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Photo By: Lou Hodges

Lawyer Ron scores an impressive win in the Risen Star (GIII) at Fair Grounds at Louisiana Downs

BOSSIER CITY, La. (January 14, 2006) Lawyer Ron dominated for the third consecutive start in winning in the $268,000 Grade III Risen Star Saturday, the headline event of Road to the Derby Kickoff Day at the Fair Grounds meet at Harrah’s Louisiana Downs.

Lawyer Ron, trained by Bob Holthus for owner James T. Hines Jr., was 1-for-8 lifetime before starting on a three-race winning streak, with his victories by a combined 27 1/2 lengths.

The run of success started when Lawyer Ron captured an off-the-turf allowance here on Dec. 9 by 10 3/4 lengths. He went on to win the Diamond Jo at Evangeline Downs on New Year’s Eve by 8 1/2 lengths, and drew away in the stretch Saturday for an 8 1/4-length win over Mark of Success.

"He just drew off again," said Holthus, who will point Lawyer Ron to Oaklawn Park’s series of 3-year-old stakes, beginning with the Southwest on Feb. 20. "He’s getting better. He always showed some talent. If anything, the way he finished was the most impressive."

Lawyer Ron was at or near the front throughout, settling just behind Mark of Success before moving into the lead on the backstretch. He was only a length in front with five-sixteenths of a mile to run, but kicked away from the field of seven to win decisively.

Ridden by John McKee, Lawyer Ron completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:43.13 and paid $7.40, $3.80 and $2.60. Mark of Success returned $4.60 and $3.40. Hyte Regency was third and paid $2.60 to show. Betting favorite Saint Augustus finished fifth.

Also Saturday, Baghdaria edged out odds-on favorite French Park to win the Grade III Silverbulletday for 3-year-old fillies, Snowdrops won her final career start by capturing the Grade III Bayou Breeders’ Cup Handicap for fillies and mares on turf and Rodeo’s Castle took the Duncan F. Kenner Breeders’ Cup Handicap for sprinters. All four stakes on Saturday’s card were $250,000-added events.

All-sources handle on the 11-race card was a meet-best $7,556,780, 12 percent better than last year’s Road to the Derby Kickoff Day, which was a 10-race card, and the fifth-highest in Fair Grounds history.

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