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.