From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 13, 2024) – Prohibitive favorite The Chosen Vron easily reeled in graded winner and pacesetter Clubhouse Ride straightening for home and cruised to defend his title in Saturday’s $150,000 Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint at Santa Anita.
The Chosen Vron is by Vronsky, out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly, was bred by Tiz Molly Partners and is owned by Sondereker Racing, trainer J. Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh.
He has 15 wins in 20 starts, earnings of $1,239,678 and was coming off a win in the Nov. 18 Cary Grant.
“We own his mother (Tiz Molly) and she’s been quite the mare,” said Kruljac. “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.”
The Cal Cup Sprint is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for registered California-bred or sired horses.
Riding confidently, Hector Berrios sat a measured third at the rail, a length and a half behind the speed Brickyard Ride at the three-furlong marker. Momentarily pinned on the rail by Moose Mitchell, 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.
“He had enough room and … swoosh,” said Kruljac. “He did it again. It’s all him. He really is something special. I’m so incredibly lucky to have him as an old man.”
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, running the six furlongs in 1:09.06.
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, 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.