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California-Bred The Chosen Vron Takes Them All The Way In The Grade III, $100,000 San Carlos Stakes
3/16/2024
CALIFORNIA-BRED THE CHOSEN VRON TAKES THEM ALL THE WAY IN THE GRADE III, $100,000 SAN CARLOS STAKES
IT’S THE CHOSEN VRON’S 15TH STAKES WINS IN 21 STARTS AND FOURTH GRADED TALLY
ARCADIA, CA (March. 16, 2024)—The Chosen Vron continued his winning ways Saturday with a gate-to-wire victory in the GIII, $100,000 San Carlos Stakes going seven furlongs at Santa Anita.
With regular rider Hector Berrios in the irons, The Chosen Vron (2-5) shook off pace rival Elwood Blues (4-1) on the turn and successfully held off a late charge from 7-2 second-choice Ghost of Midnight to score by one length. It was The Chosen Vron’s 15th stakes win in 21 starts and his fourth graded tally for trainer Eric Kruljac.
The Chosen Vron broke cleanly from the rail and proceeded to carve fractions of 22.27 and 44.42 second for the opening half mile with Elwood Blues lapped to his outside. Runner-up Ghost of Midnight took up a stalking position under Antonio Fresu, some three lengths back of The Chosen Vron.
The Chosen Vron proceeded to reach the eighth pole in a quick 1:08.37. Ghost of Midnight had gotten to within1 ½ lengths at that point, but he could never get to the winner. The Chosen Vron motored across the wire in a swift 1:20.96.
The Chosen Vron paid $2.80, $2.20 and $2.10. Ghost of Midnight returned $3.40 and $2.10. Elwood Blues, who finished 6 ¾ lengths back in third, paid $2.10.
A 6-year-old gelding by Vronsky, The Chosen Vron improved his record to 16-1-2 in 21 starts with $1,299,678 in earnings. He is owned by Sondereker Racing LLC, Kruljac, Robert S. Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh.
In The Chosen Vron’s only previous start this year, he won the California Cup Sprint Stakes against statebreds. He has won 11 of his last 12 starts dating back to September 2022 with his only defeat coming in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint Nov. 4 at Santa Anita. The Chosen Vron’s previous graded stakes wins came in last year’s GI Bing Crosby at Del Mar and as a 3-year-old in 2021when taking both the GIII Lazaro Barrera Stakes and GIII Affirmed Stakes.
Racing resumes Sunday at Santa Anita with a nine-race card starting at 12:30 p.m. PT.