Rematch possible for The Chosen Vron, Kings River Knight in Tiznow Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - The last time The Chosen Vron and Kings River Knight met they finished a nose apart when first and second in the Sensational Star Stakes for turf sprinters at Santa Anita last March.

Both have since have outstanding careers, including stakes wins a half-hour apart against statebreds on Saturday at Santa Anita.

The wins may lead to a rematch between the 6-year-old geldings in the $100,000 Tiznow Stakes for California-breds at a mile at Santa Anita on Feb. 19, a race The Chosen Vron won by 6 1/2 lengths last year.

Kings River Knight did not start in the 2023 Tiznow Stakes, but did win his fifth stakes in the last year in Saturday’s $201,000 Unusual Heat Turf Classic at 1 1/8 miles.

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The Chosen Vron won his 14th career stakes in the $150,000 California Cup Sprint at six furlongs, his 10th stakes win in his last 11 starts. The only loss in that span was a fifth-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita last November.

In the winner’s circle on Saturday, trainer and co-owner Eric Kruljac mentioned the Tiznow as a goal for The Chosen Vron next month.

The Tiznow works in regard to long-term timing for Kings River Knight, trainer John Sadler said.

“He’s going to run every five or six weeks or so,” Sadler said on Sunday.

The Unusual Heat Turf Classic was Kings River Knight’s first start since a win in the California Flag Stakes on the hillside turf course in mid-October.

“He had a little freshening since the fall,” Sadler said.

Kings River Knight led throughout the Unusual Heat Turf Classic, the longest victory of his career. He was fourth in the race last year, losing by a length.

“It was a good, strong field,” Sadler said of Saturday’s race. “I was happy.”

Race plans are uncertain for Brickyard Ride, who was second by 2 1/4 lengths to the heavily favored The Chosen Vron on Saturday. An eight-time stakes winner, Brickyard Ride set the pace to the final furlong in the Cal Cup Sprint and finished clear of third.

“He ran into a good horse,” trainer Craig Lewis said. “He tried to re-rally when that horse came to him.”

Lewis said the 7-year-old Brickyard Ride could start in the Grade 3 San Carlos Stakes at seven furlongs on March 16, a race he won in 2021 when the race had Grade 2 status.

“Nothing is set in stone,” Lewis said. “He’s probably lost a step or two, but he’s a productive horse. He likes the track at Santa Anita.”

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