The Chosen Vron dazzles en route to Thor's Echo victory

ARCADIA, Calif. – A stakes race billed as a two-horse showdown between the top Cal-bred sprinters turned into a one-horse coronation on Sunday at Santa Anita.

The Chosen Vron ($3.40) ran past Brickyard Ride at the top of the lane to score a dazzling 5 1/2-length victory in the $98,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes. It was the seventh consecutive Cal-bred stakes win by The Chosen Vron, and set up a possible start in a Grade 1 this summer at Del Mar.

Making his first start in two months for trainer Eric Kruljac, The Chosen Vron and jockey Hector Berrios raced third behind dueling leaders Brickyard Ride and Sunrise Journey, swept past that pair at the top of the lane, and cruised home in 1:09.58. Tigre Di Slugo rallied from last to second; Brickyard Ride and Sunrise Journey completed the order of finish in the four-horse race.

It was the 12th career victory by The Chosen Vron, and ranks among the best performances of his 16-start career. Kruljac was thrilled at an initial evaluation of the 5-year-old gelding in the winner’s circle.

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“He couldn’t blow out a match when he came back,” Kruljac said, and acknowledged that it might be the right time for something ambitious. The Grade 1 Bing Crosby on July 29 at Del Mar is a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, where The Chosen Vron has now won seven of eight.

“We’ll definitely look at the (Bing Crosby),” Kruljac said. “It depends on how he bounces back. Given how well he bounced back of this short layoff, I’m thinking if I have six to eight weeks between races, we’ve got to try him one time.”

In his previous start two months ago, The Chosen Vron was all-out to win a turf sprint by a nose as the 3-10 favorite. Kruljac suspected he needed a short rest. “His last race, it gave us signs,” Kruljac said. “And he bounced back nicely.”

Owned by a partnership, The Chosen Vron has earned $792,678. He is the third-leading money winner sired by Vronsky.

The Chosen Vron benefitted by a pace duel between Brickyard Ride and Sunrise Journey. Those two went head-and-head through fractions of 21.82 and 44.41; The Chosen Vron disposed of that pair into the lane and won easily. Tigre Di Slugo, who was positioned last, rallied to finish second, some 6 3/4 lengths in front of The Brickyard Ride.

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