The Chosen Vron Sensational In Taking $150,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint

THE CHOSEN VRON SENSATIONAL IN TAKING $150,000 DON VALPREDO CALIFORNIA CUP SPRINT BY 2 ¼ LENGTHS

RACE IS PART OF THE LUCRATIVE CTBA-SPONSORED GOLDEN STATE SERIES

ARCADIA, CA (Jan. 13, 2024)—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.