Ronald R rallies to upset score in Lure Stakes

ARCADIA, Calif. - Ronald R, second in a handicap at Royal Ascot in 2017, won the first stakes of his career in Thursday’s $74,104 Lure Stakes for turf milers at Santa Anita, his third consecutive win after returning from a 14-month layoff.

Ridden by Drayden Van Dyke, Ronald R ($29.40) closed from last in a field of nine to win by a half-length over 3-1 Ritzy A.P. River Boyne, the 5-2 favorite, was third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths. Ronald R covered a mile over firm turf in 1:33.18.

Van Dyke had a clear strategy for the Lure Stakes, which was restricted to horses who had not won a first-place purse of $55,000 or more in a stakes, other than statebred, this year. He anticipated a quick pace and waited until the turn before moving closer to the leaders.

Van Dyke said he was tracking Frankie Dettori on River Boyne and John Velazquez on Double Touch.

“It looked like there would be a decent pace,” Van Dyke said. “I had a good trip and I had to decide to go around or go behind Velazquez and Dettori. How can you go wrong there?”

Van Dyke moved Ronald R outside in the stretch and got a quick response from the 5-year-old gelding.

“I had to back him up a little bit at the top of the stretch and peel him out,” Van Dyke said. “He put in a good turn of foot, and he did that at Del Mar.”

Restrainedvengence, second in the Grade 2 City of Hope Mile here on Oct. 5, finished fourth, followed by Brown Storm, Double Touch, Andesh, Lil Milo, and Declarationofpeace.

Ronald R races for Hotter than H Racing and trainer Ron Ellis. An Irish-bred by Nathaniel, Ronald R was claimed for $40,000 in May 2018, but did not race again until he won an allowance race with a $40,000 claiming option at Del Mar on July 20. Ronald R won another optional claimer there on Sept. 2.

In England in 2017, Ronald R was second of 29 in the $152,100 Britannia Stakes for 3-year-olds at a straightaway mile at Royal Ascot.