The Chosen Vron should get nice setup in California Flag

In August, The Chosen Vron closed from off the pace through traffic to finish a game third by a head in the California Dreamin’ Stakes at Del Mar in his turf debut. When The Chosen Vron has his second start on turf Sunday at Santa Anita, racing behind horses could be an advantage.

A 4-year-old gelding by Vronsky, The Chosen Vron is part of a field of 11 in the $100,000 California Flag Handicap for statebreds at about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course.

“There seems to be a ton of speed in there,” his trainer, Eric Kruljac, said earlier this week.

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That speed is likely to be provided by Hot Box, Sunrise Journey, Hail Freedom, and perhaps Jetovator.

Despite The Chosen Vron’s loss in the California’ Dreamin, run at 1 1/16 miles, Kruljac said he was encouraged by the performance.

“He ran super on the grass,” Kruljac said. “He was boxed in for a quarter-mile and couldn’t get a run. He handled the turf well.

“He was looking for room and he only got beat a head.”

Since the California Dreamin’, The Chosen Vron has finished fifth in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien at Del Mar and won the E. B. Johnston Stakes for statebred milers on dirt on Sept. 17 at Los Alamitos. The win was his fifth in a stakes. The Chosen Vron has won 6 of 10 starts and earned $405,678, all for John Sondereker, Robert Fetkin, Richard Thornburgh, and Kruljac.

Aligato will have his first start since closing from seven lengths back to win the California Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles in January at Santa Anita. Aligato won a six-furlong maiden race on turf in October 2021.

“He’s a very versatile horse,” trainer Mark Glatt said. “Not many horses can stretch out the first time and win at a mile and an eighth as well as he did.

“I think this will fit him perfect off a long layoff. I imagine we’ll sit back and make a good run.”

Hail Freedom has his stakes debut on the strength of four consecutive wins since early April, including an allowance race on the hillside turf course that started the streak.

None Above the Law, a four-time stakes winner, was fourth by a length after a wide trip in the Grade 2 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs on Oct. 1. Trained by Peter Miller, None Above the Law has never raced at shorter than a mile on turf, but did win the Grade 2 Del Mar Derby at 1 1/8 miles on grass in September 2021 and one of his stakes wins came at seven furlongs on dirt. Similar to The Chosen Vron, None Above the Law is a threat from off the pace.

Coast of Roan, Hot Box, Jetovator, and Sunrise Journey will each face a class test after winning their most recent start.

The $85,000 Anoakia Stakes for 2-year-old fillies at six furlongs was scheduled to be run Sunday, but did not draw sufficient entries and has been canceled, track officials said.

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