DEL MAR, Calif. (July 29, 2023) – California-bred champion The Chosen Vron emerged from a wall of contenders turning for home to hold off Anarchist and favorite Dr. Schivel and win Saturday’s $400,000 Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes, his eighth consecutive victory making him a millionaire earner.
The Bing Crosby is a “Win and You’re In” qualifier for the $2 million Qatar Cup Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita Nov. 4. The Chosen Vron will need to be supplemented to the Breeders’ Cup, but will not need to pay entry fees.
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 13 wins in 17 starts and earnings of $1,032,678.
“I wanted to see what he could do against the big boys,” said Thornburgh. “He proved what kind of horse he really is. We’re so proud of him. Santa Anita is his favorite track, he’s only lost there once. It’s a perfect scenario for us, as long as he stays healthy.”
The Chosen Vron ran six furlongs in 1:09.24 and went off as the 9-2 third choice in a field of 12 with jockey Hector Berrios working out a winning trip despite traffic trouble on the far turn.
“I had to pull back and go outside. I got bumped,” said Berrios. “But this horse is special; he just runs and I love to ride him. He’s very game and he makes it fun. (Berrios has ridden him the last nine times he’s run. He’s won eight of those races.)”
“If the next Cal-bred race had been on the dirt I probably would not have gone today,” said Kruljac. “I went back and forth and my foreman told me he would shoot me if I didn’t run. So I thought we might take a shot.”