Gold Rush

Lava Man Returns in TVG Khaled

INGLEWOOD, Calif. (Apr. 24, 2008) - California-bred champion Lava Man returns from a five-month vacation in Sunday’s $150,000 TVG Khaled Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on the Hollywood Park turf course on the Gold Rush card.

Lava Man is by Slew City Slew, out of the Nostalgia’s Star mare Li’l Ms. Lenoard, was bred by Lonnie Arterburn and Kim and Eve Kuhlmann, was foaled at Popular Meadows and is owned by STD Racing and Jason Wood. The former $50,000 claim has 17 wins in 43 starts, earnings of $5,214,706 and is making his first start since finishing sixth in the Nov. 3 California Cup Classic.

Celtic Dreamin is by Game Plan, out of the On the Sauce mare Astral Dreamer, was bred by Rainbow Meadows Farm, was foaled at Fincher Ranch, is owned by K.K. Sangara and is trained by Rafael Becerra. The $25,000 Barretts purchase has six wins in 11 starts, earnings of $600,543 and is coming off a win in the Mar. 16 Crystal Water.

Mr. Wolverine is by Last Lion, out of the L’Enjoleur mare April Mom, was bred by Elmer Ramos, was foaled at Rancho Santa Rosa, is owned by Begie, Dreyfus and Venneri Racing and is trained by Jorge Gutierrez. The $1,700 Barretts purchase has three wins in 10 starts, earnings of $184,866 and is coming off a second in the Mar. 16 Crystal Water.

Defending champion Epic Power is by Epic Honor, out of the Eighty Below Zero mare Petite n Powerful, was bred by Richard Meister, was foaled at Blooming Hills and is owned by La Canada Stables. He has 12 wins in 56 starts, earnings of $657,435 and is coming off a seventh in the Apr. 4 Sensational Star.

Dawn’s Early Sky is by Score Early, out of the Skywalker mare Skyanna, was bred by owner Bill Thomas, foaled at BMT Farms and is trained by Mel Stute. The Barretts graduate has two wins in 21 starts, earnings of $89,226 and is coming off a second in an Apr. 11 $40,000 claimer.

Top This and That is by Old Topper, out of the Theatrical mare Emmy Ann, was bred by and foaled at Tommy Town Thoroughbreds, is owned by Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Hayes, Jerome Higman, et al and is trained by Dan Hendricks. He has six wins in 27 starts, earnings of $388,062 and is coming off a third in an Apr. 11 optional claimer. He was sixth in this race two years ago and third in the Snow Chief Stakes on the Gold Rush card in 2005.