The Chosen Vron scores Bing number two, earns birth in Breeders’ Cup Sprint. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Dr. Venkman, Connie Swingle Also Score in Stakes Tripleheader at Del Mar
Edit Release
The California-bred win machine named The Chosen Vron did once again what he has done so many times before and outran six rivals in the 79th version of the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes, a race named in honor of Del Mar’s founder. The flashy chestnut gelding, six years of age now but seemingly getting stronger by the race, pulled away in the lane and tallied by two and a quarter length in a rapid 1:08.99, the fastest six furlongs of the meet. It was his remarkable 19th triumph in his 24th outing. As the 3/2 favorite, he returned $5 to win.
This was the second year in a row that The Chosen Vron won the Crosby, which this time had a total purse of $401,000 and rewarded the winner with $240,000. The son of the late sire Vronsky pushed his bankroll to $1,659,678. He also earned another free entrance to the $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint by virtue of the race’s “Win and You’re In” status. That championship race will be run at Del Mar on Saturday, November 2.
Trainer J. Eric Kruljac and rider Hector Berrios again combined to partner The Chosen Vron through another of his stellar performances.
Finishing second in the Crosby was Rice or Sugar Diaz’s Closethegame Sugar, who was a half-length ahead of SF Racing, Starlight Racing and partners’ Jacktown.
“He was marvelous, really comfortable on the outside. From the three eights (pole) I let him go and he went himself. It’s a Grade 1; you don’t always win these; it pays to have a good a healthy horse. I hope he continues for Breeder’s Cup,” said Berrios.
It was the second win in the Bing Crosby for both trainer Kruljac and jockey Berrios. Kruljac scoring his first win of this meet while Berrios scored his second. Each has won multiple stakes at Del Mar with Kruljac garnering seven and Berrios 12.
The winning owners are a partnership headed by Sondereker Racing, trainer Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh.
“I didn’t say anything to Hector, I have that much faith in him. I expected Baffert’s horse to go hard but he didn’t go that hard and the other speed didn’t. He (Berrios) got out and had him in the thick of it. When it was time to move his hands, the rest was history. The other horses tried to keep up with him. He just wouldn’t let them. It’s one of his best races,” Kruljack commented.
Dr. Venkman Routes a Win in San Diego H.
Earlier on the card, the sprinter Dr. Venkman went around two turns for the first time and came away a winner in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at a mile and one-sixteenth. The race’s 2/5 favorite – multiple-stakes winner Arabian Knight – flashed speed for the early part of the race, but then fell back and could only finish fourth.
Dr. Venkman, a 4-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper, was handled by Antonio Fresu and is conditioned by Mark Glatt. He ran the distance in 1:43.36, proved best by a length and paid $8.20 to win as the second betting choice in the five-horse field. He is owned by the partnership of Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen and James Hailey.
The Grade II feature provided the winner with a paycheck for $180,000 and pushed his career earnings to $358,500.
Finishing second in this 83rd edition of the San Diego was R3 Racing’s Katonah, who had three and three-quarter lengths on C R K Stable’s Express Train.
Arabian Knight, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, was making his first start in almost nine months. Rider Juan Hernandez offered no excuses for his charge, saying it was likely that the 4-year-old need the race.
Connie Swingel Swings a Daisycutter Win Off Layoff
Nicholas B. Alexander’s homebred Connie Swingle took top honors for the fillies on the turf in the $100,000 Daisycutter Handicap.
Stay and Scam broke well and steered over to stalk outside Connie Swingle under Kyle Frey, bumped that rival early on the turn, continued two wide to the stretch
Itzel sped clear to show the way early, set all the pace from inside to the lane Connie Swingle stalked the pacesetter inside Stay and Scam into the turn, got bumped and hit the rail early on the bend, saved ground to the stretch, moved out and brushed Stay and Scam at the top of the stretch. Itzel sped clear to show the way early, set all the pace from inside to the lane, given her cue in upper stretch.
Elm Drive coaxed from the gate then got put in tight between rivals early, ridden cautiously behind Runninwiththeboyz, saved ground through the turn,
Stay and Scam was brushed by Connie Swingle moving out at the top of the stretch, Connie Swingle drew alongside Elm Drive with a furlong remaining drove clear into the final sixteenth. The Phil D’Amato trainee remained strong to the wire.
Elm Drive moved out in upper stretch and rallied for second. Stay and Scam could not summon the needed late kick in the furlong ground but kept on regaining the show honors. Given her cue in upper stretch, Itzel yielded to the winner midstretch and flattened to fourth.
Ever Smart, Antifona (FR), Runninwiththeboyz and Antique Silver complete the order of finish in the five-furlong contest. Doris Mae was scratched by her trainer.
Completing the course in 56.42, Connie Swingle rewarded well paying $11.20 (4.80, 2.80). Elm Drive offers $3.60 (2.40) with Stay and Scam paying $2.40.
This was the Grazen daughter’s first start of the year since just missing the Senator Ken Maddy Stakes Oct. 29, 2023, at Santa Anita. Previously she has won the Unzip Me at Santa Anita and an allowance at Del Mar after a third in the Fleet Treat there last summer.
The 5-year-old Cal-bred out of Sky Mesa mare Sky Marni now has seven victories in 11 career starts with three second places and one third.
Racing resumes at Del Mar tomorrow with first post at 2 p.m. The day’s feature is the 51st running of the Eddie Read Stakes.
