Lawyer Ron, the 2007 champion older male, was euthanized July 10 at Stonewall Farm Stallions near Versailles, Ky., due to complications from a recent colic surgery
A 6-year-old son of Langfuhr , Lawyer Ron was standing his second season at stud at Audrey Haisfield's Stonewall Farm Stallions, and his first crop of foals arrived this year.
“Not only was he a superior racehorse but his physical presence and contagious personality captivated everyone that saw him,” said Clark Shepherd, manager of Stonewall Farm Stallions. “His first foals are tremendous. When breeders call in to report their Lawyer Ron foals being born, they all have a story to tell. This is obviously a huge loss for us, as well as for the racing and breeding community.”
Lawyer Ron stood at Stonewall for a 2009 fee of $25,000.
Bred by the late James T. Hines Jr. and named for Hines' longtime friend and advisor, attorney Ron Bamberger, Lawyer Ron raced solely for his breeder until an interest in the colt was purchased by Stonewall Farms Racing Div. 1 prior to an unplaced finish in the 2006 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I).
Lawyer Ron retired with a dozen wins and eight placings from 26 races and earnings of $2,790,008. He was trained first by Robert Holthus and then by Todd Pletcher. His dam, Donation, is by Lord Avie.
During his championship season in 2007 while trained by Pletcher, Lawyer Ron won an allowance race before posting a daylight win in the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. II). Trained in 2007 by Pletcher, Lawyer Ron shipped to Saratoga, where he won the Whitney Handicap (gr. I) while setting a new track record of 1:46.64 for nine furlongs, and won the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by more than eight lengths.
