Lawyer Ron returns in St. Louis Derby

By Joel Cunningham
Wire to Wire Editor

If you would have asked trainer Bob Holthus earlier this spring where he envisioned campaigning one-time Derby favorite Lawyer Ron in the late summer, he would have probably mentioned a premier 3-year-old event such as the prestigious Travers (G1) to be run Saturday at the famed Saratoga Race Course as a likely possibility.

One of those possibilities, however, would not have likely been the St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park.

But much has happened since Lawyer Ron captured his sixth consecutive win with a sparkling victory in the Arkansas Derby (G2). The son of Langfuhr entered the Kentucky Derby (G1) as one of the race favorites in what was considered a wide-open affair, but he incurred quite a bit of misfortune in that race – one that is so dependent on having luck on your side. Lawyer Ron had a rough trip in the full field of 20, subsequently breaking his win streak by checking in a disappointing twelfth, beaten more than 21 lengths.

That wasn’t the worst thing that happened. Lawyer Ron, who had just been purchased by majority owner Stonewall Farms days prior to the Derby, was found to have returned from the race with a chip in his right hind ankle, requiring surgery and sidelining him for most of the summer.

Installed as the 2-1 favorite on the morning line for Saturday’s $250,000 event for 3-year-olds, Lawyer Ron makes his return since that dreadful experience in the Run for the Roses at Churchill Downs in May, and he’ll meet a full field of 12 sophomores when he lines up in the gate for the mile and-a-sixteenth event. If workouts are an indication, the speedy chestnut seems primed for a big effort, which would be bad news for his rivals.

Lawyer Ron, who will be piloted by regular rider John McKee from post No. 4, figures to get his sternest competition from stakes winners Lewis Michael, More Than Regal and Casino Evil, as well as up-and-comer Cielo Gold, and a good run Saturday will set him up for a probable start in next month’s $500,000 Super Derby (G2) at Louisiana Downs – where earlier this year he romped in the Risen Star (G3) at the Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs meeting, which was potentially his finest performance to date.