Lawyer Ron leads quartet of workers for
Arkansas Derby
Multiple Grade 3 hero LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) breezed a bullet five furlongs in
:59 over the fast track at Oaklawn Park on Saturday, the best of four workers
preparing for next Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G2).
Trained by Bob Holthus, the chestnut colt set splits of :12, :23 4/5 and :35
4/5 under regular rider John McKee. He was caught galloping out three-quarters
in 1:10 4/5 and seven furlongs in 1:23 2/5.
“Actually, we caught him galloping out a mile in 1:38 with the outrider
hanging on,” Holthus commented. “No question, this was Lawyer Ron’s best work
ever. Yes, he worked fast, but he wasn’t driving or ripping. He is an excellent
work horse, and he just does things that other horses can’t do. And he does them
easily.”
Holthus said that his charge will walk the shedrow on Sunday, jog on Monday
and gallop up to the Derby.
Lawyer Ron has scored in his past five races, including the Rebel S. (G3),
and the runner-up in that event, stablemate RED RAYMOND (Deputy Commander), was
also out breezing on Saturday, getting five-eighths in 1:00 4/5.
“I was happy with Red Raymond’s work, even though we had some extra
excitement out there,” Holthus said of Red Raymond. “He’s coming into the Derby
perfect, and he’ll have the same routine next week as Lawyer Ron.”
The excitement came when two workers broke off in front of Red Raymond as he
was approaching the five-furlong marker. With Luis Quinonez aboard, the chestnut
moved three wide to the wire and galloped out three-quarters in 1:14 after
running wide on the turn.
“Right now, Red Raymond is 19th on the money list, and he’s (bound) to drop
down a few pegs after today,” Holthus added. “It looks like he’ll have to finish
1-2-3 in the Arkansas Derby to get into the Kentucky Derby (G1).”
Red Raymond captured last year’s James C. Ellis Juvenile S. at Ellis Park and
was three lengths back of Lawyer Ron in the Rebel. He finished third to his
stablemate in the Southwest S.
The Danny Peitz-trained STEPPENWOLFER (Aptitude), second in the Southwest and
third in the Rebel, traveled five panels in 1:00 3/5 to prepare for a rematch
with the above two. Tim Doocy was in the saddle as the gray galloped out six
panels in 1:13 2/5. Robby Albarado has the mount for the Arkansas Derby.
WELL SAID (Aptitude), who broke his maiden three back and finished 3 1/2
lengths back in fourth in the Rebel, breezed five furlongs in 1:03 3/5. The
Walter Bindner Jr. trainee is scheduled to have James Graham aboard for the
Derby.