later defeating males in the Tremont and capturing the Adirondack (G3) at Saratoga. Though her Spinaway run wasn’t her best, she returned to Florida with renewed vigour and reaffirmed her class in the Susan’s Girl.
With all three standouts now tuned and ready, Gulfstream Park’s Nov. 29 program is shaping into a dramatic closing chapter for the youngsters of the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes.
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