The Chosen Vron Jumps Into California Cup Derby Off Sharp Maiden Victory Sponsored by:
The Chosen Vron winning his debut under John Velazquez
A lights-out first time maiden winner going 6 ½ furlongs on Dec. 27, trainer Eric Kruljac s The Chosen Vron merits top billing among a field of nine in Saturday s $200,000 California Cup Derby at a mile and one sixteenth at Santa Anita in Arcadia, Calif.
Sponsored by the California Thoroughbred Breeders Association, the California Cup Derby, which is one of five Cal Cup Day Stakes on Saturday, is part of the lucrative Golden State Series for eligible California-bred or sired three-year-olds. The Cal Cup Derby, originally run in 1990, was won by eventual two-time Horse of the Year California Chrome in 2014.
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Wildman Jack and jockey Mike Smith, left, nose out longshot Sparky Ville to win the Daytona Stakes
W.C. Racing s homebred Wildman Jack, a graded stakes winning 5-year-old gelding by 2013 Santa Anita Derby winner Goldencents, heads a wide-open field of 11 older horses in Friday s New Year s Day feature, the Grade II, $200,000 Joe Hernandez Stakes at 6 ½ furlongs over the Santa Anita turf in Arcadia, Calif.
Most recently seventh, beaten three lengths after taking the lead turning for home in the G1 Breeders Cup Turf Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7, Wildman Jack, who is trained by Doug O Neill, was a big second, beaten one length two starts back in the 5 ½ furlong turf Eddie D Stakes here on Sept. 25.
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