Derby Updates

By: Josh Abner

MIDWEST/LAWYER RON AN OPEN AND SHUT CASE IN REBEL - On a day that saw favorites stumble along the path to the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands, Lawyer Ron stamped himself as the clear favorite for the Arkansas Derby and a major contender the big race at Churchill Downs with a three-length victory in Saturday’s $300,000 Rebel (Grade III) at Oaklawn Park.

The chestnut son of Langfuhr, who is owned by the estate of James Hines, Jr., scored his fifth straight victory and gave trainer Bob Holthus his fifth career win in the Rebel.

Red Raymond, also trained by Holthus and owned by Thomas Franks, surged late to overtake Robert and Lawana Low’s Steppenwolfer in a photo finish for second. Steppenwolfer had finished second to Lawyer Ron in the Southwest Stakes with Red Raymond third in that Feb. 25 event. Hargus Sexton’s Well Said finished a neck behind Steppenwolfer in fourth for trainer Walter Bindner.

Lawyer Ron, who was favored at odds of 9-5, covered the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:44.09 under jockey John McKee. A frontrunner in his prior four victories, Lawyer Ron displayed the ability to rally from well of the pace in his latest victory. The colt settled in fifth behind early leaders Travelin Leroy and Kip Deville before he angled five wide on the far turn and drew away to the final victory margin.

“Lawyer Ron looked a little uncomfortable down in there behind horses,” said Holthus, “but once John got him outside, he settled just fine.”

Lawyer Ron is now a perfect six-for-six on dirt following an inauspicious beginning to his career on the turf. The Rebel’s winner’s purse of $180,000 raised his career earnings to $620,008 and improved his career record to 6-1-3 in 13 starts.

The colt was owned and bred by James Hines Jr., an Owensboro, Ky. businessman who died last month. He is named for attorney Ron Bamberger, who now serves as executor of the Hines estate.

A major disappointment in the Rebel was Mike McCarty’s a href="/2006/derby_coverage/derby_entrants/private_vow/">Private Vow, who was prominent through most of the race but faded to finish seventh. The second betting choice in the field of 10, the winner of the Belmont Futurity (GI) and the Kentucky Jockey Club (GII) at two made his 2006 debut in the race.

Asmussen indicated that Private Vow could return in the Arkansas Derby. “His Rebel wasn’t a bad race and (it’s) one that will help him,” said Asmussen. “He needed the race and will improve.” The top three finishers are expected to return for the $1 million Arkansas Derby (GII), Oaklawn Park’s signature race, on April 15. Well Said is also a strong possibility the closing day feature.

The Rebel win was the second in as many years for Holthus and McKee. The duo took last year’s renewal with Greater Good.

EAST/LIKE NOW SCORES GOTHAM UPSET - Paraneck Stables’ Achilles of Troy and Starlight Stables, Saylor and Lucarelli’s Keyed Entry dominated the stage in the days leading up to Saturday’s $200,000 Gotham (GIII) at Aqueduct, but John Dillon’s homebred longshot Like Now ($75.40) stole the show when the real running started.

Like Now had a stakes win over the track for trainer Kiaran McLaughlin in the six-furlong Fred “Cappy” Capossela Stakes, but bettors dismissed him at odds of 36-1 as he stretched out to the two-turn distance for the first time in the 1 1/16-mile Gotham. That proved to be a mistake as the gelded son of Jules cruised to the front and completed a moderate half-mile in :47.48 as Keyed Entry and Joseph Balsamo and Ted Theos’ Sweetnorthernsaint, a speedy invader from Maryland, patiently tracked the leader. Keyed Entry and Sweetnorthernsaint took aim on the resilient leader in the stretch, but neither was good enough. Like Now held on to win by neck over Keyed Entry, with Sweeetnorthernsaint a half-length back in third.

“We thought he would be successful stretching out, but you never know until you try,” said McGlaughlin. “This was a tough spot to try. The last time he ran, the outrider had to pull him up, so we thought he would get the distance.”

Achilles of Troy, winner of the Whirlaway and Count Fleet at Aqueduct, broke poorly and was never a factor. He finished fifth and was vanned off the track following the race.

The win gave the Florida-bred Like Now his fourth career victory in seven starts as he covered the 1 1/16-miles in 1:43.17. He joins Fountain of Youth (GI) runner-up Flashy Bull on the roster of McLaughlin’s Derby hopefuls. The Lexington, Ky. native just missed winning last year’s Kentucky Derby with 71-1 longshot Closing Argument, who finished just a half-length behind 50-1 winner Giacomo.

The top two finishers came out of the race well and are expected to run next in the Wood Memorial (GI), New York’s marquee Kentucky Derby prep, on April 8. Centennial Farm’s Corinthian, disqualified from a victory in the Fountain of Youth (GI) at Gulfstream Park, is expected to be awaiting the Gotham duo in that 1 1/8-mile race.

