Lava Man to start his season in the Sunshine Millions Turf

Lava Man, who began his memorable 2006 season with a victory in the Sunshine Millions Classic, will try a different Sunshine Millions race to begin the new year.

The 6-year-old gelding will run Saturday in the $500,000 Turf at Santa Anita, his first start since a disappointing effort in the Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

Owned by Steve, Dave and Tracy Kenly’s STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood, and trained by Doug O’Neill, Lava Man won two races on the grass last year, including the Charlie Whittingham Memorial, a Grade I stakes race run June 10 at Hollywood Park.

A winner of seven of eight in 2006, Lava Man would attempt to defend his title in the Sunshine Millions Classic if the race were being run at Santa Anita, but it will be run at Gulfstream Park this year.

Besides the Turf, the other races that will be staged locally are the $250,000 Oaks, the $300,000 Sprint (featuring defending champion Bordonaro) and the $500,000 Distaff.

The other races in Florida are the $250,000 Dash, the $300,000 Filly and Mare Sprint, and the $500,000 Filly and Mare Turf.

A total of 105 horses were entered in the races, which are restricted to horses bred in Florida or California, at the two tracks.

The day’s richest race, the $1-million Classic, attracted 14 entrants, but only 12 will be allowed to start. Sweetnorthernsaint, who is the one to beat, drew post 12, a terrible place to be when running 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park because the starting gate is so close to the first turn.

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One Off, an 11-1 shot who had legitimately won only one race since the beginning of 2005, surprised Notable Guest and six others to take the $150,000 San Marcos Stakes on Sunday at Santa Anita.

Successful in an optional claimer last month at Hollywood Park, the 7-year-old Barathea gelding was last for most of the way but rallied through the final quarter of a mile under jockey Brice Blanc to notch his first graded stakes win in the U.S.

Owned by Jane and Burt Bacharach and trained by Neil Drysdale, One Off ran the 1 1/4 miles on turf in 2:01.48 while winning by three-quarters of a length.

Notable Guest, the 9-2 third choice and one of three horses trainer Bobby Frankel had in the Grade II as he sought his sixth stakes win of the young meet, finished a neck in front of 5-2 second choice Obrigado, who is also trained by Drysdale.

Boboman, the 6-5 favorite who ended 2006 with three consecutive wins, including a victory in the Hollywood Turf Cup on Dec. 9, was part of the slow early pace but retreated and wound up last, keeping hall of fame trainer Richard Mandella winless through the first 20 days.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com