Five Cal-bred stakes include two gimmees – The Chosen Vron and Kings River Knight

ARCADIA, Calif. – There is no red carpet for the star of the show Saturday at Santa Anita, but there certainly is for the main supporting player. Seems it should be the other way around.

Millionaire gelding The Chosen Vron probably will win the $100,000 Thor’s Echo anyway, but he must overcome an unwelcome obstacle – post position – in the race 3 sprint that is the first of five Cal-bred stakes on Saturday.

A half-hour later in race 4, Kings River Knight is lone speed in the $100,000 Crystal Water at a mile on turf. Kings River Knight figures to be long gone and win the Crystal Water a second time.

The Chosen Vron and Kings River Knight, 6-year-old geldings, enter their races as perceived low-odds standouts. From a betting perspective, the Thor’s Echo and Crystal Water offer less appeal than three stakes later. From a sporting perspective, who doesn’t love The Chosen Vron?

A winner of 16 stakes, The Chosen Vron is stuck on the rail in the Thor’s Echo, a sprint he won last year. The inside post is not insurmountable. It is problematic, as jockey Hector Berrios knows. The Chosen Vron “runs much better, more comfortable, when he runs outside,” he said.

Berrios grimaced explaining The Chosen Vron “does not like to run in the middle. He doesn’t like going to the lead.”

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From the inside post Saturday, an aggressive strategy may be the only option for the likely odds-on favorite. Bettors, beware. But that does not include trainer Eric Kruljac.

“The window doesn’t mean anything to me,” Kruljac said, laughing. “I quit betting on my horses.”

Kruljac and assistant Herlindo Huales have guided The Chosen Vron through a 17-for-22 career and $1,359,678 in earnings. The ride is far from over. The Chosen Vron, sired by Vronsky, won the Thor’s Echo a year ago. He has won four straight races, 12 of his last 13.

“He’s just an amazing horse, all class,” Kruljac said this week at Santa Anita. “It’s a fairy tale.”

Kings River Knight fits a similar description, having finished first or second in 14 of 15, including five stakes wins. Kings River Knight, who trainer John Sadler calls a “barn favorite” and “quiet gentleman,” has won nine races and $589,830. His rider is Juan Hernandez.

The Thor’s Echo and Crystal Water are followed Saturday by three additional Cal-bred stakes. The $100,000 Fran’s Valentine, race 6, is a filly-mare turf mile. The others are $125,000 stakes for 3-year-olds – the Snow Chief, race 8 at 1 1/8 miles on turf, and the Melair, race 9 at 1 1/16 miles for fillies on dirt.

Grade 1 winner The Chosen Vron should be heavily favored in the Thor’s Echo with or without his main rival. Big City Lights was entered, but the Grade 2, $200,000 Triple Bend one week later is tempting. Big City Lights has won five of nine. All four losses were runner-up finishes to The Chosen Vron.

Richard Mandella, trainer of Big City Lights, prefers not facing his nemesis for a mere $100,000. “I’m not saying I’m not running, but the Triple Bend is more money, and I can’t imagine anyone better,” Mandella said. “I don’t want to ‘vrun’ in the ‘vrong’ ‘vrace.’ It’s double the money next week.”

Five were entered the Thor’s Echo. The front-runner Sawasdee drew directly outside The Chosen Vron. Big City Lights drew post 3, Moose Mitchell and California Tiger break from posts 4 and 5. The main summer objective for The Chosen Vron is the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes on July 27 at Del Mar, followed by the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Del Mar in autumn.

Nine are entered the Crystal Water, in which the proverbial welcome mat greets Kings River Knight. In a race otherwise void of pace, Sadler-trained Kings River Knight could be loose.

“He’s got such good tactical speed, very seldom is he in trouble in a race,” Sadler said. “He doesn’t have to set the pace. He’ll be up there, away from trouble.”

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His main rival is Old Pal, fresh off a super comeback in a turf-mile allowance. Old Pal ran faster each successive quarter-mile, finishing in 22.74. Mark Glatt trains the 4-year-old colt, who won the Snow Chief Stakes last year.

The challenge for Old Pal is a lack of speed. “He’s a horse that does fall victim to the pace scenario,” Glatt acknowledged. “If he gets at least a reasonable pace scenario, and can steer clear of any traffic trouble, he’s gonna be right there most of the time.”

Mike Smith rides Old Pal. Others in the Crystal Water are stakes winners Coalinga Road, None Above the Law, Carmelita’s Man, and Passarando.

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