The Chosen Vron Wins Third Straight Stakes in Affirmed
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Photo: Benoit Photo
The Chosen Vron wins the Affirmed Stakes at Santa Anita Park
In a race in which most observers thought trainer Eric Kruljac's The Chosen Vron would be on or contending for the early lead, the 3-year-old Vronsky gelding was last early. Although Defunded had what appeared to be an insurmountable four-length edge turning for home, it was The Chosen Vron who rallied for a 1 1/4-length score in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes (G3) June 13 at Santa Anita Park.
Stretching out beyond sprint distances for the first time, The Chosen Vron settled nicely under Umberto Rispoli heading into the first turn as longshot Jimmy Irish and Defunded contested the early going. Opening fractions through six furlongs went in :23.25, :46.34, and 1:10.82.
Bob Baffert-trained Defunded assumed command around the far turn, quickly dispatching of his favored stablemate, Classier , and had what appeared to be a winning advantage a quarter-mile out. But The Chosen Vron, who moved into contention at the rail, switched leads straightening for home and reeled in the leader inside the sixteenth pole.
The Chosen Vron pulled clear as he completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:44.01 on the fast track.
"I thought he'd show more natural speed but they sent a couple horses real hard and Umberto took the initiative," said Kruljac. "He rode the horse with a lot of faith and he got there. He had a lot of kickback on him, but he'll run through it, this horse. … The way the track was playing all day … I told Umberto, if the opportunity is there, if there's not much pace, feel free to go. And then I said, 'By the way, for the next 10 minutes, you own this horse.' And he rode him his way."
The connections of The Chosen Vron in the winner's circle after the Affirmed Stakes and Santa Anita Park
A winner of the May 15 Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) and April 3 Echo Eddie Stakes coming into Sunday, The Chosen Vron was off as the 8-5 second choice in a field of five sophomores and paid $5.20.
"When the gates (opened) his intent was to go. Obviously he's coming from a (sprint) race, but so far he understood that when we didn't go anywhere, he just switched off his mind and on the first turn he was just completely relaxed," said Rispoli. "I had him in a good spot, I threw him on the inside because I know he likes the kickback, and I traveled all the way inside to find a good spot at the three-furlong pole just moving him up.
"At that point I knew he was the horse to beat. I felt that I had so much horse under me that he did the rest. After I got behind Classier, I came out and said, 'OK, it's business time,' and it was just a feeling that he was going to switch his lead and I knew he was going to go by them easy. He's a small horse but he's got a big heart. He's got an amazing mind to go from (6 1/2) furlongs to a mile and one sixteenth for the first time."
Owned by Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker, and Richard Thornburgh, The Chosen Vron increased his earnings to $270,600 from a 4-0-1 record in five starts.
Defunded finished 11 lengths in front of third-placed Classier. Mr. Impossible and Jimmy Irish completed the order of finish.
The Chosen Vron was bred in California by Tiz Molly Partners out of the Tiz Wonderful mare Tiz Molly. His dam also has a 2-year-old filly by Jeranimo , a yearling filly by Grazen , and was reported bred to Clubhouse Ride for 2021.
Kruljac named the $175,000 Real Good Deal Stakes for Cal-breds going seven furlongs at Del Mar as The Chosen Vron's next start.