In a command performance, the Eric Kruljac-trained The Chosen Vron pounced on his competition a quarter mile from home and strode to a sensational 5 ½ length score in Sunday's $100,000 Thor's Echo Stakes at Santa Anita.
Ridden for the seventh straight time by Hector Berrios, the 5-year-old Vronsky gelding rang up his seventh consecutive stakes win while getting six furlongs geared down in 1:09.58.
The Thor's Echo is part of the lucrative CTBA-sponsored Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or -sired horses and was one of the series' five stakes worth a total of $550,000 on Sunday's card.
As expected, longshot Sunrise Journey, drawn on the far outside the Thor's Echo four-pack and multiple stakes winner Clubhouse Ride, who broke to the inside of The Chosen Vron in post three, contested the early lead, with Sunrise Journey a short head in front at the half mile pole.
With these two racing as a team around the turn, The Chosen Vron looked like a big cat stalking his prey as he reeled them both in with consummate ease leaving the three sixteenths pole en route to the easiest of victories.
“The Chosen Vron… you can put him where you want him” Kruljac said. “I told Hector (Berrios) he might be a little fresh. When he came back, he said, 'He was just push button. When I moved my hand, he had another gear and he was gone.'
“I wish I had another one… but we will live with what we are given. He has been a blessing. You don't come by a horse like this very often. Everybody deserves to have a horse like him.”
Most recently a nose winner going 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in the state-bred Sensational Star here on March 19, The Chosen Vron was off at 3-5 and paid $3.40 for the win.
Out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly, The Chosen Vron picked up his 12th win from 16 overall starts and with the winner's share of $60,000, he increased his earnings to $792,678.
Owned by Sondereker Racing, LLC, Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh, The Chosen Vron was bred by Tiz Molly Partners.
The longest shot in the field at 19-1, Tigre Di Slugo rallied for second money under Jose Valdivia Jr.
The winner of last year's Thor's Echo, Brickyard Ride was done turning for home and checked in third, 6¾ lengths behind the runner-up.
Fractions on the race were :21.82, :44.41, and 56.88.
Old Pal Takes Snow Chief In Stakes Debut
Lightly raced Old Pal, in his stakes debut for trainer Mark Glatt, saved ground throughout and rallied for a three-quarter length tally over a determined Clouseau to take the 150,000 Snow Chief Stakes.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, who collected his third stakes win on the day, the 3-year-old colt by Grazen got a 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:50.14.
In hand while fifth in a field of seven into the first turn, Old Pal was about six lengths off pacesetter Clouseau in the run past the half mile pole. With pace pressure coming around the far turn from longshot Tom and Jazzy, Old Pal closed the gap on the top two turning for home while hugging the fence and prevailed under aggressive handling in a game effort.
Third, beaten two lengths as the even-money favorite going one mile on turf in a first condition allowance for state-breds on April 21 at Santa Anita, Old Pal was the second choice in a field of seven 3-year-olds and paid $7.40 to win.
Owned by Blinkers On Racing Stable, Carolyn Corbett, Jai H. Desai, Frederick Dizonno, Chris Garcia, Cheryle Harris, Craig Hocevar, Tom Lewis, Garrett Pate, James Titus, and Les Wagner, Old Pal is out of the English Channel mare Athina Lee.
With the winner's share of $90,000, Old Pal increased his earnings to $151,160 and improved his overall mark to 4-2-1-1.
Ridden by Geovanni Franco, Clouseau ran too good to lose but held second by a half length over Boss Sully.
The 8-5 favorite with Hector Berrios, Boss Sully finished 2 ½ lengths better than Be Punctual.
Fractions on the Snow Chief were :24.68, :49.57, 1:14.17, and 1:38.53.
Rising Star Ceiling Crusher Airs In Melair
A California-bred superstar in the making, Doug O'Neill's Ceiling Crusher led throughout en route to a smashing 17-length victory in the $100,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.
Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Ceiling Crusher remains unbeaten in four starts and in her first try around two turns, got 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.25.
A 15 ½-length winner of the 6 ½ furlong Evening Jewel Stakes on April 8, Ceiling Crusher went straight to the front out of the gate, and although she was tested around the far turn by eventual third-place finisher Chismosa, the Melair was never at any point in doubt as the 3-year-old daughter of Mr. Big had a sixth length advantage three sixteenths of a mile out in an absolute rout.
The prohibitive 1-5 favorite in a field of four sophomore fillies, Ceiling Crusher paid $2.40 for the win.
Owned by Wonderland Racing Stables, LLC, Todd Kady, Tim Kasparoff and Ty Leatherman, Ceiling Crusher, who is out of the Indian Charlie mare Palisadesprincess, picked up $90,000 for the win, running her earnings to $263,400.
Ridden by Kyle Frey, Tom's Regret was up for second, a neck in front of Chimosa.
Eddie's New Dream Cruises Gate To Wire In Fran's Valentine
Paul and Zillah Reddam's homebred Eddie's New Dream bounded to the lead out of the starting gate and was in control thereafter en route to a half-length score in the100,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes for fillies and mares.
Trained by Ben Cecil and ridden by Mario Gutierrez, Eddie's New Dream, a 5-year-old California-bred mare by Square Eddie, got a mile on turf in 1:35.05.
Although the Nick Alexander-owned and -bred Rose Maddox poised menacingly turning for home and was gaining inches late, she couldn't get on terms with the winner in a big effort.
Most recently third sprinting six furlongs on dirt in the state-bred Spring Fever Stakes Feb. 19, Eddie's New Dream was off at 2-1 in a field of six California-bred or sired fillies and mares and paid $6.20 for the victory.
Out of the Tapit mare Walkingonadream, Eddie's New Dream picked up her third career stakes win and her seventh win from 23 overall starts. With the winner's share of $60,000, she increased her earnings to $588,100.
Ridden by Ramon Vazquez, runner-up Rose Maddox finished 2¼ lengths in front of Shocking Grey in third.
Next to last at the rail in the run up the backside, Shocking Grey saved ground to the three-furlong pole while about four lengths off the lead, shifted out for the stretch drive but was no match for the top two, finishing 1¾ lengths in front of 8-5 favorite Big Switch.
Fractions on the race were :23.06, :47.55, 1:11.65, and 1:23.26.
Kings River Knight Wins Crystal Water On Front End
In control on the lead throughout, John Sadler's Kings River Knight powered to a 2¼-length win in the $100,000 Crystal Water Stakes, the first of the Golden State Series stakes Sunday.
Ridden for the first time by Juan Hernandez, the 5-year-old gelding by Acclamation got one mile on turf in 1:34.55.
With Hernandez nursing his natural speed on the front end to the far turn, Kings River Knight kicked into high gear turning for home and was widening on runner-up Coalinga Road at the wire, providing his connections with his first stakes win in career start number nine.
Most recently second, beaten a nose going 6½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in the state-bred Sensational Star Stakes March 19, Kings River Knight was off as the 4-5 favorite in a field of five California-bred 3-year-olds and up and paid $3.60 for the win.
Bred by Old English Rancho and owned by Integrity Thoroughbred Racing, LLC, the Ellwood Johnston Trust and Kenneth Tevelde, Kings River Knight, who is out the Poteen mare Seasontoperfection, picked up $60,000 for the win, increasing his earnings to $236,260 from an overall mark of 9-4-4-0.
Ridden by Umberto Rispoli, Coalinga Road appeared poised to take on the winner at the top of the lane but was second best on the day, finishing 2¼ lengths in front of Carmelita's Man.
Carmelita's Man trailed the winner by double digits while last heading to the far turn and rallied to be third, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Bang for Your Buck.
Fractions on the race were :23.58, :47.54, 1:11.28, and 1:22.97.
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