Lawyer Ron Extends Streak

Something will have to give in the Kentucky Derby on May 6 at Churchill Downs because the top three 3-year-olds in the country will be entering with extended winning streaks.

Brother Derek won his fourth in a row in the Santa Anita Derby on April 8, seven days after Barbaro remained perfect in five starts with his victory in the Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park.

On Saturday, Lawyer Ron also made it five in a row with an expected victory in the $1-million Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs.

The 1-2 favorite under jockey John McKee, the son of Langfuhr made a bold move along the inside to take the lead on the backstretch, then was never seriously challenged en route to his third consecutive score at Oaklawn. He won the Southwest and Rebel earlier for Bob Holthus, who trains the chestnut for the estate of breeder James T. Hines Jr., who died in February.

Smarty Jones won the same three races at Oaklawn in 2004 before his victories in the Kentucky Derby and Preakness.

Lawyer Ron, who has not lost in seven races on dirt, beat Steppenwolfer, the 7-1 third choice, by 2 3/4 lengths while running the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.38.

Lawyer Ron’s seven losses have come on turf and the Polytrack at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky.

*

Stratham, a 3-1 shot while coupled in the betting with Global Genius, got through along the inside to win the $108,600 La Puente Stakes at Santa Anita.

Trained by Tim Yakteen for owner Jerry Jamgotchian, the 3-year-old, Irish-bred son of Mozart won for the second time in three starts in the U.S. Ridden by David Cohen, Stratham ran the mile on turf in 1:36.09.

Genre, the 5-2 second choice, finished second, 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner, and Lightning Hit rallied from last to third. Scootin George, the 2-1 favorite, finished sixth in the field of seven.

*

Der Ali, who won the first race Saturday at Santa Anita at odds of 28-1, paid a track record $139.20 to show, shattering the $104.60 Playmay returned on Feb. 4, 1938.

Playmay won that day, paying a record $673.40 to win and $148 to place.

The show price was inflated on the first three finishers in the race because Denied, the 1-5 favorite, was off the board. Of the total show pool of $176,163, $166,832 had been wagered on Denied.

*

Jockey Kent Desormeaux collected his first stakes victory since moving to New York last month with a win aboard 4-5 favorite Miraculous Miss in the $150,000 Comely at Aqueduct.

In a race weakened when morning line favorite Teammate was scratched because of a bruised foot, Miraculous Miss ran past 7-1 shot Regal Engagement in the final sixteenth of a mile to win the Grade II race by 1 1/4 lengths.