The Cary Grant Stakes, which has been run 11 times during the fall stand starting in 2014, will now be called The Chosen Vron Stakes, according to a Del Mar Thoroughbred Club release Wednesday.
The Chosen Vron Stakes will be run on Saturday, Nov. 8 as part of Del Mar's 20 stakes Bing Crosby Season schedule. It will carry a $100,000 purse and be for California-bred runners aged 3 and up.
The gelding by the late sire Vronsky was owned by the partnership of Sondereker Racing, J. Eric Kruljac, Robert Fetkin and Richard Thornburg. Kruljac also trained the chestnut who finished his career with $1,709,678 in purses won. He retired last year after a sparkling five-year career that saw him win 19 of 25 starts.
Among his major scores were twice winning the GI Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in addition to the seven-furlong Cary Grant in both 2022 and 2023. He was named Cal-Bred Horse of the Year in both 2023 and 2024.
“He was an exceptional racehorse and it was always an exciting day when he came out to run,” said Tom Robbins, Del Mar's executive vice president for racing. “We think it is very fitting that one of our Cal-bred stakes has been renamed in his honor.”
The Bing Crosby Season opens on Thursday, Oct. 30 and runs through to Sunday, Nov. 30.
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