Lawyer Ron
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Lawyer Ron is a thoroughbred race horse foaled on the 1st of March, 2003.
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[edit] Past Performances
In most of Lawyer Ron's victories, he has jumped out to an early lead and set the pace. In addition, 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. However, he left the gate in 6th place in the Derby, and faded back, finishing 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.
[edit] 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 Arkasas Derby was Smarty Jones, who went on to win the Kentucky Derby and the Preakness Stakes.
[edit] 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.
[edit] 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.
[edit] Risen Star
In the 2006 Grade III Risen Star 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.
[edit] 2005 Victories
Lawyer Ron broke his maiden on October 10, 2005 in a maiden race at Keeneland. The race was Lawyer Ron's first ever race on a dirt track and he won by 3 and 1/2 lengths. On December 9, 2005 in an allowance race at Louisiana Downs, Lawyer Ron drew away from the field to win by ten lengths. Lawyer Ron had another impressive performance in the Diamond Joe Stakes at Evangeline Downs on December 31, 2005 when he won the race by eight lengths.
[edit] Turf/Polytrack Races
Although Lawyer Ron has 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 his last seven races have been on dirt and he has won all of them.
[edit] Owner
Lawyer Ron was originally owned by the estate of James T. Hines. Hines was an entrerpreneur who started his company, Premium Allied Tool, near Owensboro,Kentucky in 1966 and it became a multi-million dollar business. He has been involved in horse racing since 1995. Hines died at the age of 69 in a drowning accident in his home swimming pool on February 21, 2006 just before Lawyer Ron's victory in the Rebel. The estate is currently managed by Mr. Hines' lawyer, Ron Bamberger, for whom the horse is named.
A majority ownership of Lawyer Ron was recently bought by Stonewall Stallions for 6 million dollars. Lawyer Ron was sold in the week preceding the Kentucky Derby, and will stand stud for Stonewall Stallions after he retires.
[edit] Jockey
Lawyer Ron is ridden by John McKee, who calls Ron, "one of the best horses he has ever ridden." McKee was born August 21, 1981 in Cincinnati, Ohio and currently resides in Hamersville, Ohio. McKee is the primary rider for Lawyer Ron's trainer, Bob Holthus. McKee rode to 131 wins in 2005 and 210 wins in 2004. Prior to the 2006 Kentucky Derby, McKee has had two Derby mounts: Greater Good in 2005 and Por Prado in 2004.
On February 11, 2007, Lawyer Ron, who has continued rank throughout his career (certainly losing any chance he had in the 2006 Breeders' Cup Classic which went to Invasor), was under jockey John Velazquez for an optional/allowance claiming race at Gulfstream Park. Velazquez kept control of the headstrong colt, forcing him to settle, and then steady behind the field, until finding his opening for the win. This win put him at 9 for 19 and increased his earnings to $1,500,008.
[edit] Trainer
Lawyer Ron is trained by Bob Holthus. Holthus was born June 24, 1934 in Table Rock, Nebraska and currently resides in Hot Springs, Arkansas with his wife, Bonnie. Holthus is the all-time winningest trainer at Oaklawn Park and as of 2005 had won 11 trainer's titles there. He was the trainer for the Kentucky Derby entrants Greater Good and Por Prado. As a second generation trainer, Holthus learned the profession from his father Paul Holthus.
[edit] Breeding
His sire is Langfuhr, while his dam is Donation.
[edit] Races
| Finish | Race | Distance | Track | Condition |
| 1st | Optional/Allowance Claiming | One Mile | Gulfstream Park | Fast |
| 9th | Breeders' Cup Classic | One and one quarter miles | Churchill Downs | |
| 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 |
