The Chosen Vron stretches out, to meet Baffert pair in G3 Affirmed

The Chosen Vron seeks new worlds to conquer in Sunday’s Grade 3 Affirmed Stakes for three-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 Laz Barrera Stakes (G3), scoring by a widening 3 ½ lengths at 6 ½ furlongs under Umberto Rispoli, who rides again Sunday.

“It’s a wait-and-see situation,” said Eric Kruljac, who trains the chestnut gelding for a partnership of which he is a member.

“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, which Kruljac had on the agenda). 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.”

The Affirmed also marks the return of Classier for trainer Bob Baffert. The Empire Maker colt last ran in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Keeneland in November, finishing eighth.

Defunded, fourth in the Pat Day Mile (G2) in his most recent race, is also entered for Baffert.

The Affirmed, named for the 1978 Triple Crown winner trained by the late Laz Barrera, is race 10 of 11 with a 1 p.m. first post time