Gold Rush

$150,000 TVG Khaled Stakes
LAVA MAN

Lava Man

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Apr. 30, 2006) – Lava Man, shifting from a Grade I win in the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap to the turf, ran like an even-money favorite in capturing the $150,000 TVG Khaled Stakes for California-breds on the Gold Rush Day VII card at Hollywood Park.

Lava Man is by Slew City Slew, out of the Nostalgia’s Star mare Li’l Ms. Leonard, was bred by Arterburn, Kuhlmann & Kuhlmann and is owned by STD Racing Stable or Wood. He is trained by Doug O’Neill and was ridden by Corey Nakatani.

He has 10 wins in 30 starts, earnings of $2,274,706 (eighth on the all-time Cal-bred list) and was coming off consecutive wins in million-dollar races, the Sunshine Millions Classic and Santa Anita Handicap. He ran the 1 1/8 miles on the turf in 1:42.26 and won by 5 ¼ lengths under a hand ride as the 7-10 favorite.

Cheroot finished second by a nose and Super Strut was third.

Once claimed for $50,000, he finished eighth in the Snow Chief Stakes on Gold Rush Day two years ago and was sixth in the Tiznow Stakes on Gold Rush Day last year. He is 4-for-10 on turf.