Lawyer Ron returns in St. Louis Derby

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.

Originally Posted by moodwalker

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.

That was advice and not a personal attack, mood.....

[Scurlogue Champ]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

That was advice and not a personal attack, mood.....

Thanks for the advice, Mr. Cunningham.

But to be frank, you have no clue of my knowledge of the sport.

And being frank again, you are about the same age as I am. And although I'm sure you have gained an absolute lifetime of experience and knowledge in your short tenure of wearing a tie at Churchill, I'm not too keen on taking advice from someone like you.

Listen, I have acquaintances who worked with you at the esteemed Churchill Downs.

You aren't fooling me with your inspired write-ups for an obscure publication.

Go get another job in administration Joel......

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Thanks for the advice, Mr. Cunningham.

But to be frank, you have no clue of my knowledge of the sport.

And being frank again, you are about the same age as I am. And although I'm sure you have gained an absolute lifetime of experience and knowledge in your short tenure of wearing a tie at Churchill, I'm not too keen on taking advice from someone like you.

Listen, I have acquaintances who worked with you at the esteemed Churchill Downs.

You aren't fooling me with your inspired write-ups for an obscure publication.

Go get another job in administration Joel......

Thanks for the advice...I'll keep that in mind.

Have a nice day

Originally Posted by moodwalker

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.

I love some of the posters in this forum....HI-LARIOUS

AGAIN, I KNOW DANEHILL IS GREAT....I said that early on in this thread. But,l as successful of a racehorse sire as Danzig was and with the book of mares he got the 15-20 years he was in the breeding shed as a prolific stallion - should one top stallion merit him as a GREAT SIRE OF SIRES - I think not...he has been a disappointment to people who understand the breeding industry...just saying....

This debate has clearly wandered away from waht my original statement was about talking about his impact as a SIRE OF SIRES...

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

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....

Poor reading comprehension is becoming a pandemic on this site ...

... I think it started with Pedigree Anne ... and spread like AIDS from there.

Still waiting for Steve to get that Remedial Reading Comprehension forum going.

Originally Posted by Bold Brooklynite

Poor reading comprehension is becoming a pandemic on this site ...

... I think it started with Pedigree Anne ... and spread like AIDS from there.

Still waiting for Steve to get that Remedial Reading Comprehension forum going.

Thats a lost art BB.

Originally Posted by oracle80

Thats a lost art BB.

That's why I always appreciate you, Mike.

You may be ornery some times ... but you do know how to read.

Originally Posted by oracle80

Thats a lost art BB.

Communication and the ability to read people is also a lost art. You side with this guy because he agrees with you Oracle? That is not smart.

So BB... Blacks in the 50's were in great shape in the US. Why did they fall for welfare? He wont answer.

Oracle you lose credibility when you side with someone just because they agree with you. Snake oil salesman. Would not trust him in any situation based on his posts. I have always taken Oracle to be a standup guy, very opinionated and stubborn, but standup. Bold B. You have made it very clear you cannot be trusted based on your posts. Maybe in the flesh you dont try this BS trickery.

[GenuineRisk]

Oh. My. God. Can. We. Please. Start. Talking. About. Lawyer. Ron. Again?

Originally Posted by pgardn

Communication and the ability to read people is also a lost art. You side with this guy because he agrees with you Oracle? That is not smart.

So BB... Blacks in the 50's were in great shape in the US. Why did they fall for welfare? He wont answer.

Oracle you lose credibility when you side with someone just because they agree with you. Snake oil salesman. Would not trust him in any situation based on his posts. I have always taken Oracle to be a standup guy, very opinionated and stubborn, but standup. Bold B. You have made it very clear you cannot be trusted based on your posts. Maybe in the flesh you dont try this BS trickery.

Yeah, Mike ... you shouldn't have anything to do with me ... because I believe it was foolish for some African-Americans ... as well as others of all races ... to have bought into the welfare state ... and to have allowed themselves to become wards of the government ... instead of being self-reliant.

See? See what a bad guy I really am?

It's OK, Mike ... I'll understand it ... if you never want to have anything to do with me again.