Lawyer Ron gets the decision in Oaklawn Handicap

Stonewall Farms and Estate of James T. Hines Jr.'s LAWYER RON (Langfuhr) took

the lead while three wide prior to the final turn and cruised home an emphatic

four-length winner in the $500,000

Oaklawn H. (G2) on Saturday. The 1-2 favorite

completed the nine furlongs over the fast main strip in 1:49 and rewarded his

backers with payoffs of $3, $3.20 and $2.20, while keying the $62.80 exacta and

$250.20 trifecta for Todd Pletcher.

Jonesboro (Sefapiano) grabbed the early lead, setting fractions of :23 1/5,

:47 3/5 and 1:12 for the opening six furlongs, with McCann's Mojave (Memo [Chi])

and Lawyer Ron tracking on his outside. Nearing the turn for home, Lawyer Ron

pulled Edgar Prado to the lead and the race was virtually over from there, with

the final margin being the only drama remaining. The four-year-old accelerated

from there remaining unbeaten from four starts over this oval. Brother Bobby

(Out of Place) gave a good account of himself in his graded debut, finishing

second at 39-1. The gelding paid $13.40 and $5. Boboman (Kingmambo) was last

after six panels but closed with good energy to finish third, a neck shy of

second. Show paid $2.80 for the 7-2 second choice. Jonesboro was next and

followed by McCann's Mojave, Smokeyjonessutton (You and I) and Papi Chullo (Comeonmom).

Lawyer Ron made his way to the spotlight via Oaklawn Park last year, when he

took the Arkansas Derby (G2), Rebel S. (G3) and Southwest S. In addition to

those wins, the chestnut also conquered the Risen Star S. (G3), St. Louis Derby

and Diamond Jo S., with a runner-up effort in the Super Derby (G2). With the

$300,000 winner's share, the Kentucky-bred has amassed earnings of $1,800,008

from a 20-10-2-3 mark.

Bred by James T. Hines Jr., the winner is the first stakes hero out of

Donation (Lord Avie), who has produced a two-year-old filly named Ron's Lady and

an unnamed yearling filly, both by Elhayq (Ire).