Horse Racing Contenders - Lawyer Ron
Horse Racing Contenders betting odds at WagerWeb Sportsbook
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» Trainer: Bob Holthus, Todd Pletcher Past Performances In most of Lawyer Ron's victories, he has jumped out to an early lead and set the pace. All of his wins have been characterized by a strong driving finish. |
In the 2006 Rebel Stakes, Lawyer Ron demonstrated the ability to come from the back of the field as well. Lawyer Ron's ability to both start and close a race had made him a favorite to win the 2006 Kentucky Derby according to many experts. He left the gate in 6th place in the Derby but after the first turn moved quickly to 2nd place where he remained down the long back side. He tired at the top of the stretch and finished 12th. On August 25, 2006, Lawyer Ron won the inaugural running of the St. Louis Derby at Fairmount Park in Illinois. With this win, his earnings amount to $1,370,008. | |
Arkansas Derby
The 2006 Arkansas Derby was a $1 million Grade II stakes race run at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Arkansas on April 15, 2006. Lawyer Ron was an odds-on favorite in the race and did not disappoint. As the race started, Lawyer Ron was bottled in between horses in fourth. He charged up the rail coming out of the first turn to gain the lead. After gaining the lead, Ron held off his competitors at about a 1-1/2 lengths, until he was challenged by Private Vow coming out of the second turn. Lawyer Ron then pulled away and won by 2-3/4 lengths over a late surging Steppenwolfer.
The winner of the Arkansas Derby has historically fared well in Triple Crown races. The 2005 winner of the Arkansas Derby was Afleet Alex who went on to win the Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes. The 2004 winner of the Arkansas Derby was Smarty Jones, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.
Rebel Stakes
In the 2006 Grade III Rebel Stakes held at Oaklawn Park on March 18, Ron got a less than stellar start and wound up trapped against the rail in fifth. Coming out of the first turn he moved to the outside but remained in fifth down the backstretch. Jockey John McKee and Lawyer Ron made their move at the start of the second turn. Moving strongly up the field, Lawyer Ron had taken the lead by the time he came out of the turn. Lawyer Ron did not let up down the stretch, charging to a 3 length win.
Southwest
The 2006 Southwest Stakes was held on February 25 at Oaklawn Park featuring Lawyer Ron as the odds-on favorite. Lawyer Ron broke strongly from the gate to take an early lead. He proceeded to set the pace staying comfortably ahead of his competitors. Heading down the stretch Steppenwolfer made a strong surge challenging for the lead, but Lawyer Ron held him off to win by 3/4 of a length.
Risen Star Stakes
In the 2006 Grade III Risen Star Stakes held at Louisiana Downs on January 26, Lawyer Ron displayed one of the best races of his career. He broke well and was in second heading into the first turn. He stayed just to the outside of the leader, Mark of Success, before passing him early on the backstretch. Lawyer Ron and Mark of Success battled all the way down the backstretch and into the final turn with Mark of Success on the inside and Lawyer Ron on the outside. Mark of Success continued to press Lawyer Ron for the lead early in the final stretch until Lawyer Ron opened up and pulled away to an 8 length victory.
Turf/Polytrack Races
Although Lawyer Ron had dominated in races on the dirt, his performances on the turf and polytrack surfaces have been less than stellar. Overall he is 0-7 away from the dirt only finishing in the money four times. However he won nine of his next twelve races (and placed second in one), all on dirt.
Owner
Lawyer Ron was bred and owned by James T. Hines, Jr., an entrerpreneur who started his first company, Premium Allied Tool, in Owensboro, Kentucky in 1966, and it became a multi-million dollar business. He became involved in thoroughbred horse racing in 1995. Hines died at the age of 69 in a drowning accident in his home swimming pool on February 20, 2006 just before Lawyer Ron's victory in the Rebel. The estate and Lawyer Ron's racing career are both managed by Mr. Hines' lawyer, Ron Bamberger, for whom the horse is named.
A majority interest in Lawyer Ron was bought by Stonewall Farm of Midway, Kentucky in the week preceding the 2006 Kentucky Derby. In 2007 he is racing as a 4 year old, and will stand at stud for Stonewall Stallions Farm after he retires. In 2007, he is racing under the banner of Hines Racing LLC.
Races
| Finish | Race | Distance | Track | Condition |
| 1st | Whitney Stakes | One and one-eighth miles | Saratoga Race Course | Fast |
| 1st | Oaklawn Handicap | One and one-eighth miles | Oaklawn Park | Fast |
| 1st | Optional/Allowance Claiming | One Mile | Gulfstream Park | Fast |
| 9th | Breeders' Cup Classic | One and one quarter miles | Churchill Downs | Fast |
| 1st | St. Louis Derby | One and One-Sixteenth Miles | Fairmont Park | Fast |
| 12th | Kentucky Derby | One and One-Quarter Miles | Churchill Downs | Fast |
| 1st | Arkansas Derby | One and One-Eighth Miles | Oaklawn Park | Fast |
| 1st | Rebel Stakes | One and One-Sixteenth Miles | Oaklawn Park | Fast |
| 1st | Southwest Stakes | One Mile | Oaklawn Park | Fast |
| 1st | Risen Star Stakes | One and One-Sixteenth Miles | Fair Grounds Race Course at Louisiana Downs | Fast |
| 1st | Diamond Jo Stakes | One Mile | Evangeline Downs | Fast |
| 1st | Allowance Opitional Claiming | One Mile | Fair Grounds Race Course at Louisiana Downs | Fast |
| 4th | Grand Canyon Handicap | One and One-Sixteenth Miles (Turf) | Churchill Downs | Firm |
| 3rd | Allowance | One and One-Sixteenth Miles (Turf) | Churchill Downs | Firm |
| 1st | Maiden | Seven Furlongs | Keeneland | Sloppy (Sealed) |
| 5th | Maiden | Six and One-Half Furlongs | Turfway Park | Fast |
| 2nd | Maiden Claimer | Six Furlongs | Turfway Park | Fast |
| 7th | Maiden | One Mile (Turf) | Ellis Park | Firm |
| 3rd | Maiden | One Mile (Turf) | Ellis Park | Firm |
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