By US Racing Staff
Published November 7, 2026, 11:02 AM ET
The 2026 Chosen Vron Stakes is Race 8 at Del Mar on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with post time at 4:03 PM PT (7:03 PM ET), and Big City Lights is the 2-1 morning-line favorite. The betting angle points to defending champion Man O Rose at 3-1, the winner of this race in 2025, as the price play against the favorite.
The $100,000 Chosen Vron Stakes is run at 7 furlongs on the main dirt track for Golden State Series-eligible California-bred or California-sired 3-year-olds and up. Nine horses are entered, according to the official Del Mar entries.
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The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026 Field and Morning Line Odds
The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026 – Race 8, Del Mar, November 7, 2026 – 7 furlongs, dirt | Post | Horse | Age/Sex | Weight | Jockey | Trainer | Morning Line |
| 1 | Man O Rose | 6/G | 124 | Edwin Maldonado | Jeff Mullins | 3-1 |
| 2 | Shady Tiger | 5/G | 124 | Mike E. Smith | Robert B. Hess Jr. | 20-1 |
| 3 | Matt At Five | 3/G | 120 | Hector Isaac Berrios | Peter Miller | 12-1 |
| 4 | Pure Madness | 5/H | 122 | Armando Ayuso | Brian J. Koriner | 6-1 |
| 5 | Big City Lights | 7/H | 126 | Kazushi Kimura | Richard E. Mandella | 2-1 |
| 6 | Special Club | 5/G | 122 | Joel Rosario | George Papaprodromou | 12-1 |
| 7 | Lonesome Stew | 6/G | 124 | Emisael Jaramillo | Mark Glatt | 6-1 |
| 8 | Mr. Disrespectful | 6/G | 122 | Tiago J. Pereira | Craig Dollase | 20-1 |
| 9 | Lovesick Blues | 8/G | 126 | Juan J. Hernandez | L. Barocio | 5-1 |
Morning line per the official Del Mar program. All horses are California-bred. Scratches: none announced as of 11:02 AM ET.
The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026: Key Facts
- Date: Saturday, November 7, 2026, Race 8 at Del Mar.
- Post time: 4:03 PM PT / 7:03 PM ET.
- Favorite: Big City Lights at 2-1 morning line.
- Distance and surface: 7 furlongs, main dirt track, $100,000 purse.
- TV: FS2.
- Where to bet: BUSR, with up to a $1,000 Welcome Bonus.
Who is the favorite in The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026?
Big City Lights is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the 2026 Chosen Vron Stakes at Del Mar. The 7-year-old horse, trained by Richard E. Mandella and ridden by Kazushi Kimura, breaks from post 5 and carries top weight of 126 pounds. Man O Rose is second choice at 3-1.
Big City Lights has a strong record in this race. He finished second in the 2023 edition and won the 2024 running, when the race was still called the Cary Grant Stakes, according to Daily Racing Form. Lovesick Blues (5-1) is the third choice, with Pure Madness and Lonesome Stew both at 6-1.
What time is The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026?
The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026 is Race 8 at Del Mar on Saturday, November 7, 2026, with post time at 4:03 PM PT, which is 7:03 PM ET. The race is run at 7 furlongs on the dirt for a $100,000 purse, with $57,000 going to the winner per the official race conditions.
The rest of the purse pays $19,000 to second, $12,000 to third, $6,000 to fourth, $4,000 to fifth, and $2,000 to sixth.
Who won The Chosen Vron Stakes last year?
Man O Rose won the 2025 Chosen Vron Stakes at Del Mar by 1 1/2 lengths and paid $3.60 to win, according to Daily Racing Form. It was his third straight stakes win and made him the fourth consecutive favorite to win the race. He returns in 2026 from post 1 at 3-1.
Favorites won 7 of the 12 editions run at Del Mar through 2025, per Daily Racing Form, which makes the top of the morning line hard to dismiss.
Why is it called The Chosen Vron Stakes?
Del Mar renamed the Cary Grant Stakes in September 2025 to honor The Chosen Vron, the California-bred Horse of the Year in 2023 and 2024. The gelding won the race twice as the Cary Grant, won the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes in 2023 and 2024, and retired in March 2025 after 19 wins from 24 starts.
The race was first run in 2014 and is part of Del Mar's Bing Crosby Season stakes schedule.
Betting Angle: The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026
This race comes down to two horses who have each won it. Big City Lights (2-1) won the 2024 edition, and Man O Rose (3-1) won in 2025, and the price gap between them is where the value sits.
Man O Rose at 3-1 is the horse offering the better price. He is the defending champion; he gets 2 pounds from Big City Lights (124 vs. 126), and he won this race last year as the favorite, paying $3.60. Getting 3-1 on him now is a better price than bettors were offered in 2025. Post 1 at 7 furlongs gives Edwin Maldonado a short run to save ground into the turn.
Big City Lights at 2-1 is the logical favorite on class and his history in this race, but at 7 he carries top weight, and a short price leaves little margin.
Lovesick Blues at 5-1 is the experienced third option. The 8-year-old ran in the 2025 Breeders' Cup Sprint, finishing sixth, per Daily Racing Form, and also carries 126 pounds.
Bets to consider:
- Win: Man O Rose (#1) at 3-1 or better.
- $1 Exacta box: 1-5 ($2 total) to cover both former winners.
- 50-cent Trifecta: 1,5 with 1,5 with 1,4,7,9 ($4 total) to use the two former winners on top with Pure Madness, Lonesome Stew and Lovesick Blues underneath.
Available wagers on Race 8 include a $1 Exacta, $2 Quinella, 50-cent Trifecta, $1 Superfecta (10-cent minimum), $5 Late Double and $2 WPS Parlay, per the official Del Mar program.
How do I bet The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026?
You can bet The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026 online at BUSR, which offers win, place, show, exacta, trifecta, and superfecta wagers on Del Mar Race 8. New members can claim up to a $1,000 Welcome Bonus. Place bets before post time at 4:03 PM PT (7:03 PM ET) on November 7, 2026.
Follow more California racing coverage on our Del Mar page.
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Who is the favorite in The Chosen Vron Stakes 2026?
Big City Lights is the 2-1 morning-line favorite, trained by Richard E. Mandella and ridden by Kazushi Kimura.
What time does The Chosen Vron Stakes start?
Post time is 4:03 PM PT (7:03 PM ET) on Saturday, November 7, 2026. It is Race 8 at Del Mar.
How long is The Chosen Vron Stakes?
The Chosen Vron Stakes is 7 furlongs on the main dirt track at Del Mar.
What is the purse for The Chosen Vron Stakes?
The purse is $100,000 guaranteed, with $57,000 to the winner.
Who won The Chosen Vron Stakes in 2025?
Man O Rose won the 2025 Chosen Vron Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths and paid $3.60 to win.
What was The Chosen Vron Stakes called before?
It was the Cary Grant Stakes until Del Mar renamed it in September 2025.
Where can I bet The Chosen Vron Stakes?
You can bet The Chosen Vron Stakes at BUSR, with up to a $1,000 Welcome Bonus for new members.
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.
