Derby News

Photo By: Jeff Coady

Lawyer Ron is all alone as he crosses the wire three lengths in front of his closest pursuer in the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park

The three length win by Lawyer Ron in the $300,000 Gr. III Southwest was not a surprise, but the way in which he did it showed that he is more than just a one-dimensional horse.

In his past four races, all victories, the Bob Holthus trained Lawyer Ron broke on top and stayed there. In the Rebel, however, he broke a step slow from post one, and with the early speed horses Travelin Leroy and Kip Deville just to his outside in posts two and three, respectively, Lawyer Ron and jockey John McKee found themselves in fifth after the first quarter mile.

Up on the front end, a three-way battle was going on between the aforementioned pair of early speedsters and Music School, who was trying to right himself after a poor outing in the Southwest here last month. The trio raced through the first half mile in a sensible :47.60 with little more than a half-length separating them. Private Vow, who was making his first start in over three months, was just behind the top ones, and very keen to go on, tugging on jockey Shaun Bridgmohan's stout hold.

Moving towards the far turn, McKee swung Lawyer Ron five wide as he moved to engage the leaders. Private Vow was also moving up, just to the inside of Lawyer Ron, with Music School stuck in the middle of a wall of five horses. As the group neared the top of the lane, Lawyer Ron asserted himself, quickly clearing his rivals by a couple of lengths. He moved powerfully down the lane, reminiscient of his run in the Risen Star, and was never really threatened at any point thereafter, finishing with a three-length win in 1:44.09.

Finishing second was Red Raymond also trained by Holthus. Red Raymond closed from last at the half mile pole to get the place spot, circling very wide to best Steppenwolfer by a neck. Steppenwolfer was also near the back early, but made his normal closing move sooner than he normally did. That may have cost his the runner-up spot, as he flattened out a bit in the late stages. Another neck back in fourth was another closer in Well Said. The maiden Film Fortune was fifth, with Nob Hill Deelite, Private Vow, Music School, Kip Deville and Travelin Leroy rounding out the order of finish.

Holthus was understandably pleased with his 1-2 finish. On the winner, "This was a much deeper field than the Southwest. Once our colt made the big move and got to the lead, I knew it was all over."

On Red Raymond's future, Holthus said, " We had been thinking about the Illinois Derby, but now he goes in the Arkansas Derby."

Trainer Steve Asmussen was not totally disappointed by Private Vow's seventh place finish. "It wasn't a bad race and one that will help him, it being the first out of the season," Asmussen said, "We were stalking early and it looked like we were ready to pounce. He needed the race and will improve."

Lawyer Ron earned $180,000 for the owner, Estate of James T. Hines Jr, bringing his career bankroll $620,008. The Rebel victory was his fifth in a row, making his overall record 12-6-1-3. The 9-5 favorite, Lawyer Ron paid $5.60, $3.80 and $2.80. Red Raymond's place was worth $11.80 and $4.80, with Steppenwolfer paying $2.60 to show. The all-Holthus exacta paid a generous $85.80.

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