Bring on the Breeders’ Cup Sprint!
The Chosen Vron won the $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at Del Mar for the second year in a row and earned another automatic berth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Del Mar on Nov. 2.
The California-bred won for the 14th time in his last 15 races, all stakes races, with the lone defeat coming in the 2023 BC Sprint at Santa Anita.
Ridden by Hector Berrios, the 6-year-old chestnut gelding moved into the lead around the turn in the 6-furlong Bing Crosby, and won by 2 1/4 lengths over Closethegame Sugar, with Bob Baffert-trained Jackstown third in the seven-horse field.
Winning time was 1.08.99. The Chosen Vron, trained by Eric Kurljac, was sent off as the 3-2 favorite and returned $5 on a $2 win bet.
The Chosen Vron is 5-for-5 this year, extended his winning streak to six in a row, and his career record to 19 wins in 24 starts for earnings of $1,659,678. The son of Vronsky has run only once outside California, winning the 2021 Hank Mills Sr. Stakes at Turf Paradise in Phoenix, Arizona.
The Bing Crosby field was a tough one with graded stakes winners, multiple stakes winners, and an undefeated runner trying to spring an upset. But The Chosen Vron kicked clear of the field for yet another victory in what could lead to a championship season.
“He was marvelous, really comfortable on the outside,’’ Berrios said. “From the three eights (pole), I let him go and he went himself. It’s a Grade 1; you don’t always win these; it pays to have a good a healthy horse. I hope he continues for Breeder’s Cup.”
Dr. Venkman ($8.20) took the lead from 3-5 favorite Arabian Knight around the far turn and won by a length over Katonah.
Trained by Mark Glatt, the 4-year-old gelding covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:43.36 in the local prep for the Pacific Classic (G1). Express Train was third, Arabian Knight fourth, and Newgrange last of five.
Glatt gave rider Antonio Fresu credit for the win: “He relaxed beautifully. Antonio pushed the button at the right time. I was pretty confident around the quarter pole. I thought he had more horse than the pacesetter, then it was just the question of getting on by him. He kind of got to wandering a little bit in the stretch but he ran great.”
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.
