The Chosen Vron, Brickyard Ride Lead California Cup Day

Five stakes totaling $900,000 in purses spotlight California-bred Thoroughbreds Jan. 13 on California Cup Day at Santa Anita Park. Worth $200,000 apiece are the Unusual Heat Turf Classic, the California Cup Derby, and California Cup Oaks, while the Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint and Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint both carry purses of $150,000.

Numerous California-breds have distinguished themselves in some of the nation's richest races against graded stakes competition through the years, led by California Chrome  , the 2014 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner and a career $14.7 million earner.

This year's top-earning California Cup Day runner is The Chosen Vron , who has made more than $1.1 million for owners Sondereker Racing, Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, and Richard Thornburgh. Kruljac trains the expected favorite in the six-furlong Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint.

Skilled over short and middle distances, The Chosen Vron captured the July 29 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) at six furlongs last summer at Del Mar in his signature achievement before finishing fifth in the Nov. 4 Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita. He returned to California-bred company and captured the Nov. 18 Cary Grant Stakes at Del Mar Nov. 18.

Earlier in his career in the graded ranks, he also won the 2021 Affirmed Stakes (G3) and Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita, where he is 9-for-11 on the main track. He is 14-for-19 overall. The 6-year-old Vronsky  gelding, bred in California by Tiz Molly Partners out of the Tiz Wonderful  mare Tiz Molly , won the six-furlong California Cup Sprint last year. Hector Berrios rides.

Four foes face him in this year's contest, led by the speedy Craig Lewis-trained Brickyard Ride , recently third in the San Antonio Stakes (G2) at Santa Anita Dec. 26. His show finish in the San Antonio pushed his career earnings to $895,477 for owner-breeder Alfred A. "Sonny" Pais. The son of California stallion Clubhouse Ride  has won 13 times in 30 starts, including three graded stakes and eight overall black-type contests.

"These are two of the best Cal-breds we've seen in a long time. It should be fun," Kruljac said.

In their only previous matchup, The Chosen Vron romped to a 5 1/2-length win in the six-furlong Thor's Echo Stakes at Santa Anita May 28. Brickyard Ride dueled on the lead in that race before fading to third.

"The Chosen Vron is a beast. He is going to be difficult to beat," Lewis said. "Brickyard Ride is probably not as good as when he was younger. But he's still a moneymaker that loves what's he's doing. We'll see how it goes."

In other California Cup Day stakes action

• Black-type winners Last Call London  and Wild Jewels  battle in the California Cup Derby at 1 1/16 miles on dirt;
• Stakes-placed Sushi Sticks  returns to grass racing for the one-mile California Cup Oaks;
• Stakes-winning Rose Maddox  battles up-and-coming Stay and Scam  and Northern California invader Chancery Way  in the Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint;
• And a contentious field of 10 is expected in the Turf Classic, led by multiple stakes winner Kings River Knight , whose staying power will be tested over 1 1/8 miles; he faded to fourth in the Turf Classic last year, beaten a length.