The Chosen Vron has first turf triumph in California Flag Handicap

ARCADIA, Calif. - The Chosen Vron, a five-time stakes winner on dirt in 2021 and earlier this year, showed he is equally effective on turf with a sharp win in Sunday’s $103,000 California Flag Handicap on the hillside course at Santa Anita.

Sent off favored in a field of 11, The Chosen Vron ($7) closed from eighth to take command in the final furlong, pulling clear by 1 1/4 lengths over 7-1 None Above the Law, the winner of the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby in 2021.

Ridden by Hector Berrios, The Chosen Vron ran about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside course in 1:12.50, in his first win on turf in his second start on the surface. The Chosen Vron was a troubled third by a head in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar in August.

In the California Flag Handicap for statebreds, The Chosen Vron benefited from a rapid early pace set by Hot Box, who zoomed through an opening quarter-mile in 21.57 seconds and a half-mile in 43.78.

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Hot Box was unable to sustain the advantage, leaving Hail Freedom briefly in front in the stretch. The Chosen Vron rallied between Hail Freedom and None Above the Law to reach the front.

Coast of Roan (11-1) closed from seventh to finish third, followed by Aligato, Hail Freedom, Hot Box, Smuggler’s Run, Finneus, Jetovator, Straight Up G and Sunrise Journey.

The California Flag Handicap was the first start for Aligato since a win in the California Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles in January.

The Chosen Vron was the 124-pound topweight in the California Flag Handicap, his second consecutive stakes win in the division. The Chosen Vron won the E.B. Johnston Stakes for statebreds at a mile on dirt at Los Alamitos on Sept. 17.

“He’s an athlete and an extremely gifted athlete,” trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said. "We keep trying him at different things to see if he will mess it up, and he passes the test every time. We found out he can do the hill.”

The Chosen Vron earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 90.

Co-owned by John Sondereker, Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh and Kruljac, The Chosen Vron, 4, has won 7 of 11 starts and earned $465,678.

A gelding by Vronsky, The Chosen Vron may start in the $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs on dirt at Del Mar on Nov. 19.

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