Lava Man fades to sixth at Oak Tree

Lava Man may have reached the bottom of the mountain. It has been a phenomenal run for the 6-year-old, but after finishing sixth and last in the Grade I Oak Tree Mile Sunday at the Oak Tree meet at Santa Anita, Lava Man’s future is in doubt.

It was the second consecutive disappointing finish for horse racing’s leading active money-winner with earnings of more than $5.2 million. Lava Man also finished sixth in Del Mar’s Pacific Classic Aug. 19.

The Pacific Classic was run on the Polytrack synthetic surface, which may have been a mitigating factor.

But Sunday’s Oak Tree Mile, the fifth race, was run on the turf, so no excuse there.

“There was no energy level there at all,” jockey Corey Nakatani said.

Nakatani said the horse had no apparent traffic problems.

“That was where I wanted to be,” he said. “He’s been having some issues, I believe. I don’t know what they are, but hopefully, the warrior that he is, he’ll get over them and get back to the old Lava Man that we all know.”

Steve Kenly, one of Lava Man’s three owners, said, “We’re crossing our fingers you haven’t heard the last of him.”

Kenly pointed out that Lava Man came back for a three-race slump earlier in his career but conceded it might be different now that the horse is older.

Kenly said there was zero chance of Lava Man running in the Breeders’ Cup.

Earning an automatic berth into the Breeders’ Cup Turf Mile was Oak Tree Mile winner Out of Control, who finished a nose in front of Zann.

Lava Man was the 13-10 sentimental favorite of the crowd of 22,775. Surf Cat, the 2-1 second choice, finished fifth.

Aboard Out of Control was Michael Baze, who won the riding titles at Hollywood Park and Del Mar but has been frustrated during Oak Tree while serving two riding suspensions for violations at Del Mar.

He has been able to ride in stakes races, but that has also extended his suspensions.

Baze said he hoped Out of Control’s owners decided to run in the Breeders’ Cup, otherwise he’ll miss out on a trip to New Jersey’s Monmouth Park. He doesn’t have any other possible mounts in the 11-race, two-day event.

Of Sunday’s win, Baze said, “This is a big relief. I’ve been sitting at home watching the races on TV. I just want to ride so bad.”

Victor Espinoza is the leading rider at Oak Tree with 13 winners.

In close pursuit are David Flores with 10 and Tyler Baze, Michael’s cousin, with nine.

Espinoza rode Tough Tiz’s Sis to victory in Sunday’s Grade I $250,000 Lady’s Secret for fillies and mares.

Flores, aboard 1-2 favorite Hystericalady, finished second.

As was the case with the Oak Tree Mile winner, Tough Tiz’s Sis also earned a guaranteed spot in the Breeders’ Cup as part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series.

Paul Weitman and Karl Watson, Tuscon car dealers who own Tough Tiz’s Sis, are still uncertain about entering her in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff.

The problem is a $180,000 supplemental fee because the horse was not previously nominated.

Asked what it would take to get them to decide to pay the fee, trainer Bob Baffert said, “About eight bottles of wine.”

The deadline for entering horses in Breeders’ Cup races is a week from today.

The other Challenge Series race at Oak Tree Sunday was the Ancient Title Stakes, which was won by Idiot Proof.

There’s no question Idiot Proof is headed for the Breeders’ Cup. The owners are Marty and Pam Wygod of Rancho Santa Fe, and they have made millions in the medical field. Marty is chairman of WebMD.

Asked about the name of the horse, Marty Wygod said, “I’m always telling co-workers to make computer printouts an easy read, to make them idiot proof.”

Today’s Columbus Day Oak Tree card is highlighted by the Cavonnier Stakes, featuring Topper Shopper, a son of multiple-graded stakes winner Old Topper.

There is also a pick-six carryover of more than $567,000 today, and the pool could exceed $2 million.

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larry.stewart@latimes.com