Derby News

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. (April 15,2006) - Lawyer Ron completed the sweep of Oaklawn Park's Derby prep races with another stellar performance Saturday afternoon, cruising to a convincing victory in the $1 million Gr. II Arkansas Derby, and he heads to Louisville as one of the favorites for the May 6th Run for the Roses.

Piloted by regular rider John McKee, Lawyer Ron, the odds-on 1-2 choice in the 14-horse event, broke well and initially rated four-deep with fellow stalker Private Vow going into the first turn, as Rushaway winner High Cotton took the field down the backstretch through an opening quarter-mile in a salty 23 seconds flat with Superfly pressing hard on the outside. However, Lawyer Ron decided to take the race into his own hands approaching the far turn, dragging McKee up the inside to the front of the pack under stout restraint through a lightning-quick half-mile in 46.49.

Private Vow moved up on the fence and appeared to be Lawyer Ron's biggest threat at the fore of the pack with most of the early pace contenders tiring under a drive. Despite the fast early fractions, prominent closers Steppenwolfer and longshot Jealous Profit began to launch their bids but had plenty of work to do, as Lawyer Ron shot off the turn with a head of steam and a clear advantage.

In mid stretch it was down to a three-horse race, as Lawyer Ron became the target with Private Vow chasing bravely on the inside and Steppenwolfer rolling down the middle of the track with some five lengths to make up. That trio spurted well clear of a laboring Simon Pure and Jealous Profit, and the trifecta would be sorted out amongst the three.

Lawyer Ron turned back a game Private Vow inside the sixteenth pole and remained clear of Steppenwolfer, who gained second late but could not catch the prohibitive favorite, as Lawyer Ron proved best again, finishing a compelling 2 3/4-lengths in front of Steppenwolfer with Private Vow another 1 1/2-lengths back in third.

The speedy son of Langfuhr stopped the clock in 1:51.38 for the mile-and-an-eighth over fast going after getting the final furlong in a tepid 13.62, but it was good enough to capture his sixth consecutive victory after running brilliantly in the early and middle stages of the race.

Trained by Bob Holthus, Lawyer Ron ($3) earned $600,000 for the win, boosting his career earnings to better than $1.2 million for the Estate of late owner James T. Hines.

Steppenwolfer's runner-up performance moves his graded earnings to $230,000, which is good enough to place him in 13th in graded earnings, assuring him of a spot in the starting gate in the Kentucky Derby. Private Vow moved his graded earnings to $417,888 with a much improved performance from his disappointing seasonal debut in the Rebel, and he also figures to join the fray into the Derby.

Lawyer Ron enters the Kentucky Derby with a similar high profile to Smarty Jones and Afleet Alex - the last two winners of the Arkansas Derby - and he figures to join Brother Derek and Sweetnorthernsaint as the horses to beat in the classic mile-and-a-quarter event.

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