He’s won graded stakes named for a crooner (Bing Crosby), a Triple Crown champion (Affirmed) and a Hall of Fame conditioner (Laz Barrera).
This week, he was the runaway choice as the 2023 California-bred Horse of the Year, champion older male, and champion sprinter. Last year, he was the Cal-bred champion older male and turf horse.
Meet The Chosen Vron: A Champion in the Making
He is The Chosen Vron, a 6-year-old chestnut gelding with a sterling resume – 15 wins, three in graded stakes, from 20 starts (and a second and two-thirds).
“Incredible, the whole thing, but what’s incredible is the horse,” trainer and part-owner Eric Kruljac said. “I wish I could share his personality in the shed row when he’s not making money. He’s just the coolest dude in the world.”
And he’s far from finished. On Saturday, The Chosen Vron takes on five rivals seeking his fourth graded stakes victory in the $100,000 San Carlos (G3) at Santa Anita.
So well respected is this Cal-bred that he’s the 3-5 morning line favorite over 4-1 Elwood Blues, trained by Bob Baffert.
Post time is 7:36 p.m. ET
The Chosen Vron Starts Strong: 10 Wins in 12 Races at Santa Anita
The son of Vronsky-Tiz Molly, by Tiz Wonderful, opened his 2024 campaign with a 2 ¼-length win in the $100,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes on Jan. 14 at Santa Anita.
The win improved his record at Santa Anita to 10 victories in 12 races – he was third in the 2021 San Vicente (G2) and fifth in the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) on Nov. 4.
In the BC Sprint, The Chosen Vron settled into fifth under regular rider Eric Berrios and never challenged a field that included Elite Power, Gunite, and Speed Boat Beach. The defeat ended an eight-race winning streak but did not deter Kruljac.
Dominant Racing Performances: The Chosen Vron’s Stakes Victories
Just two weeks later, The Chosen Vron won the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for the second time at Del Mar for his 10th victory in his last 11 races.
The win in the $400,000 Bing Crosby (G1) at Del Mar on July 29 was a thriller as he outdueled three rivals, including Dr. Schivel, to win by a head over Anarchist.
As a 3-year-old, The Chosen Vron won the Affirmed Stakes (G3) and the Laz Barrera Stakes (G3).
While his earnings of more than $1.2 million pale in comparison to the likes of Eclipse Award winners such as Cody’s Wish, Elite Power, and Inspiral, The Chosen Vron has certainly enriched the lives of owners Sondereker Racing, Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, and Richard Thornburg, as well as breeder Tiz Molly Partners.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
