Ron the Greek scores in Lecomte
Jack T. Hammer's homebred RON THE GREEK (Full Mandate) bided his time in the rear of Saturday's $100,000 Lecomte S. (G3) at Fair Grounds, came widest of all in the 10-horse field into the stretch and powered home to be 1 1/2 lengths clear of pacesetter Maximus Ruler (Roman Ruler) on the line. Sent off the co-fifth choice at 7-1, the Tom Amoss charge finished up the mile-and-forty yards fast-track feature in 1:40 under jockey James Graham. "We really thought he had a good chance today," Amoss said. "For the horseplayers that like to examine the horses in the paddock he really does look the part. He's a one-run horse, so let's hope he always has some pace up front. "The (February 20) Risen Star (G2) would be a tremendously flattering race to win," Amoss added when asked if Ron the Greek would go in that 1 1/16-mile event. "We'll let him tell us but that's certainly what we're thinking." Maximus Ruler used his rail post to take the lead out of the gate, setting splits of :23 2/5, :46 4/5, 1:12 1/5 and 1:37 3/5 while tracked by Depaul (Dixieland Band) to his outside. All the while, Ron the Greek was racing in the very back of the field. Depaul began backing up, leaving the way clear for Cool Bullet (Red Bullet), who had been running in third, to move up and challenge Maximus Ruler. The long-time leader shrugged off that threat, but suddenly found Ron the Greek motoring down the center of the track. |
Maximus Ruler dug deep to hold off his rival, but couldn't stop the rush of Ron the Greek, who paid $17.60, $8.20 and $5.60 for his winning effort. Sent off the 2-1 favorite, Maximus Ruler was worth $4.40 and $3.40 for his game effort, while Letsgetitonmon (Maria's Mon) rallied to take third by 1 1/4 lengths over Cool Bullet, giving back $5 at 18-1. The exacta returned $75.80, the trifecta paid $729.60 and the 11-1-8-9 superfecta totaled $7,143.40.
"I thought it was a great effort," trainer Clark Hanna said of Maximus Ruler. "He got tested every step of the way. He took on all foes except for one. He cooled out well and we'll be looking to come back in a few weeks in the next one (Risen Star)."
Worldly (A.P. Indy) came next and was followed under the line by Turf Melody (Maria's Mon), Citrus Kid (Lemon Drop Kid), Depaul, B'wanagoldmine (Bwana Charlie) and Rock Hard (Menifee). Callide Valley (Indian Charlie) was scratched.
Ron the Greek was making only his fourth career start in this spot and improved his record to 4-3-0-0, $104,400, with the win. He began his career with a pair of neck victories, breaking his maiden at Hoosier Park before taking a Delta Downs allowance last fall. The three-year-old bay made his stakes debut in the Springboard Mile S. at Remington Park on December 13 and wound up fourth, 2 1/2 lengths behind winner Turf Melody.
The Florida-bred is the first stakes scorer out of the winning Flambe' (Fortunate Prospect), who is herself a daughter of the unraced Flambeau (Dixieland Band). Flambe' counts as a full sister the stakes-placed Fortuesque, best known as the dam of last year's Illinois Derby (G2) winner Musket Man (Yonaguska), who ran third in both the Kentucky Derby (G1) and Preakness S. (G1). Others of note in the family include English highweight and Group 1 victor Mujahid (Danzig) and 1969 champion two-year-old colt Silent Screen (Prince John).