Published Saturday, July 27th, 2024 (2 months ago)

The Chosen Vron, Dr. Venkman Score in Stakes Doubleheader at Del Mar

The Chosen Vron | Benoit Photo

The Chosen Vron © Benoit Photo

The California-bred win machine named The Chosen Vron did once again what he has done so many times before and outran six rivals in the 79th version of the Grade I Bing Crosby Stakes, a race named in honor of Del Mar’s founder. The flashy chestnut gelding, six years of age now but seemingly getting stronger by the race, pulled away in the lane and tallied by two and a quarter lengths in a rapid 1:08.99, the fastest six furlongs of the meet. It was his remarkable 19th triumph in his 24th outing. As the 3/2 favorite, he returned $5 to win.

Earlier on the card, the sprinter Dr. Venkman went around two turns for the first time and came away a winner in the $300,000 San Diego Handicap at a mile and one-sixteenth. The race’s 2/5 favorite – multiple-stakes winner Arabian Knight – flashed speed for the early part of the race, but then fell back and could only finish fourth.

This was the second year in a row that The Chosen Vron won the Crosby, which this time had a total purse of $401,000 and rewarded the winner with $240,000. The son of the late sire Vronsky pushed his bankroll to $1,659,678. He also earned another free entrance to the $2,000,000 Breeders’ Cup Sprint by virtue of the race’s “Win and You’re In” status. That championship race will be run at Del Mar on Saturday, November 2.

Trainer J. Eric Kruljac and rider Hector Berrios again combined to partner The Chosen Vron through another of his stellar performances.  

Finishing second in the Crosby was Rice or Sugar Diaz’s Closethegame Sugar, who was a half length ahead of SF Racing, Starlight Racing and partners’ Jacktown.

Dr. Venkman, a 4-year-old gelding by Ghostzapper, was handled by Antonio Fresu and is conditioned by Mark Glatt. He ran the distance in 1:43.36, proved best by a length and paid $8.20 to win as the second betting choice in the five-horse field. He is owned by the partnership of Dan Agnew, Clint Bunch, Mark Cohen and James Hailey.

The Grade II feature provided the winner with a paycheck for $180,000 and pushed his career earnings to $358,500.

Finishing second in this 83rd edition of the San Diego was R3 Racing’s Katonah, who had three and three-quarter lengths on C R K Stable’s Express Train.

Arabian Knight, owned by Zedan Racing Stables, was making his first start in almost nine months. Rider Juan Hernandez offered no excuses for his charge, saying it was likely that the 4-year-old need the race.

Racing resumes at Del Mar tomorrow with first post at 2 p.m. The day’s feature is the 51st running of the Eddie Read Stakes.  


Hector Berrios (The Chosen Vron, Winner) – “He was marvelous, really comfortable on the outside. From the three eights (pole) I let him go and he went himself. It’s a Grade 1; you don’t always win these; it pays to have a good a healthy horse. I hope he continues for Breeder’s Cup.”

J. ERIC KRULJAC (The Chosen Vron, winner) – “I didn’t say anything to Hector, I have that much faith in him. I expected Baffert’s horse to go hard but he didn’t go that hard and the other speed didn’t. He (Berrios) got out and had him in the thick of it. When it was time to move his hands, the rest was history. The other horses tried to keep up with him. He just wouldn’t let them. It’s one of his best races.” 


FRACTIONS:  :22.73  :45.36  :57.06  1:08.99

The stakes win was the second of the meet for rider Berrios and his second in the Bing Crosby. He now has 13 stakes wins at Del Mar.

The stakes win was  first of the meet for trainer Kruljac, but his second in the Bing Crosby. He now has seven stakes wins at Del Mar. 

The winning owners are a partnership headed by Sondereker Racing, trainer Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburgh.