CLASSIC SPOTLIGHT
With so many frontrunners and stalkers in this year’s Derby field, including the speed-crazy Sinister Minister, it would seem natural to look for a closer to come along late and pick up the pieces.
Unfortunately, closers have not won any of the major preps this year. But if you’re looking for a consistent horse who always give you that big run in the stretch and can take advantage of a contentious pace, look no farther than Steppenwolfer. The colt’s critics will say he wasn’t able to beat Lawyer Ron, falling victim to the son of Langfuhr in all three of their meetings at Oaklawn Park.
But he will have a great of help in the Kentucky Derby presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I), and if there is one horse you can count on to be coming late it is Steppenwolfer, who scored two impressive come-from-behind victories in allowance company before finishing second, third, and second to Lawyer Ron in the Southwest, Rebel (gr. III), and Arkansas Derby (gr. II), respectively.
The Oaklawn surface was playing extremely slow all meet, especially down the stretch, and in all three preps, Lawyer Ron had too big of an advantage to overcome.
What one has to like about Steppenwolfer, who is owned by Robert and Lawana Lee, is the fact that in his seven dirt races, he’s never finished out of the money, at distances from seven furlongs to 1 1/8 miles, and his pedigree says he will be more effective at 1 1/4 miles.
Date:
25 April 2006