By DRF.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Nov. 3, 2025) – Back-to-back stakes winner Man O Rose takes on well-traveled Clovisconnection in Saturday’s $100,000 The Chosen Vron Stakes for Golden State Series eligibles at Del Mar.
Surface and distance make no difference to Man O Rose. The veteran gelding does it all – dirt, turf, short, and long. Does he even have a preference?
“No,” trainer Jeff Mullins said, as long as he is in the right spot. “Just Cal-breds.”
Man O Rose, fresh off stakes victories in a dirt route and turf sprint, can tighten his grip on the California-bred division Saturday at Del Mar. Man O Rose is the 8-5 program favorite in the The Chosen Vron Stakes, a seven-furlong stakes race previously called the Cary Grant, and also the On Trust.
By any name, the $100,000 stakes for older statebreds is highly predictable. Favorites have won the last three, and six of 11 since the race moved to Del Mar from Hollywood Park. Man O Rose also is reliable. Since his maiden win two years ago, he is 6 for 6 as the favorite.
A half-dozen rivals will try to knock off Man O Rose in the The Chosen Vron. The race was renamed for the popular California-bred who retired this spring after winning 19 of 25, including the Grade 1 Bing Crosby at Del Mar in 2023 and 2024.
Shea Brennan, a two-time winner of age-restricted statebred stakes, is the 3-1 second choice. Clovisconnection, a nine-time stakes winner in Northern California and Washington, is the 7-2 third choice. Others entered include Style Cat, R Heisman, Drop Um, and Stamp My Passport.
Man O Rose has won nine races and $440,965 from 19 starts for breeders Bruce and Beverly Zeitz. He is the highest earner by Stanford, and a fresh horse making just his third start of the season. Man O Rose won the E.B. Johnston Stakes at Los Alamitos in September and the California Flag Handicap on the hill at Santa Anita in October.
Edwin Maldonado rides Man O Rose, a presser drawn outside pace rival Drop Um, who has post 4. Man O Rose drew post 5, which is perfect. He prefers to race outside horses.
Shea Brennan finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Man O Rose when fourth in the California Flag last out. Shea Brennan, owned by breeder Nick Alexander and trained by Phil D’Amato, has won three of nine including the King Glorious Stakes last fall at Los Alamitos and California Derby in January at Santa Anita.
Armando Ayuso rides Shea Brennan, who faces a historical challenge. Three-year-olds have underachieved in the The Chosen Vron, winning just one of 18. Other 3-year-olds running Saturday are R Heisman, Drop Um, and Style Cat.
Blaine Wright trains Clovisconnection, a 12-for-23 gelding by the stallion who also sired The Chosen Vron – Vronsky. Clovisconnection “has been a terrific sprinter over the years for us,” Wright said. Clovisconnection, owned by breeder William Hedrick, has earned $524,300.
Clovisconnection is making his first start in two months. Wright believes he is ready to fire.
“His last two works, six furlongs and five-eighths, have been very snappy,” Wright said. “And he did work three-eighths [Nov. 2], but it was foggy so nobody got a time on him, but he did have a nice little blowout.”
Juan Hernandez rides Clovisconnection. He is coming off a third in the Sept. 7 Muckleshoot Tribal Championship at Emerald Downs. He has won nine stakes and raced at six tracks, but this is his Del Mar debut.
Drop Um is by Far From Over, out of the include mare Behavioral, was bred by Dr. & Mrs. William Gray, is owned by Gray Farms and trained by Felix Rondan. He has three wins in nine starts, earnings of $159,000 and is coming off an Oct. 25 win in a ratings handicap.
R Heisman is by Far From Over, out of the First American mare Parisien, was bred by Highclere, is owned by Gary Barber and trained by Peter Miller. He has two wins in 12 starts, earnings of $197,200 and is making his first start since a third in the Apr. 5 Echo Eddie.
Stamp My Passport is by Vancouver, out of the Street Boss mare Sweet Boss, was bred by owners Mr. & Mrs. Thomas Shapiro and trained by Leonard Powell. He has five wins in 18 starts, earnings of $218,447 and is coming off a second in the Sept. 13 E.B. Johnston.
Style Cat is by Curlin to Mischief, out of the Kitten’s Joy mare Kittens Trip, was bred by owners J. Kirk & Judy Robison and trained by Peter Miller. He has three wins in 15 starts, earnings of $240,490 and is coming off a sixth in an Oct. 3 optional claimer.