The Chosen Vron, Laurel River Battle in Lazaro Barrera
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Photo: Benoit Photo
The Chosen Vron cruises under the finish line in winning the Echo Eddie Stakes at Santa Anita Park
The Chosen Vron , a California-bred stakes winner, takes on two Reddam Racing runners and the royally bred Juddmonte Farm colt Laurel River in the May 15 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park. With only four entrants, the $100,000 race at 6 1/2 furlongs for 3-year-olds goes is carded early as the day's third race with a post time of 1:30 p.m. PT.
The only existing stakes winner, The Chosen Vron won the April 3 Echo Eddie Stakes at the same distance despite a rough trip.
"He was bumped at the start and bumped at the eighth pole," said Eric Kruljac, who trains The Chosen Vron and is a co-owner. "It's a big step up going against open company, but he's earned it."
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The Echo Eddie was for Cal-breds and California-sired runners. In his only previous graded attempt, The Chosen Vron finished third in the San Vicente Stakes (G2) behind Concert Tour and Freedom Fighter . Concert Tour is one of the favorites in the Preakness Stakes (G1) at Pimlico Race Course about two hours after the Barrera.
Mike Smith rode The Chosen Vron in the Echo Eddie but has the call on Concert Tour in the Preakness. Umberto Rispoli picks up the mount The Chosen Vron from post 3.
Kruljac owns The Chosen Vron with Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker, and Richard Thornburgh. Kruljac and most of the owners are part of the Tiz Molly Partners, which bred the gelding. The Chosen Vron is by recently deceased Vronsky out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly.
Kruljac gelded The Chosen Vron before ever starting him and said that the new gelding "settled right down and has been very professional ever since." In his first start last December, The Chosen Vron won by 6 3/4 lengths.
Doug O'Neill trains Wipe the Slate and I'll Stand Taller for Paul and Zilla Reddam. Mario Gutierrez will be aboard Wipe the Slate, who drew the rail, while Juan Hernandez rides I'll Stand Taller from post 4.
Wipe the Slate, a Kentucky-bred son of the Reddams' champion Nyquist, cost $175,000 at the 2020 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's July sale of 2-year-olds. He broke his maiden in his second start and wound up last of six in the Robert B. Lewis Stakes (G3) after breaking outwardly and being bumped. He was unplaced in the March 6 Gotham Stakes (G3) and has since been gelded.
The Reddams bred I'll Stand Taller in California. The colt is by Square Eddie , a leading California sire now pensioned. I'll Stand Taller won in his second start and ran fourth in the Silky Sullivan Stakes for Cal-breds and Cal-sired runners at Golden Gate Fields.
Juddmonte homebred Laurel River, trained by Bob Baffert, ran fifth in his Oct. 3 debut and didn't compete again until breaking his maiden by 4 1/4 lengths April 3. That winning performance, which followed a March 28 workout in company with eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) first-place finisher Medina Spirit , earned Laurel River a stakes-quality 101 Equibase Speed Rating.
He is a son of Into Mischief —Calm Water , by Empire Maker . Calm Water, also a Juddmonte-bred, is sister to millionaire and multiple grade 1 winner Emollient and half sister to stakes winners Hofburg and Courtier .
Abel Cedillo will ride Laurel River from post 3.
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, May 15, 2021, Race 3Entries: Lazaro Barrera S. (G3)
PP
Horse
Jockey
Wgt
Trainer
M/L
1
1Wipe the Slate (KY)
Mario Gutierrez
120
Doug F. O'Neill
5/1
2
2Laurel River (KY)
Abel Cedillo
120
Bob Baffert
4/5
3
3The Chosen Vron (CA)
UMBERTO RISPOLI
124
J. Eric Kruljac
6/5
4
4I'll Stand Taller (CA)
Juan J. Hernandez
120
Doug F. O'Neill
10/1
