Cal-bred News

$500,000 Sunshine Millions Turf
LAVA MAN

Lava Man Benoit Photo

ARCADIA, Calif. (Jan. 27, 2007) – Popular California champion Lava Man returned to the winners circle Saturday, capturing the $500,000 Sunshine Millions San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino Turf at Santa Anita.

The victory, coming after a seventh in the Breeders’ Cup Classic snapped a seven-race win streak, made Lava Man the first horse to complete a Sunshine Millions parlay of the Classic, which he won last year, and the Turf.

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

“No question, he’s the best horse I’ve ever been on,” said Nakatani. “No horse has taken me for the ride he has. He’s the Lava Man of old. I don’t think we’ll ever see another horse do what he did last year. He’s shown he’s a champion. I can’t believe he didn’t get consideration for horse of the year. He’s just a warrior.”

The most successful claiming horse of all-time, Lava Man has 15 wins in 36 starts and became the third California-bred to exceed $4 million in earnings, raising his career total to $4,079,706, behind only Tiznow ($6,427,830) and Best Pal ($5,668,245).

The 3-5 favorite, Lava Man collared pacesetter Wild Buddy around the turn and repelled the challenges of Florida-breds Icy Atlantic and Go Between in the stretch, winning by two lengths and running the 1 1/8 miles on turf in 1:47.60.

For Lava Man’s pedigree, click: http://www.pedigreequery.com/lava+man