Fittingly, O.J. picks Lawyer Ron to win

'I love lawyers, I know all about lawyers,' says man who won murder trial

	Former NFL star O.J. Simpson, right, has been one of the notables seen at Churchill Downs this week.
Amy Sancetta / AP

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updated 3:36 p.m. ET May 6, 2006

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - O.J. Simpson wandered the Churchill Downs backstretch Thursday, shaking hands, laughing and soaking up the pre-Kentucky Derby atmosphere.

His pick for Saturday’s race? Lawyer Ron, natch.

“I love lawyers, I know all about lawyers,” he said, mentioning the late Johnnie Cochran, who helped Simpson avoid murder charges in the 1994 deaths of his wife and her friend.

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“If there was a Lawyer Johnnie, Lord knows, I’d put my house on it,” he said.

Simpson is making his third consecutive visit to the Derby as a private citizen, having visited years ago to fulfill endorsement obligations.

“You got better parties here than you do in Miami at the MTV Awards,” he said. “It’s the No. 1 event of the year. The hip-hop/movie/horse culture is all here.”

Wearing a Pittsburgh Steelers cap, Simpson drew stares and whispers as he strolled around.

“It comes down to Kentucky hospitality,” he said. “I feel totally comfortable and everybody’s great.”