The Chosen Vron Gets Stamina Test in Affirmed

The Chosen Vron seeks new worlds to conquer in the $100,000 Affirmed Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park June 13 for 3-year-olds at 1 1/16 miles. The California-bred son of Vronsky has three wins from four starts, all sprints, the last against open company May 15 in the Lazaro Barrera Stakes (G3), scoring by a widening 3 1/2 lengths at 6 1/2 furlongs under Umberto Rispoli, who rides again Sunday. "It's a wait-and-see situation," said Eric Kruljac, who trains and owns the chestnut gelding in partnership with Robert Fetkin, John Sondereker, and Richard Thornburgh. "When you have a nice horse like this you want to see if he can stretch out, so that's part of the motive in running here. If he doesn't stretch out (successfully), we can concentrate on sprints. "But I think it's time to try two turns. There isn't much between now and the Real Good Deal (a $175,000 race at seven furlongs for Cal-breds July 30 at Del Mar). I'd have to work him maybe seven or eight times for that race if we didn't run in the Affirmed. "I just felt it was time. Umberto said he had a lot of horse left in the Laz Barrera. He said he didn't use him up." Other leading contenders include Bob Baffert trainees Classier and Defunded, and the Simon Callaghan-trained Mr. Impossible.