Lava Man fizzles out in return
Those who came to Hollywood Park on Sunday to see a successful return by Lava Man left disappointed.
Making his first start since Nov. 3, the seven-time Grade I winner, which includes three consecutive wins in the Hollywood Gold Cup, finished third in the $150,000 Khaled Stakes. Mr. Wolverine, the 7-2 third choice, won the 1 1/8 -mile turf race and pacesetter Epic Power finished second.
In the Khaled, a part of the annual California Gold Rush card restricted to horses bred in the state, Lava Man wasted a perfect trip.
The 7-year-old looked poised to take over from Epic Power around the turn, which is where he took control of many of his races in his heyday. There was no magic this time.
“I thought he was 1-9 on the backstretch,” said trainer Doug O’Neill, who has seen the gelding earn more than $5 million since being claimed for $50,000 in the summer of 2004.
“We’re disappointed, but I thought he ran well. It used to be when he came back from a race, he wouldn’t be able to blow out a match, but today he could have blown out a forest fire. He should gain a lot of fitness from this.”
------
The upset by Mr. Wolverine in the Khaled wasn’t the only one in the six Gold Rush races worth more than $100,000.
The biggest was provided by the O’Neill-trained Harlene, a 33-1 shot who ran down Dewey’s Special to win the day’s richest race, the $250,000 Snow Chief. Winless in the first six starts of his career, Harlene was ridden by Michael Baze. For good measure, O’Neill also finished third in the race with another maiden, 42-1 shot One Chin Again.
Earlier, a pair of 12-1 shots -- Spenditallbaby and Stella Mark -- used late rallies to win the $150,000 B. Thoughtful and $150,000 Tiznow, respectively.
The win by Spenditallbaby was the first of two for trainer Barry Abrams and the prolific sire Unusual Heat.
Bel Air Sizzle, who had won only three days earlier, won the $200,000 Melair, benefiting by the disqualification of original winner Gambler’s Justice, who was placed third for alleged interference with favored Final Fling in the stretch.
In the other race worth more than six figures, 2-1 second choice Tutta Bella won her third in a row, taking the $150,000 Fran’s Valentine.
--
Get our high school sports newsletter
Prep Rally is devoted to the SoCal high school sports experience, bringing you scores, stories and a behind-the-scenes look at what makes prep sports so popular.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
