The Chosen Vron likely to stick with statebred races

CYPRESS, Calif. - The Chosen Vron was a two-time winner in Grade 3 stakes as a 3-year-old in 2021, but he is unlikely to be tried in those sort of races in coming months.

After The Chosen Vron won Saturday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos, trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac said the statebred division has greater appeal.

“The main thing is to keep him around as long as we can,” Kruljac said in the winner’s circle. “I don’t think we’ll try anything graded anytime soon.”

There are opportunities in the California-bred division in the next 60 days. The Chosen Vron is expected to start in the $100,000 California Flag Handicap at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course at Santa Anita on Oct. 16. The $100,000 Cary Grant Stakes for statebreds at seven furlongs on dirt at Del Mar on Nov. 19 is another option.

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The Chosen Vron closed from second to win the Johnston Stakes by 1 1/4 lengths as the even-money favorite over 2-1 Big City Lights. The Johnston Stakes was the first win of the year for The Chosen Vron in his third start, and his first stakes win since the $60,000 Mills Stakes for sprinters at Turf Paradise last November.

A start in the California Flag would be The Chosen Vron’s second start on turf. He was third in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on turf at Del Mar in his first start of the year on Aug. 6. The Chosen Vron was stuck behind the pacesetters to the final furlong before closing well between rivals to miss by a head.

“He had nowhere to go,” Kruljac said. “He was going to gallop there.”

The Chosen Vron has won 6 of 10 starts and earned $405,678 for the partnership of John Sondereker, Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh and Kruljac.

Earlier this year, The Chosen Vron was sidelined with injury. The sharp race in the California’ Dream and win in the Johnston has left Kruljac hopeful the gelding can pad his record soon.

“Hopefully we can keep him around for a few years,” Kruljac said. “I think he’s as good as he was before and maybe better.”

Miller fined

Trainer Peter Miller was fined $3,000 by Los Alamitos stewards for a medication violation in June, according to a ruling published on Sunday.

Miller, one of the most prominent trainers in California, was cited after Liam’s Dove had a workout within 10 days of receiving an intra-articular corticosteroid injection. Horses must be given a 10-day gap following the injection before they are allowed to undergo workouts.

Liam’s Dove, unraced since January, worked a half-mile in 49.20 seconds on June 27 at San Luis Rey Downs. Liam’s Dove won the Del Mar Juvenile Fillies Turf in September 2021.