The Chosen Vron outfinishes Big City Lights in E.B. Johnston

CYPRESS, Calif. - The experience of 4-year-old The Chosen Vron got the better of the lightly raced 3-year-old Big City Lights in Saturday’s $75,000 E.B. Johnston Stakes for California-bred milers at Los Alamitos.

The Chosen Vron ($4) tracked pacesetter Big City Lights to the middle of the stretch before taking command, drawing away by 1 1/4 lengths in 1:35.19 under jockey Hector Berrios. The Chosen Vron earned a 95 Beyer Speed Figure.

Big City Lights, the 3-2 second choice, lost for the first time in his fourth start, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of 9-1 Crash Corrigan, who was third throughout.

“I think our extra maturity was the difference,” winning trainer Eric Kruljac said. “We did get a good ride from Berrios.”

Big City Lights, the winner of the Real Good Deal Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 5 in his 2022 debut, set the pace in the six-runner E.B. Johnston Stakes.

Ridden by Juan Hernandez, Big City Lights ran the opening quarter-mile in 23.94 seconds and a half-mile in 47, leading by as much as two lengths. The Chosen Vron moved closer on the turn before the pair reached the long stretch.

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The win was worth $42,000 for the partnership of John Sondereker, Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh, and Kruljac.

Appreciated finished fourth, followed by Desmond Doss and Luvluv.

Desmond Doss was third in the 2021 Johnston and won the Bertrando Stakes for statebred milers here in June. He was never a threat to the first two finishers on Saturday.

The Chosen Vron has won 6 of 10 starts and earned $405,678.

The Chosen Vron was a four-time stakes winner in 2021, including two Grade 3 races at Santa Anita – the Lazaro Barrera Stakes at seven furlongs and the Affirmed Stakes at 1 1/16 miles.