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The Chosen Vron gallops to the win under Hector Berrios in the California Cup Sprint. (Ernie Belmonte/Past The Wire)
Race Is Part Of The Lucrative CTBA-Sponsored Golden State Series
Mike Willman/Santa Anita Press Box
ARCADIA, Calif.—An absolutely wondrous Thoroughbred, trainer Eric Kruljac’s The Chosen Vron reeled in multiple stakes winning Brickyard Ride in mid-stretch en route to his second consecutive victory in the Don Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, as he won going away by 2 ¼ lengths. A 6-year-old gelding by Vronsky, he posted his 14th career stakes win and with regular rider Hector Berrios up, got six furlongs in 1:09.06.
The Cal Cup Sprint is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for registered California-bred or sired horses.
Ridden confidently, Berrios sat a measured third at the rail, a length and a half behind the speed Brickyard Ride at the three-furlong marker. With Berrios sitting chilly turning for home, The Chosen Vron took a subtle cue from Berrios three sixteenths of a mile out, switched to his left lead and just like a big cat, pounced on his prey a furlong from the wire.
A front-running winner of the seven-furlong Cary Grant Stakes going seven furlongs at Del Mar Nov. 18, The Chosen Vron was the overwhelming 1-20 favorite today versus four rival older horses and paid $2.10, $2.10 and $2.10.
Owned in-part by Kruljac, Sondereker Racing, LLC, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh, The Chosen Vron, who is out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly, picked up $90,000 for his efforts, pushing his bankroll to $1,239,678 from an overall mark of 20-15-1-2.
Brickyard Ride, a 7-year-old full horse by Clubhouse Ride and himself an eight-time stakes winner, showed the early zip of his youth, carving out splits of 22.41, 45.32 and 57.36. The second choice at 6-1 with Juan Hernandez up, he paid $2.40 and $2.10 while finishing 2 ¼ lengths in front of Geezer.
The longest shot in the field at 52-1, Geezer paid $3.60 to show.
$150,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes Quotes
Jockey Quotes
Hector Berrios, The Chosen Vron, Winner: “I knew the five horse (Brickyard Ride) had the early speed, so I watched him and tried to stay very close. I waited and waited along Mario’s horse (Moose Mitchell) and then we moved outside, and my horse responded very well. I asked him once and he went on.”
Trainer Quotes
Eric Kruljac, The Chosen Vron, Winner: “We own his mother (Tiz Molly) and she’s been quite the mare. Breeding in California is the best thing that I have ever done. This horse has made it worth it all by himself. He was smart enough to wait at the turn when they spread out a little bit and then he just took off.
“Hector is tremendous to work with and he is professional.”
