The hometown hero got it done.
Facing an exceptionally deep field of sprinters in Saturday's 'Win and You're In' GI Bing Crosby S. at Del Mar, it was the California-bred The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) who got the money. He, however, is not nominated to the Breeders' Cup and would have to be supplemented for this fall's GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.
With the victory, the 5-year-old gelding matched a bar set earlier in the day by Eclipse champion male sprinter Elite Power (Curlin) with both horses stretching their respective winning streaks to eight.
He entered off a series of state-bred stakes races dating back to last summer at Los Alamitos. Running over both turf and dirt at exclusively California tracks, The Chosen Vron last raced at Santa Anita May 28 with a 5 1/2-length romp in the Thor's Echo S.
Away from the gate in good order, the chestnut settled in the second flight of horses behind pacesetters Peaceful Waters (Dialed In) and Todo Fino (Chi) (Verrazano). The field shuffled around as Todo Fino was pulled up into the far turn and The Chosen Vron had to angle out to avoid clipping heels. Caught between horses now in seventh as the opening quarter went in :21.92, he came through a generous gap to be part of a six-horse calvary charge at the top of the lane.
Only three remained with less than a furlong to run and The Chosen Vron had to fend off a pair of rivals to his outside as all three runners came to the line together. With just a head separating the trio, the son of Vronsky got the bob over The Anarchist (Distorted Humor) and the 2021 winner of this race Dr. Schivel (Violence).
“If the next Cal-bred race had been on the dirt, I probably would not have gone today,” winning trainer Eric Kruljac said. “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.”
Pedigree Notes:
The Chosen Vron is one of five graded winners, two at the top level, for his sire Vronsky. Tiz Molly, a half-sister to the stakes-placed Modacious (Uncle Mo), has produced fillies by Clubhouse Ride in 2022-23. Modacious, in foal to Quality Road, sold for $600,000 at the 2019 Keeneland November sale. The Chosen Vron's third dam, Deputy's Delight, produced multiple graded stakes winner Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris), as well as Canadian champion Delightful Mary (Limehouse).
That was an incredible @BreedersCup win and you're in Bing Crosby Stakes (GI) at Del Mar. #4 THE CHOSEN VRON ($11) holds on late to win his 8th straight race. The son of Vronsky has now won 13 of 17 career races. @HIBerrios was in the irons for Eric Kruljac. Congrats to all! pic.twitter.com/ntWrng8LTS
— TVG (@TVG) July 30, 2023
Saturday, Del Mar
BING CROSBY S.-GI, $403,500, Del Mar, 7-29, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:09.24, ft.
1–THE CHOSEN VRON, 122, g, 5, by Vronsky
1st Dam: Tiz Molly, by Tiz Wonderful
2nd Dam: Deputie's Notebook, by Notebook
3rd Dam: Deputy's Delight, by French Deputy
1ST GRADE I WIN. O-Sondereker Racing LLC, Kruljac, J. Eric, Fetkin, Robert S. and Thornburgh, Richard; B-Tiz Molly Partners (CA); T-J. Eric Kruljac; J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 17-13-1-2, $1,032,678. Werk Nick Rating: D. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree. Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Anarchist, 122, c, 4, Distorted Humor–Vicarious Won, by Elusive Quality. 1ST G1 BLACK-TYPE. ($75,000 Ylg '20 KEESEP). O-Ilium Stables, LLC; B-Centaur Farms, Inc. (KY); T-Doug F. O'Neill. $80,000.
3–Dr. Schivel, 122, h, 5, Violence–Lil Nugget, by Mining for Money. ($37,000 RNA Ylg '19 KEEJAN). O-Red Baron's Barn LLC, Rancho Temescal LLC, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing and Branch, William A.; B-William A. Branch & Arnold R. Hill (KY); T-Mark Glatt. $48,000.
Margins: HD, HD, 1 1/4. Odds: 4.50, 8.00, 1.80.
Also Ran: Kid Corleone, C Z Rocket, American Theorem, Sibelius, Hoist the Gold, Get Her Number, Peaceful Waters, Todo Fino (Chi), Spirit of Makena. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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