Lawyer Ron Gains Fourth Win at Southwest Stakes

Lawyer Ron is slowly stamping his place at the Kentucky Derby with his fourth straight win, leading gate-to-wire for a three-quarter length victory over Steppenwolfer in Saturday's $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The 3-year-old colt, ridden by John McKee, now has a record of five career straight wins on dirt and is 0-for-7 on the grass.

The Bob Holtus trained colt' s owner, James Hines Jr., died Tuesday in an apparent swimming pool accident. Lawyer Ron covered the mile in 1:40 and held off a late charge from Steppenwolfer. Red Raymond, also trained by Holthus, was third.

Lawyer Ron opened the year with a victory in the Risen Star at Louisiana Downs, and will be pointed next to the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 18, followed by the Arkansas Derby on April 15 -- the same route Smarty Jones took before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2004.

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the 10-horse field, Lawyer Ron paid $3, $2.40 and $2.20. Steppenwolfer, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $4.20 and $3.60, and Red Raymond paid $7 to show. Holthus won last year's Southwest with Greater Good.

Slated next for Lawyer Ron is the Rebel Stakes. The Rebel is 1 1-16 miles, and the Arkansas Derby stretches out to 1 1-8 miles. The Kentucky Derby on May 6 is 1 1/4 miles.

Music School was fourth, followed by Mark of Success, Sharp Attack, Kingsfield, Celluloid Hero, Travelin Leroy and Agrapha.

The Southwest was postponed Monday because of icy conditions. Hines, Lawyer Ron's owner and breeder from Owensboro, Ky., died Tuesday. His funeral was Friday. The $150,000 winner's purse goes into a trust overseen by Ron Bamberger, a lawyer for whom the horse is named.

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Lawyer Ron Gains Fourth Win at Southwest Stakes

Lawyer Ron is slowly stamping his place at the Kentucky Derby with his fourth straight win, leading gate-to-wire for a three-quarter length victory over Steppenwolfer in Saturday's $250,000 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park.

The 3-year-old colt, ridden by John McKee, now has a record of five career straight wins on dirt and is 0-for-7 on the grass.

The Bob Holtus trained colt' s owner, James Hines Jr., died Tuesday in an apparent swimming pool accident. Lawyer Ron covered the mile in 1:40 and held off a late charge from Steppenwolfer. Red Raymond, also trained by Holthus, was third.

Lawyer Ron opened the year with a victory in the Risen Star at Louisiana Downs, and will be pointed next to the Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn on March 18, followed by the Arkansas Derby on April 15 -- the same route Smarty Jones took before winning the Kentucky Derby and Preakness in 2004.

Sent off as the 1-2 favorite in the 10-horse field, Lawyer Ron paid $3, $2.40 and $2.20. Steppenwolfer, ridden by Corey Lanerie, returned $4.20 and $3.60, and Red Raymond paid $7 to show. Holthus won last year's Southwest with Greater Good.

Slated next for Lawyer Ron is the Rebel Stakes. The Rebel is 1 1-16 miles, and the Arkansas Derby stretches out to 1 1-8 miles. The Kentucky Derby on May 6 is 1 1/4 miles.

Music School was fourth, followed by Mark of Success, Sharp Attack, Kingsfield, Celluloid Hero, Travelin Leroy and Agrapha.

The Southwest was postponed Monday because of icy conditions. Hines, Lawyer Ron's owner and breeder from Owensboro, Ky., died Tuesday. His funeral was Friday. The $150,000 winner's purse goes into a trust overseen by Ron Bamberger, a lawyer for whom the horse is named.

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