The Chosen Vron (Vronsky) exited his win in Saturday's GI Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in fine shape and trainer Eric Kruljac is already thinking of options to get the classy Cal-bred to the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.
“He's doing super,” Kruljac said Sunday morning. “He wasn't tired and cleaned up his feed. He looks like a million bucks.”
The Chosen Vron won his sixth straight race while successfully defending his Bing Crosby title. The race awarded the 6-year-old gelding an automatic berth in the Breeders' Cup Sprint. Last year, Kruljac trained The Chosen Vron up to the Breeders' Cup following his victory in the Bing Crosby, but the trainer may take a different approach this year.
“We're much more likely to look for an out [a prep race],” Kruljac said. “Last year, I backed off. I could have trained him a lot harder. I don't know if it would have made a difference or not. We'll definitely be much more aggressive. He seems be no worse for wear this morning.”
The Chosen Vron finished a distant fifth to Elite Power (Curlin) in last year's Breeders' Cup Sprint.
Dr. Venkman (Ghostzapper) may have earned himself a shot at the Aug. 31 GI FanDuel Racing Pacific Classic with his win in Saturday's GII San Diego Handicap.
“He came back good,” trainer Mark Glatt said of the 4-year-old gelding. “Certainly it [the Pacific Classic] will be on our radar after today's performance.”
After finishing second in the seven-furlong GII Triple Bend Handicap June 1, Dr. Venkman was making his first start at 1 1/16 miles in the San Diego.
“I was as confident as you can be,” Glatt said of the decision to start in the San Diego versus the Bing Crosby. “He didn't really surprise me but, until I see it, I don't believe it and he passed with flying colors. It's a struggle stretching out with horses for the first time. But we trained him to hopefully back off the bit. He's always been very push button, so I was as confident as can be.”
R3 Racing's Katonah (Klimt) returned from a one-year layoff to finish a respectable second in the San Diego. The 5-year-old gelding was also doing well Sunday morning.
“A great, great comeback,” trainer Doug O'Neill said. “The Pacific Classic is our dream goal.”
Last year's Pacific Classic winner Arabian Knight (Uncle Mo), in his first race since finishing fourth in last year's GI Breeders' Cup Classic, finished a fading fourth in the San Diego after setting much of the pace.
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