Oh how they tried to beat Vron is selected They sent a graded winner, multiple graded winners, a graded horse and an undefeated runner to compete against him in the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) on July 27 at Del Mar. But this famous California-bred gelding has won 13 of his last 14 races—all in tournaments—and he has an answer for every challenge.
Although bookmakers were desperate to find another place to beat The Chosen Vron, he became the 3-2 favourite under regular rider Hector Berrios, a key ingredient in the gelding’s success, according to trainer, co-owner and co-breeder Eric Kruljac.
As the gates opened, Berrios let The Chosen Vron pick his way. They came out in 6th place (after two scratches), and The Chosen Vron galloped down the back in fourth and four wide. Anarchist take the lead
Anarchists and Close Road Game raced full speed through the opening quarter mile of :22.73, with See through it and The Chosen Vron was half a boat’s length away from them. But The Chosen Vron was simply waiting.
He was level with the leaders and popped his head in front just before the five-sixteenths post, which was then three wide. Vron was selected to break clear in the upper stretch and increase his lead from there. He was 2 1/4 lengths ahead of Closethegame Sugar, who had won back-to-back at Churchill Downsand stop the timer at 1:08.99. Jackstown Town A Bob Baffert trainee unbeaten in two starts, finished third, a half-length away.
It’s hard to win two Crosbys, a six-furlong sprint that’s always tough. Five people have done it, including the Eclipse Award winner Kona Gold and Cal-breds Kissin’ George and Cherry River. The six-year-old Chosen Vron doesn’t have an Eclipse Award yet—but he has plenty of Cal-bred hardware and now, with Bing Crosby, a Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series event, he has an automatic, paid entry into his second attempt at the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1).
“He is almost human in his temperament and intelligence,” Kruljac said. “I can’t say enough about Hector Berrios and the role he plays with this horse. Every time we work with him, Hector is there for him. He is a complete horseman; he is more than just a rider. He makes my job easier.”
Kruljac had more than one job with The Chosen Vron. He coordinated his own partnership, John Sondereker, Richard Thornburgh and Robert Fetkin, bringing them together in Tiz Awesome mare Tiz Molly after Kruljac trained her for them as part of Class Racing Stable. They bred The Chosen Vron under the name Tiz Molly Partners, and Kruljac rode him for them during a career that spanned 24 starts over five seasons, with 19 wins, 18 of which were in races.
The Chosen Vron’s $240,000 win at Crosby brought his bankroll to $1,659,678 and moved him from 27th on Cal-bred’s all-time money list to 20th.
Chosen Vron, Cal-bred Horse of the Year 2023, is Vronskywho stood at John Harris’s Harris Farm near Coalinga before dying of a heart attack aged 22 in April 2021. Half-brother to Grade 1 winner No Matter What and 2nd place winner and sire E DubaiVronsky, son of Danzigearned $135,247 on the track. His other runners include multiple Cal-bred champions and millionaires Close comments and 1st place winner What a sight! .
Videotapes: Bing Crosby S. (G1)
