The Chosen Vron 'Simply Invincible' in Cal Cup Sprint

The Chosen Vron  proved too much for his California-bred peers going six furlongs in the $150,000 Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint Stakes Jan. 13 at Santa Anita Park.

The grade 1 winner broke well from post 2 for Hector Berrios before settling into third position behind three-time graded stakes winner Brickyard Ride . After an opening quarter-mile in :22.41, Berrios found himself getting pinned on the rail by Mario Gutierrez and Moose Mitchell . 

Berrios found the opening as the field swung off the turn and only had to give a push to get The Chosen Vron to advance. The 6-year-old gelding inhaled Brickyard Ride at the eighth pole and cantered away to win by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:09.06 while looking "simply invincible" to track announcer Frank Mirahmadi.

"It's all him," trainer Eric Kruljac marveled after a 14th stakes victory for the son of Vronsky, "just so incredibly lucky to have an animal like this as an old man."

Owned by Sondereker Racing, Kruljac, Robert Fetkin, and Richard Thornburgh, The Chosen Vron has won 15 of 20 starts for earnings over $1.2 million.

Video: Don Valpredo California Cup Sprint S. (BT)

Grand Slam Smile Rising Star

Grand Slam Smile proved much the best in the $200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks going one mile on turf.

After being thrown from the Smiling Tiger   filly's back in the paddock, Frank Alvarado tried to keep her relaxed as she was eager to challenge Recalcitrant  for the lead, allowing her to take over at the half-mile pole.

On the far turn, Recalcitrant slid back up the rail for Frankie Dettori while Asada Fries  was asked to strike by Juan Hernandez. Suddenly finding herself sandwiched between horses turning for home, Alvarado convinced the tenacious filly to re-establish the lead with a furlong left and move away to win convincingly by 2 1/4 lengths in 1:36.59.

"To win this race for Mr. and Mrs. Williams is very special," trainer Steve Specht said. "To have a filly with this much talent...it's really special."

With four wins and two seconds from six starts, $329,900 in earnings, and wins on all three surfaces, Grand Slam Smile appears a future star on the California-bred circuit.

Video: Leigh Ann Howard California Cup Oaks (BT)

Other Cal CUp Highlights

• Mici's Express  emerged victorious in his brewing rivalry with Last Call London  and Stolen Treasure  in the $188,000 California Chrome California Cup Derby. The Slew's Tiznow colt passed his two front-running rivals to win by 1 1/2 lengths, completing the 1 1/16 miles in 1:46.75. Mici's Express earned his second victory in 11 starts.
• Favored 5-year-old mare Rose Maddox  got the perfect trip in the $151,500 Sunshine Millions Filly and Mare Turf Sprint Stakes, completing the about 6 1/2-furlong downhill trip in 1:13.45. Sitting mid-pack on the rail early, the daughter of Grazen  was gifted daylight as front-running Chancery Way  floated wide off the turn, and inched past to win by a nose over that rival and a rallying Stay and Scam .
• Kings River Knight  and jockey Juan Hernandez improved their record together to 5-for-5 in the $201,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic Stakes going 1 1/8 miles on turf. Taking the lead from the break, the 6-year-old Acclamation   gelding never looked back through comfortable fractions and winning by a half-length in 1:48.02.