Lava Man Healthy After Race

Lava Man, who finished third as the favorite in Sunday’s Pacific Classic, came out of the race with no injuries, trainer Doug O’Neill said Monday.

But Musique Toujours, who finished last in the $1-million race after contending for six furlongs, suffered a torn tendon in his left front leg and probably will be retired, trainer John Sadler said.

Lava Man, winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup, and Musique Toujours were vanned off the track after the race.

“He looks fantastic, O’Neill said of his horse. “He got rubber-legged near the wire, and [jockey Pat Valenzuela] jumped off of him after the wire just as a precaution.

“He didn’t need the van to get back to the barn.

“But we put him on just to be on the conservative side.”

Lava Man led until Borrego took over inside the 16th pole. Borrego won by half a length over Perfect Drift, who finished second by a neck over Lava Man.

Musique Toujours, a 5-year-old gelding who was claimed by Sadler for $40,000 in 2003, won the Sunshine Millions Classic at Gulfstream Park in Hallendale Beach, Fla., this year. He earned $695,540 in 2004-05.

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-- Bill Christine