Only one prep race of major import on the Kentucky Derby trail was run over the weekend, Saturday’s $250,000 Southwest Stakes going a mile at Oaklawn Park, rescheduled from the previous Monday, when the track was closed because of freezing weather.
Lawyer Ron, favored at 1-2 in the field of 10, was gunning for his fourth straight victory off runaway scores by 10 3/4, 8 ½ and 8 1/4 lengths, including the Grade 3 Risen Star last out at Louisiana Downs. Breaking from post 3 under jockey John McKee, the chestnut son of Langfuhr shot to the front and quickly opened daylight, setting a moderate pace that got slower as he went along, through fractions of :23.1, :48 and 1:13.3.
Down the stretch, 2-1 second choice Steppenwolfer, making his stakes debut off a 4 1/2-length blowout in allowance company going a mile at Oaklawn, came running with a determined late charge. But Lawyer Ron held on to give trainer Bob Holthus his second straight win in the Southwest, which he took last year with Greater Good.
The margin was just three-quarters of a length, and the final time was a slow 1:40. Remember, however, that two years ago, Smarty Jones was all out to win the Southwest by a neck, then won his next four races – the Rebel, Arkansas Derby, Kentucky Derby and Preakness – by more comfortable margins.
One ironic note – there has been a rash of deaths of prominent thoroughbred owners in the past month; Mohammed Fustok of Buckram Oak Farm; Bob Lewis, who counted Kentucky Derby winners Silver Charm and Charismatic among his many champions; Roy “Chappy” Chapman, who bred and raced Smarty Jones; and Sam Rubin, the owner of John Henry. Count among them Lawyer Ron’s owner-breeder, James Hines Jr., who five days before the Southwest, drowned accidentally in his swimming pool at home in Owensboro, Ky.
There was one other noteworthy performance by a Derby hopeful last week. In a mile allowance race Wednesday at Gulfstream Park, trainer John Ward, who won the 2001 Derby with Monarchos, saddled Strong Contender, an $800,000 son of Maria’s Mon (sire of Monarchos) making his first start since August, when he broke his maiden first time out by 3 3/4 lengths.
In only the second race of his career, Strong Contender set the pace under Edgar Prado, then drew off through the final furlong to romp by 4 3/4 lengths in a sharp 1:34.3. His next start could come in either the Rebel at Oaklawn or Gotham at Aqueduct, both at a mile and a sixteenth on March 18. Look for him to make the “Derby Dozen” in the near future.
Two serious prep races will be run this Saturday: the mile-and-an-eighth Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream, where First Samurai will try two turns for the first time, and the mile-and-a-sixteenth Santa Catalina at Santa Anita, where trainer Bobby Frankel’s highly touted but untested colt, Latent Heat, makes his stakes debut against heavy favorite Brother Derek.
Santa Anita announced Saturday that the Santa Catalina will be renamed in honor of Bob Lewis beginning next year, when it will be called the Robert B. Lewis Memorial.
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ED FOUNTAINE’S DERBY DOZEN
HORSE Next race Jockey/Trainer ODDS COMMENT
1. First Samurai March 4 Fountain of Youth Edgar Prado, Frank Brothers 7-1 Worked mile in 1:37.3 Friday at Gulfstream, galloped out mile-and-eighth in 1:53.3; now tries two turns.
2. Brother Derek March 4 Santa Catalina Alex Solis, Dan Hendricks 16-1 Worked 6f in bullet 1:12 Thurs. at Santa Anita. Hendricks: “He was just breezing, not as aggressive as last time.”
3. Bluegrass Cat Feb. 18 Tampa Bay Derby John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher 15-1 Velazquez, after winning Sam Davis at Tampa in 3-y.o. debut: “He has done everything we have asked him to do so far.”
4. Bob and John March 18 San Felipe Victor Espinoza, Bob Baffert 31-1 Worked 6f in 1:14 Tuesday at Hollywood Park, followed by 5f yesterday in 1:02; makes stakes debut Saturday.
5. Latent Heat March 4 Santa Catalina Pat Valenzuela, Bobby Frankel 3-1 (field) Breezed 4f in :50.2 Wednesday at Palm Meadows. Matz: “We’ll probably breeze him again next week and ask a bit more.”
6. Barbaro April 1 Fla. Derby Edgar Prado, Michael Matz 19-1 Worked half-mile in :49.2 Tuesday at Santa Anita, picked it up a bit with another 4f in :48 yesterday.
7. Achilles of Troy March 18 Gotham Ramon Dominguez, Jennifer Pedersen 26-1 In first work since winning Feb. 11 Whirlaway, drilled 5f in 1:01.4 Wednesday at Aqueduct.
8. Private Vow March 18 Rebel ShaunBridgmohan, Steve Asmussen 14-1 In stiffest drill so far this year, breezed 6f in 1:15.1 last Monday at Palm Meadows training center.
9. Great Point March 4 Fountain of Youth Jeremy Rose, Nick Zito 3-1 (field) Breezed 5f in 1:01.4 at Gulfstream. Zito: “He was going to go Saturday, but with the [sloppy] track, we had to wait.”
10. Lawyer Ron March 18 Rebel John McKee, Bob Holthus 21-1 After winning prior three starts by average nine lengths, held on to win Southwest Stakes by three-quarters Saturday.
11. Point Determined March 18 San Felipe David Flores, Bob Baffert 18-1 Drilled handy half-mile in :47 yesterday at Santa Anita; one of three possible starters for Baffert barn in San Felipe.
12. Keyed Entry March 18 Rebel John Velazquez, Todd Pletcher 53-1 After winning first three starts at 5f, 6f and 71/2f, stretches out to mile-and-sixteenth for first time next out.
