Big City Lights © Benoit Photo

The Chosen Vron Stakes, named for one of the exceptional Cal-breds of recent times, rolls out at Del Mar Saturday as the feature attraction on a nifty nine-race card.

The seven-furlong spin has had other names in the past. Before its current appellation, it was known as the Cary Grant Stakes during its 12-year run at Del Mar, while before that it was conducted at the late, great Hollywood Park under the name On Trust Stakes.

The Chosen Vron, which will go as Race 8 with a post time of approximately 4:00 p.m., has lured nine speedsters who’ll go for the lion’s share of the $100,000 purse. Two of them – Man O Rose and Big City Lights – have won this race, the former in 2025 and the latter in 2024. The horse The Chosen Vron has history with the event, too, having won it back-to-back in 2022 and 2023.

Big City Lights, a 7-year-old veteran who races out of the barn of Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella, has been tabbed the 2-1 morning line favorite in the dash. The son of Mr. Big, who races in the colors of William Peeples, is a nine-time winner of more than $700,000. He’ll be handled by his usual rider of late, Kazushi Kimura and they’ll break from Post 5 on the Del Mar backstretch.

Chief threat to the top one is likely to be the 6-year-old gelding who took this heat last year – Man O Rose. The son of Stanford is owned by his breeders, B & B Zietz Stables and is conditioned by Jeff Mullins. They bay is a 13-time winner of more than $600,000 and will be handled by regular rider Edwin Maldonado as they break from Post 1.

Yet another horse of note in the lineup is Lovesick Blues, an 8-year-old who has won nine races and more than $900,000. He was victorious in the Grade I Bing Crosby at Del Mar in 2025, but will be making his first start Saturday since a pair of outings in the Middle East back in the sprint.

First post Saturday will be the usual 12:30 p.m.