Grade I winner Lawyer Ron, the leading candidate for champion older male, has been retired from racing and will enter stud for a fee of $30,000 at Audrey Haisfield’s Stonewall Farm near Versailles, Ky.

A 4-year-old son of Langfuhr, Lawyer Ron ranked right up there with the leaders on the National Thoroughbred Racing Association poll starting in April. At Saratoga, he set a track record of 1:46.64 for 1 1/8 miles in winning the Whitney Handicap (gr. I), breaking a 33-year-old track and stakes record. He next won the Woodward Stakes (gr. I) by 8 1/4 lengths at the Spa, then finished a neck behind Curlin in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont Park.

Earlier in the year, Lawyer Ron captured the Oaklawn Handicap (gr. I) by four lengths, ran third in the Metropolitan Handicap (gr. I) at Belmont Park, and was beaten a neck in the Salvator Mile Handicap (gr. III) at Monmouth Park.

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 last year’s Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I)