By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (July 28, 2024) — The Chosen Vron, California’s top sprinter, had seven workouts between his win in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in July 2023 and a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last November.
The California-bred has not lost since, including a striking performance in Saturday’s $401,000 Bing Crosby Stakes that earned the 6-year-old gelding a fees-paid berth to the BC Sprint at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
For this year’s BC Sprint, trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac is planning a more active preparation for The Chosen Vron.
“I’m going to be a little more aggressive than last year,” Kruljac said on Sunday. “I backed off of Vron more than I should have” last year.
In coming months, The Chosen Vron will have stronger workouts, and maybe even an additional start in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint at six furlongs on Sept. 29.
“That’s a possibility,” Kruljac said. “More likely, it will be three or four stiff works.”
Last November, The Chosen Vron was beaten 5 1/4 lengths by Elite Power in the BC Sprint. Kruljac on Sunday said that in hindsight he is critical of the approach he took to prepare The Chosen Vron.
“I miscalculated,” he said. “I have to take the blame. I don’t think it was just the tougher horses. I don’t think he was as sharp.”
There was no doubt about The Chosen Vron’s sharpness in the Bing Crosby Stakes. Racing four-wide on the backstretch, The Chosen Vron was always near the front, took the lead on the turn and won by an impressive 2 1/4 lengths, finishing six furlongs in 1:08.99.
The Chosen Vron’s 105 Beyer ranks tied for third for main-track sprinters this year through Saturday. Subrogate earned a 106 for a win in an allowance race at Aqueduct on June 29, a week before the filly Sweet Azteca earned a similar figure with a win in the Great Lady M. Stakes for fillies and mares at 6 1/2 furlongs at Los Alamitos.
The Bing Crosby was The Chosen Vron’s 19th win in his 24th start for owners Kruljac, John Sondereker, Richard Thornburgh and Robert Fetkin. He has won 18 stakes, including 11 against California-breds. The Bing Crosby was his sixth consecutive win since the BC Sprint.
“I think it was his best performance,” Kruljac said. “He had so much left at the wire.”