Horse Race Betting: 54th Running of the Woodward

Lawyer Ron hopes to build his case for Horse of the Year in the 54th running of the Woodward on Saturday at Saratoga.

The 4-year-old son of Langfuhr is on a roll, winning two stakes that includes the Whitney on July 28 in record time of 1:46 3/5 for the 1 1/8 miles in his only outing at the historic track.

In the past 22 years, only one race horse that won the Whitney and the Breeders' Cup Classic went on to be Horse of the Year -- Invasor in '06. However, five horses that took the Woodward since '84, when the BC Classic was launched, were voted the top thoroughbred after winning both races.

All were great champions: Saint Liam, '05; Ghostzapper, '04; Skip Away, '98; Cigar '95; and Alysheba, '88.

Before there was BC Day, the great Forego reeled off four consecutive Woodwards starting in '74 and was Horse of the Year three straight times ending in '76.

Lawyer Ron, who is 3-1-1 of 5 this year, could be the first to take the Whitney, Woodward and BC Classic. Of course, Street Sense will have something to say about Horse of the Year when both meet on Oct. 27 in the second afternoon of BC races at Monmouth Park.

This year's Grade 1 Woodward at 1 1/8 miles could be called Whitney 2 since four runners that finished behind Lawyer Ron in that Grade 1 on July 28 are scheduled to go in the $500,000 contest:

Wanderin Boy, the runner-up 4 ¾ lengths back; Diamond Stripes, another length behind in third; Brass Hat, a disappointing eighth; and Sun King, way back in 10th.



Prior to his uncharacteristically dull showing in the Whitney, Brass Hat returned from a yearlong layoff to set the track record for 1 1/16 miles at Churchill Downs on July 8 - 1:41 1/5.

"I don't think he was fond of Saratoga, but that is our next start," trainer Buff Bradley told the media shortly after Brass Hat's worst finish since the fall of '04. In '06, the son of Prized captured three stakes, including the Grade 1 Donn Handicap at Gulfstream Park.

"I'm hoping that has changed some and I plan to have a different game plan for the race," Bradley said. "After that I don't know. I'm sure he can run with those horses so I'm giving him another shot and hope he'll be closer to the pace this time."

Of the also-rans only Wanderin Boy has captured a stakes race this year, winning the Alysheba by 4 ¼ lengths on May 7 in the slop at Churchill Downs.

Trainer Nick Zito is upbeat about his Wanderin Boy and Sun King. After recently working each in company, he said, "Both horses are coming up to the Woodward the right way."

He called Sun King's 46 2/5 for four furlongs on Aug. 24 "one of the best works since I got him." Unfortunately, the son of Charismatic's last victory came in the Commonwealth Breeders' Cup at Keeneland on April 15, 2006.

Wanderin Boy and Lawyer Ron would have the upper hand if it were an off track at Saratoga since each has two victories on surfaces less than fast.

Two other formidable challengers in the expected field of seven scored in '07 stakes at Belmont Park: Political Force in the Suburban and Corinthian in the Metropolitan Mile.

Check out Horse Racing Betting Odds at WagerWeb Racebook!