From Santa Anita Publicity
ARCADIA, Calif. (Feb. 20, 2023)—In another thoroughly dominant performance, the Eric Kruljac-trained The Chosen Vron made every pole a winning one as he amassed his ninth career stakes victory by taking Monday’s $100,000 Tiznow Stakes by 6 ½ lengths. Ridden by Hector Berrios, the 5-year-old gelding by Vronsky got a flat mile in 1:36.16.
The Tiznow, for older horses, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired horses.
Breaking like a shot from his outside post, The Chosen Vron was immediately in control in the run to the Club House turn and although pressed by eventual runner-up Leyas Candy to his outside, shook clear while in-hand at the top of the lane and was only running against the clock the final three sixteenths of a mile.
“It was a huge effort for him,” said Kruljac. “Coming back off of the sprint (a neck victory in the six furlong Cal Cup Sprint on Jan. 7) where he used himself up probably 90 to 95 percent. We gave him enough time to bounce back, and I think two turns is definitely his preference.
“He pretty much can do anything, which is really a blessing. He isn’t the best over deep tracks that are hard to get a hold of, or loose on top because he floats and if you don’t break through it to a certain degree, you don’t have any traction.”
A two-time graded stakes winner at age three, The Chosen Vron, in search of his fifth consecutive stakes win, all with Berrios, was off at 1-5 in a field of four and paid $2.60 and $2.10 with no show wagering.
“The trainer told me there was one other speed in the race and that was (Leyas Candy) and to play it by ear,” said Berrios. “From the break, my horse showed a lot of class. I just got into position and kept some pressure on the other horse. Here in the United States, he is the best horse I have ridden on dirt.”
Bred by Tiz Molly Partners and owned by Sondereker Racing, LLC, Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh, The Chosen Vron, who is out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly, is now 14-10-1-2. With today’s winner’s share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $672,678.
“We’re really blessed to have this horse, we bred him ourselves,” said Thornburgh. “We didn’t know much about breeding and what happens, we get The Chosen Vron, so we’re very lucky.”
Leyas Candy, fresh off a huge statebred allowance win going a mile here on Jan. 7, was second best with Juan Hernandez up and paid $3.00 while the third choice at 5-1.
Coalinga Road, who moved into contention at the rail leaving the half mile pole, couldn’t run with the top two and finished 4 ¼ lengths behind Leyas Candy with John Velazquez up at odds of 7-2.
Fractions on the race were 23.60, 47.15, 1:10.57 and 1:23.31.