The Chosen Vron leads the way in San Carlos Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Four days after he was honored as the 2023 California-bred Horse of the Year, The Chosen Vron won for the 16th time in his 21-race career in Saturday’s Grade 3 San Carlos Stakes at Santa Anita.

Ridden confidently by Hector Berrios, The Chosen Vron led throughout the $100,500 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs to win by a length in the quick time of 1:20.96 and earned a Beyer Speed Figure of 101.

The Chosen Vron ($2.80) won his third consecutive start in the San Carlos, all in stakes for statebreds since mid-November, and for the 11th time in his last 12 starts. His only loss since late August 2022 has been a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint here last November.

The Chosen Vron was at the front of the San Carlos field a few strides from the gate, and set early fractions of 22.27 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 44.42 for a half-mile while being closely followed by 4-1 Elwood Blues.

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The Chosen Vron pulled clear of Elwood Blues in early stretch to lead by 1 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining. Ghost of Midnight closed from fourth to be closest to The Chosen Vron at the finish.

“I could feel him getting closer to me,” Berrios said of Ghost of Midnight, with his agent, Michael Burns, translating.

“I picked my stick up and he responded.”

With The Chosen Vron as a heavy favorite, Berrios opted to urge the 6-year-old gelding to the front early to avoid any possible trouble. The Chosen Vron has often raced near the lead, but has also won from well off the pace.

“That’s not his running style,” Berrios said. “Because of the circumstances and everyone riding against me, I had to take him to the front.”

Ghost of Midnight (7-2) had his stakes debut in the San Carlos. He had won 5 of 6 starts since a victory in his debut in a $20,000 claimer for maidens at Del Mar last September.

Antonio Fresu, who won the $98,000 Pasadena Stakes earlier on Saturday’s program, was aboard Ghost of Midnight.

“He’s a good horse and the distance was perfect,” Fresu said. “We followed a good horse in front of us.”

The San Carlos Stakes was the 15th stakes win for The Chosen Vron, and first in a graded race since the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar last July.

“He was going so easily,” trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said. “I was on my toes until he passed the wire. When he went to the lead, I was a little concerned. You never know if he can sustain it.

“Maybe he’s getting better and better.”

The Chosen Vron is co-owned by John Sondereker, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh. The Chosen Vron has earned $1,299,678.

Elwood Blues was followed in the order of finish by McLaren Vale, I’m A Gambler and Super Chief.

I’m a Gambler was ridden by Tyler Baze, a late replacement for Frankie Dettori, who was unseated when Matanzas Creek sustained a fatal injury while galloping out after winning earlier on Saturday’s program.

Dettori walked off the track on his own power and did not ride his final three mounts.

The injury to Matanzas Creek was the first musculoskeletal racing fatality at Santa Anita since last March. There have been nine musculoskeletal fatalities in training at Santa Anita since last March, according to California Horse Racing Board reports.

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