Farewell, Lawyer Ron, the breed needed you

Just a short note on the sad news today that Lawyer Ron, a splendid 3-year-old and record-setting winner of the Whitney H.-G1 at 4, was put down Friday at Stonewall Farms near Versailles, Ky., due to complications from colic surgery.

Lawyer Ron was only 6 years old and was completing his second year at stud. The farm says foal-owners were high on his babies; of course it remains to be seen if they'll run.

But their daddy could.

He was a mile stakes winner at Evangeline Downs at 2, then won the Risen Star S.-G3 at Fair Grounds and swept the Oaklawn Park Derby-preps (Southwest S., Rebel S.-G3, Arkansas Derby-G2) before falling short in the Kentucky Derby itself. At 4, in addition to his Whitney record, he also won the Woodward S.-G1, and finished second to Curlin in the Jockey Club Gold Cup-G1.

Of equal importance to me as a breeder and a pedigree enthusiast is that Lawyer Ron was among the sounder examples of the brilliant Danzig line. A son of Canadian champion Langfuhr, an under-appreciated sire who ran 23 times himself, Lawyer Ron made 26 lifetime starts, essentially double the average established by Danzig's own sons and daughters. It was my hope that he could carry on the talent of Danzig's line with a greater degree of durability than some from that line (i.e., Big Brown) have shown.

Lawyer Ron was also a bit more old-school in his breeding on his dam's side (out of a Lord Avie mare whose dam was by Grey Dawn's G1-winning son Mr. Redoy; third dam by Rambunctious). And he was a valuable outcross for Mr. Prospector.

So it's terribly sad to see Lawyer Ron go -- a talented, brave runner on the track, and a potentially valuable addition to the breeding community whose true and full influence on the breed now can never be known.

Pride of ownership: Thrilling in the victory

I don't even think the contest is close. The best commercial in all of horse racing is the West Point Thoroughbreds ad known as "Sherm's Call."

In case you've missed it -- and if you're a fan who watches any amount of racing on television, I don't see how you could've -- the screen is largely black save the West Point logo, a disclaimer noting that the dialogue is an actual phone message left by a West Point horse co-owner, and the requisite information about how to contact West Point about partnership opportunities. No video was necessary. In fact, pictures might kill the moment.

In the ad, "Sherm" describes his horse, the West Point horse in which he owns a share, making his way forward from fifth place in the pack to take the lead, then draw off to win. The exuberance in that man's voice is indescribable. If you've clicked the "Sherm's Call" links here, you've heard it again for yourself.

I'm in tears by the end of that recording, every single time. ... In that moment, I want to be that guy.

My blogging pal over at Odds On Favorite, Bill Yates, got to be that guy, and his wife, Judy, "that gal," this weekend. Watching from their computer screen, they cheered home a gutsy 7-year-old gelding named Passed Over, who won Race 4 Sunday at Finger Lakes in his typical running style, "lagging" at the back and driving home with a rush. Bill tells the whole story of how they first saw the horse racing on HRTV long ago, how the horse slipped into semi-retirement and then returned to the races, and how Bill decided to call the trainer, David Markgraf, to see if he'd sell him a 10 percent share for Judy's birthday present. She loved it. Every man needs a woman like that.

The gray Langfuhr gelding has been paying the bills with seconds and thirds since Bill and Judy got on board. On Sunday, he broke through. And I can't imagine yet quite what that feels like to be a part of that, even if you "only" own 10 percent, even if you're just watching on TV or at the computer.

Congrats Judy, Bill, David and Passed Over. May he happily close from the clouds again and again, in good health, until it's time for his well-earned retirement.