LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) ran up six straight wins before taking on the toughest
field of his career in the Kentucky Derby (G1) on May 6. He was steadied, forced
to rate instead of using his preferred front-running style and taken six wide
that day, eventually finishing 12th of 20. Given a break after surgery following his arduous
spring campaign, the Bob Holthus-trained sophomore made his return off that
Derby in yet another one, the $250,000
St.
Louis Derby at Fairmount Park late Saturday night.
Lawyer Ron once again faced obstacles, but this time, the chestnut overcame
them all. Bumping with More Than Regal (More Than Ready) at the break, he was
taken back by jockey John McKee to run in midpack while four wide as General
Darby (Kugelis) sets splits of :22 4/5 and :46 1/5 on the front. Entering the
final turn, Lawyer Ron split rivals and ran up the middle of the track to take on Lewis Michael (Rahy), who
had wrestled the lead away through six furlongs in 1:11. Gaining the advantage, Lawyer Ron had enough left to hold off the late run of Smokeyjonessutton
(You and I) to earn the three-quarters of a length win.
Racing in the colors of Stonewall Farms Racing Div. 1 LLC and the Estate of
James T. Hines Jr., the chestnut was sent off the 4-5 favorite in the 10-horse
field. He paid $3.60, $4 and $3 for stopping the clock in 1:42 4/5 while going 1
1/16 miles on the good track. Smokeyjonessutton ran up the rail to take second
by two lengths over Lewis Michael
at the wire, giving back $20.60 and $6.80 at 30-1, while show gave back $3.20 as
the near 5-2 second choice. The exotics were worth $92.20 (exacta), $419.80
(trifecta) and $1,102.70 for the $1 superfecta (4-1-6-7).
Rounding out the order of finish were Cielo Gold (Conquistador Cielo), Like
an Eagle (Victory Gallop), Casino Evil (Salt Lake), More Than Regal, General
Darby, Follow the Storm (Stormin Fever) and Starspangled Gator (Editor’s Note).
Sweet Grass Creek (Saint Ballado) and Kid Lemonade (Lemon Drop Kid) were both
scratched.
Lawyer Ron ran up three straight stakes wins at Oaklawn Park prior to his
Derby run at Churchill Downs, taking the Arkansas Derby (G2), Rebel S. (G3) and
Southwest S., and also owns victories in the Risen Star S. (G3) and Peninsula Gaming’s Diamond Jo S. His scoreline now reads 16-8-1-3 with $1,370,008 in
lifetime earnings. Bred in Kentucky by James T. Hines Jr., Lawyer Ron is out of
the Lord Avie mare Donation, who has also produced a yearling filly named
Nashwanna Danz and a 2006 filly, both by Elhayq (Ire).