The Chosen Vron Headlines California Gold Rush Day

Before Santa Anita Park stages five graded stakes races May 26-27, topped by Monday’s Gamely Stakes (G1T) and Shoemaker Mile (G1T), the racing emphasis is on California-breds May 25.

Five stakes worth $100,000 or more are on tap Saturday, California Gold Rush Day. The races are over a variety of distances and conditions.

Among them is West Coast star The Chosen Vron —whose only defeat over his last 13 starts, a stretch dating back to September 2022, came when he ran fifth in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) last fall. Winner of the Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) last summer at Del Mar and in the Kona Gold Stakes at Santa Anita last out, he is 17-for-22 overall for trainer Eric Kruljac and goes for a repeat victory in the $100,000 Thor’s Echo Stakes, a race he emphatically took in 2023.

Kruljac co-owns the 6-year-old Vronsky gelding with Sondereker Racing, Robert Fetkin, and Richard Thornburgh. Hector Berrios rides. Four foes—Sawasdee , Big City Lights , Moose Mitchell , and California Tiger —are entered against the rail-drawn heavy favorite in the day’s third race.

• Kings River Knight  leads the Crystal Water Stakes for 3-year-olds and up at a mile on turf.
• Tam’s Little Angel  heads south from Northern California for the Fran’s Valentine Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, over the same trip.
• Curlin’s Kaos  competes in the $125,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles on turf.
• Madison Rae  races in the $125,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.