No definitive reason was available as of Monday for the poor effort by Achilles of Troy. Aqueduct veterinarians said the Frank Amonte-trained son of Notebook appeared to favor his right front leg following the race. X-rays were taken Monday morning and Amonte said an ultrasound would be performed on Tuesday.

SOUTHEAST/DEPUTY GLITTERS SPARKLES TO KNOCK OFF BLUEGRASS CAT - Joseph LaCombe’s Deputy Glitters had unsuccessfully chased WinStar Farm’s Bluegrass Cat to the wire in a prep for Saturday’s $250,000 Tampa Bay Derby (GIII) at Tampa Bay Downs, but the big race saw the trainer Tom Albertrani’s son of Deputy Commander turn the tables on the prohibitive favorite.

Deputy Glitters and jockey Jose Lezcano overhauled pacesetter Winnies Tigger Too at the top of the stretch and comfortably held off a late rally by Bluegrass Cat and jockey John Velazquez to win the race by two lengths. Winnies Tigger Too held on for third, a neck ahead of Bob LaPenta’s Little Cliff.

“We just had an ideal trip again,” said Albertrani. We want to see this horse go all the way to the Derby. But we have another race to go first.”

Albertrani said the final Kentucky Derby prep for Deputy Glitters would come in either the Wood Memorial (GI) at Aqueduct on April 8 or the Toyota Blue Grass (GI) at Keeneland a week later. The trainer said that Lezcano, the leading rider at Tampa Bay Downs, would retain the mount.

Trainer Todd Pletcher said that Bluegrass Cat lost his footing on the turn and that cost the son of Storm Cat any chance to catch the winner. Bluegrass Cat will get another chance to prove his Kentucky Derby mettle in the $750,000 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (GII) at Keeneland on April 15.

First Samurai Breezes Before Return to Kentucky - Bruce Lunsford and Lansdon Robbins III’s First Samurai, winner of the Fountain of Youth (GII) via disqualification, breezed a half mile in :49 at Gulfstream Park Saturday in preparation for his next start in the Bluegrass at Keeneland. The multiple Grade I-winning son of Giant’s Causeway will return to trainer Frank Brothers’ base at Churchill Downs on Wednesday.

Top Florida Derby Contenders Work - Also on the weekend work tab were the three leading contenders for the $1 million Florida Derby on April 1: Aaron and Marie Jones’ Sunriver, Lael Stables’ Barbaro and West Point Stables’ Flashy Bull.

Sunriver, a full brother to 2004 Kentucky Oaks winner and two-time Eclipse champion Ashado, turned in a five furlong move Sunday in 1:01.60 at the Palm Meadows training center for trainer Todd Pletcher. The Saint Ballado homebred scored a sharp allowance win on the Fountain of Youth undercard in his last effort.

Monday saw both Holy Bull (GIII) winner Barbaro and Fountain of Youth runner-up Flashy Bull drill five panels as well. Barbaro’s 1:01.60 move was the fourth fastest at the distance while Flashy Bull’s 1:01 earned a “bullet” for the quickest move of the morning.

WEST/A.P. WARRIOR GIVES SHIRREFFS’ CHANCE FOR DERBY REPEAT - Veteran trainer John Shirreffs, the unassuming trainer of 2005 Kentucky Derby winner Giacomo, was not expecting a return flight to Churchill Downs in 2006 - but that picture changed significantly on Saturday A.P. Warrior ($17), a new arrival in his stable, returned to form with a win in the $250,000 San Felipe Stakes (GII) at Santa Anita.

Owned by Stan Fulton, A.P. Warrior had been moved to Shirreffs’ barn following a disappointing fourth-place effort by the colt for trainer Eoin Harty in the El Camino Real Derby (GIII). He had also finished fourth to Brother Derek in the Hollywood Futurity (GI) prior to that.

But his debut for Shirreffs saw the son of A.P. Indy turn in a performance like his runner-up finish to current Kentucky Derby favorite Brother Derek in last fall’s Norfolk (GII) at Oak Tree at Santa Anita. He surged to the front entering the stretch and the $1.3 million Keeneland yearling purchase resolutely held off a late rally from the Bob Baffert-trained Point Determined to win by a half-length. Fellow Baffert trainee and even-money favorite Bob and John finished third, a nose in front of Racketeer.

“He is a very, very classy horse,” Shirreffs said. “We just didn’t want to interfere with him and just let him run his race.”

A.P. Warrior covered 1 1/16-miles over a “fast” track in 1:42.40 under jockey Corey Nakatani. “I could not have been more pleased with the way he was traveling underneath me,” Nakatani said. “He was relaxed. I really think the sky is the limit with this horse. I’m excited.”

Shirreffs plans to run his new star next in the $750,000 Santa Anita Derby (GI) on April 8. He had finished fourth in last year’s renewal of California’s preeminent Kentucky Derby prep with Giacomo before that colt shipped to Churchill Downs and scored his unlikely half-length victory in Derby 131.

“We’re not looking to go on the road,” Shirreffs said. “We’ll stay home.” Baffert, a three-time winner of the Kentucky Derby, has not finalized plans for his second and third-place finishers.

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