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.

[Bogey]

Joel, nice piece. Check your PM.

[sumitas]

if he's healthy and fit LR should romp.

[miraja2]

FYI: Fairmount is in Illinois not Missouri.

[sumitas]

Holtus said LR had the chip all along his campaign and finally had it removed after the KD disaster.

[dr. fager]

Originally Posted by sumitas

Holtus said LR had the chip all along his campaign and finally had it removed after the KD disaster.

troubling...


St. Louis treated me really well last weekend....fingers crossed

[AeWingnut]

Michael Lewis wins if he's in

Originally Posted by AeWingnut

Michael Lewis wins if he's in

That's my pick.

Originally Posted by sumitas

Holtus said LR had the chip all along his campaign and finally had it removed after the KD disaster.

That is not how I understood it........I was told that he vetted out clean when his new owners bought him...I think your info may be a little off because I know that there is no way that a stud farm would invest millions in a colt that didn't vet out and then turn aroudn and jeopardize breaking him down in a tough race like the Derby....just wouldn't happen...no way

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

That is not how I understood it........I was told that he vetted out clean when his new owners bought him...I think your info may be a little off because I know that there is no way that a stud farm would invest millions in a colt that didn't vet out and then turn aroudn and jeopardize breaking him down in a tough race like the Derby....just wouldn't happen...no way

war emblem had chips when the t'bred corp bought him. mineshaft ran with a chip or two. they acknowledged that down the line it could be a problem with them, but until the time came...

didn't kittens joy have one he ran with for a bit, until it started to bother him?

Originally Posted by Danzig188

war emblem had chips when the t'bred corp bought him. mineshaft ran with a chip or two. they acknowledged that down the line it could be a problem with them, but until the time came...

didn't kittens joy have one he ran with for a bit, until it started to bother him?

Yeah, but my point is that there is no way that a stud farm would have bought him with chips for the money they spent...they wouldn't be able to insure him for the right price...think about it...trust me from knowing a little bit about that facet of the game, if he didn't vet out they wouldn't have spent that kind of cash on him.....or I would be VERY surprised because it is not normal or correct practice....he is giving up a lot already as a stallion prospect IMO...he is smallish and is by Langfuhr...those alone hurt his value...just can't see Stonewall buying with a chip..

[sumitas]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

That is not how I understood it........I was told that he vetted out clean when his new owners bought him...I think your info may be a little off because I know that there is no way that a stud farm would invest millions in a colt that didn't vet out and then turn aroudn and jeopardize breaking him down in a tough race like the Derby....just wouldn't happen...no way

i searched and i could not find anything to substantiate my recollection that Lawyer Ron had known chips in his ankle prior to the KD.

Originally Posted by miraja2

FYI: Fairmount is in Illinois not Missouri.

...yeah, Bogey made me aware of that....I had only just heard the name of the track prior to a couple of days ago....Needless to say, it sin't one that I wager on very often... Sorry for the mistake....

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

...yeah, Bogey made me aware of that....I had only just heard the name of the track prior to a couple of days ago....Needless to say, it sin't one that I wager on very often... Sorry for the mistake....

No real need to apologize. This $250k race just upgraded it from a track that can be completely ignored and forgotten 365 days a year, to a track that can be completely ignored and forgotten for 364 days, 23 hours, and 58 minutes a year. If I didn't have family that lived in both Collinsville and St. Louis, I probably would not have been able to tell you which country it was in.

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

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.

This is a good job. We have some good writers on this site and I am clearly not one of them.

[Scurlogue Champ]

This is the most awesome thread.

Danzig isn't a great sire????? that is the funniest thing I have ever heard

[Danzig]

from bloodhorse:

Danzig, who was unbeaten on the racetrack for owner Henryk de Kwiatkowski and trainer Woody Stephens, got off to quick start as a stallion with three grade I winners--Chief's Crown, Contredance, and Stephan's Odyssey--from his first crop. As a 2-year-old in 1984, Chief's Crown won the inaugural Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) and was voted champion 2-year-old male. Chief's Crown went on to become a major winner at three and a successful stallion. Danzig not only led the freshman sires list by progeny earnings, but also that year's sires of 2-year-olds list.
Danzig became the first stallion since Claiborne's Bold Ruler in the 1960s to head the sires list three consecutive years. In fact, in the last 100 years, only Broomstick and Bull Lea led for as many as three straight seasons. Danzig is represented by 188 stakes winners(up to 192 as of last week)--tops among North American stallions--and ranks among the leaders by number of Breeders' Cup winners. In addition to Chief's Crown, his son Lure won the 1992-93 Mile (gr. IT). Another son, War Chant, took the 2000 Mile and a daughter, Dance Smartly, captured the 1991 Distaff (gr. I) the year she was Canada's Triple Crown winner and Horse of the Year.

Danzig's other top runners include major sire Danehill, English Horse of the Year Dayjur, and United States classic winners Danzig Connection (Belmont Stakes, gr. I) and Pine Bluff (Preakness Stakes, gr. I). Danehill is the all-time leader by number of stakes winners, with 309. Danzig also is the sire of successful stallions Belong to Me and Langfuhr. Another son, Polish Navy, sired 1993 Kentucky Derby (gr. I) winner Sea Hero.

For his career, Danzig sired 1,074 foals and is represented by the earners of $101 million. He has sired 107 graded stakes winners and 10 champions.

Danzig was bred in Pennsylvania by Marshall Jenney's Derry Meeting Farm and William S. Farish, and sold to de Kwiatkowski for $310,000 at the 1978 Saratoga yearling sale. He raced three times before being retired to Claiborne because of knee problems.

Danzig's last foals are yearlings, and there are 18 of them. His 2-year-old crop numbers 30. Danzig will be buried at Claiborne.

[Pedigree Ann]

If Lawyer Ron turns out to be the Lost Code or Smarten of this crop, I don't think his buyers will be disappointed. Those horses didn't have A-list pedigrees and they weren't at the top of their generations, but they kept on winning second level races before turning into good reliable sires of racehorses (not sales yearlings).

Originally Posted by moodwalker

This is the most awesome thread.

Danzig isn't a great sire????? that is the funniest thing I have ever heard

You need tio learn how to read before you comment and then look like an idiot....I said that Danzig IS NOT A SIRE OF SIRES!!!...and I even acknowledge that he was a GREAT racehorse stallion and GREAT broodmare influence - just not a great SIRE OF SIRES......You clearly didn't read this thread correctly...

Now, if you think that Danzig is a great sire of sires, then you may want to try a different sport that you actually know something about....

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

then you may want to try a different sport that you actually know something about, sir.......

I thought you weren't up for the personal attacks, Joel?

Your assertion that I know nothing about this sport is ludicrous.

Some things I don't know much about are ass-kissing, self-importance, and Louisiana breds.

You think you could help me brush up on those? Maybe contact some of your industry experts that I obviously don't have the pleasure of knowing and get your lesson plan together and let me know when to show up.

If I had a dime for every "industry expert" I have met, I could buy 50 Louisiana breds.