Fairmount Park will host the inaugural running of the $250,000 St. Louis
Derby on Saturday, and the Collinsville, Illinois, track drew a full field of 12
for the 1 1/16-mile event. Arkansas Derby (G2) winner LAWYER RON (Langfuhr),
unraced since finishing 12th in the Kentucky Derby (G1), will make his first
since start since undergoing surgery to remove a chip from his right hind ankle
and is the 2-1 favorite on the morning line. Trained by Bob Holthus, the
five-time stakes conqueror will break from post 4 with regular rider John McKee.
Stakes winner and Grade 2 runner-up LEWIS MICHAEL (Rahy) is the 3-1 second
choice, but he is cross-entered to Saturday’s King’s Bishop S. (G1) at Saratoga. Trained by Wayne Catalano, the sophomore colt exits a sharp 8 3/4-length
allowance win at Arlington Park on July 28. Rene Douglas will retain the mount.
Iowa Derby hero MORE THAN REGAL (More Than Ready), third in the West Virginia
Derby (G3) most recently; West Virginia Derby runner-up CIELO GOLD (Conquistador
Cielo); Round Table S. victor CASINO EVIL (Salt Lake); and multiple stakes
runner-up KID LEMONADE (Lemon Drop Kid) are also in the line-up.
Maiden winner SMOKEYJONESSUTTON (You and I), who is listed at 30-1 on the
morning line, will lead the post parade with jockey Miguel Mena. They’ll be
followed by SWEET GRASS CREEK (Saint Ballado), Rafael Hernandez, 30-1; GENERAL
DARBY (Kugelis), Argelio Valazquez, 30-1; Lawyer Ron; More Than Regal, Shaun
Bridgmohan, 5-1; Lewis Michael; Cielo Gold, Brian Hernandez Jr., 6-1; LIKE AN
EAGLE (Victory Gallop), Carlos Marquez, 15-1; Casino Evil, Francisco Torres,
8-1; Kid Lemonade, Stewart Elliott, 8-1; STARSPANGLED GATOR (Editor’s Note),
30-1; and FOLLOW THE STORM (Stormin Fever), Kerwin Clark, 15-1.