Strengths: Explosive turn of foot makes him capable of outrunning his rivals and putting up serious times on the stopwatch that few can match. Has devastated the east coast’s best handicap horses, and also has shipped back to the Midwest to secure the Oaklawn Handicap.

Weaknesses: Lawyer Ron’s worst career efforts have come in 1 1/4 miles showcases, the 2006 Kentucky Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic, where he finished ninth to end his sophomore season. His Achilles heel historically has been an inability to relax and settle in his races, although that problem appears to have been addressed in his 2007 final preps.

Status: In spite of his seventh-place finish in the Classic, Lawyer Ron proved his mettle on the track in other races and was honored with an Eclipse Award for outstanding older male. In 2007, he earned $1,320,000, ranking him 14th of all horses with earnings in North America. He was retired from racing and will begin a career at stud for a fee of $30,000 at Audrey Haisfield's Stonewall Farm, near Versailles, Ky.

In The Genes: Sire, Langfuhr, is best known for producing Canadian Triple Crown winner Wando, Arlington Million winner Jambalaya and Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies and Distaff-placed Imperial Gesture. Langfuhr finished eighth in the 1996 BC Sprint.

Bet You Didn’t Know: The only horse ever to win the Breeders’ Cup Classic one year after being defeated in the Classic was 1988 champion Alysheba, runner-up in 1987.