In defending his title in Del Mar's GI Bing Crosby Stakes, The Chosen Vron (g, 6, Vronsky–Tiz Molly, by Tiz Wonderful) showed why he's the most popular California-bred in years, harkening back to other multiple Grade I winners from the Golden State the likes of California Chrome, Tiznow, and Best Pal. The Bing Crosby is a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint in November, giving the popular chestnut another try and a fees-paid berth into the six-furlong championship race after finishing fifth last year. Closethegame Sugar (Girvin), who shipped in off of two straight black-type wins and 99 Beyers at Churchill Downs, was second while previously two-for-two Jackstown (Speightstown) got up for third in his first stakes attempt.
Last year, The Chosen Vron endured a rough trip in the Bing Crosby, including checking off heels, and still gutted out a win by a determined head. This year, he had no such issues despite facing a salty field. He hopped out of the gate, quickly finding company to his inside, and ranged up four wide early as the first quarter clicked by in :22.73 while Anarchist (Distorted Humor)–a MGSW who finished second last year in the Bing Crosby–showed the way narrowly. It wasn't long, prior to the half registering in :45.36, before The Chosen Vron tired of tracking and snatched the lead for himself. Kicking clear in the stretch, he was never threatened and sailed under the wire by 2 1/4 lengths a much-the-best winner. Regular rider Hector Berrios simply shook the crop at him down the lane before pumping his fist in jubilation repeatedly before the wire.
“He was marvelous, really comfortable on the outside,” said Berrios. “From the three-eighths [pole] I let him go and he went himself. It's a Grade I; you don't always win these. It pays to have a good a healthy horse. I hope he continues for Breeders' Cup.”
Winning trainer J. Eric Kruljac added: “[Berrios] got out and had him in the thick of it. When it was time to move his hands, the rest was history. The other horses tried to keep up with him. He just wouldn't let them. It's one of his best races.”
Undefeated in six starts since that out-of-character fifth in last year's Breeders' Cup and last seen capturing the May 25 Thor's Echo Stakes at Santa Anita, The Chosen Vron has won 14 of his last 15 starts, dating back to the late summer of 2022. The gelding has raced exclusively in black-type events for his entire career with the exception of his debut in a statebred maiden in 2020. He's won 19 of 24, only once took an extended break (the first half of 2022), and has five graded wins among his 17 stakes wins. He races for the partnership of trainer Kruljac, Sondereker Racing LLC, Robert S. Fetkin, and Richard Thornburgh.
Pedigree Notes:
The Chosen Vron is one of five graded winners out of 14 black-type winners for the late Vronsky, who was one of California's leading active stallions until he passed away in 2021 of an apparent heart attack after covering a mare at Harris Farms. Despite modest crops, the son of Danzig is responsible for both The Chosen Vron and additional GISW What a View, as well as MGSW & GISP Closing Remarks.
Former Spendthrift stallion Tiz Wonderful is the broodmare sire of the Bing Crosby winner and has 11 stakes winners out of his daughters, including champion and $3.2-million Fasig-Tipton mare Wonder Wheel (Into Mischief). Tiz Wonderful spent a decade standing in Korea before his death was reported in March of this year.
The Chosen Vron's winning dam, Tiz Molly, sold for $1,200 to The Chosen Vron's co-owner Dick Thornburgh at the CTBA January mixed sale in 2019. From the same family as 2010 Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Delightful Mary (Limehouse) and MGSW & GISP Delightful Kiss (Kissin Kris), she has produced fillies by Clubhouse Ride the last three years. Her unraced 2-year-old has been named Clubhouse Cutie.
THE CHOSEN VRON ($5.00)! MAGNIFICENT!
He defended his title in the @LanesEndFarms $400,000 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at @DelMarRacing under @HIBerrios. He's trained by Eric Kruljac.
Play the next one: https://t.co/unZBCRthBU pic.twitter.com/Qywrmpk4G8
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) July 28, 2024
Saturday, Del Mar
BING CROSBY S.-GI, $401,000, Del Mar, 7-27, 3yo/up, 6f, 1:08.99, ft.
1–THE CHOSEN VRON, 124, g, 6, by Vronsky
1st Dam: Tiz Molly, by Tiz Wonderful
2nd Dam: Deputie's Notebook, by Notebook
3rd Dam: Deputy's Delight, by French Deputy
O-Sondereker Racing LLC, J. Eric Kruljac, Robert S. Fetkin and
Richard Thornburgh; B-Tiz Molly Partners (CA); T-J. Eric Kruljac;
J-Hector Isaac Berrios. $240,000. Lifetime Record: 24-19-1-2,
$1,659,678. Werk Nick Rating: F.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Closethegame Sugar, 122, g, 4, Girvin–Casual Cocktail,
by Magna Graduate. 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK
TYPE. ($10,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP). O-Adam Rice and Sugar Diaz,
LLC; B-Brereton C. Jones (KY); T-Adam Rice. $80,000.
3–Jackstown, 122, c, 4, Speightstown–No Name Needed,
by Medaglia d'Oro. 1ST BLACK TYPE, 1ST GRADED BLACK
TYPE, 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. ($160,000 Ylg '21 KEESEP).
O-SF Racing LLC, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables LLC, Robert
Masterson, Stonestreet Stables LLC, Jay A. Schoenfarber,
Waves Edge Capital LLC and Catherine Donovan; B-McCann
Bloodstock, B. J. Scott, E. D. Richards, Mark Kelder &
Speightstown Syn. (KY); T-Bob Baffert. $48,000.
Margins: 2 1/4, HF, 1HF. Odds: 1.50, 3.20, 2.90.
Also Ran: See Through It, Anarchist, Happy Jack, Giant Game. Scratched: Roll On Big Joe, Straight No Chaser.
Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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