Lawyer Ron regains winning thread in St. Louis Derby

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).