Lava Man’s Gold Cup win will be one for the ages

Lava Man’s Gold Cup victory June 30 was not a thing of beauty the way his first win in the race in 2005 was, but the California-bred gelding’s history-making victory in Hollywood Park’s main event was the highlight of the spring-summer meet that will conclude Sunday.

In winning the Gold Cup for a third consecutive year, equaling Native Diver’s accomplishment from 1965 to ‘67, Lava Man did not run fast and did not defeat a top-quality field.

Still, it was the most exciting race of the meet and one all of those who saw it either in person or on television won’t soon forget.

Even though some in track management seem to believe the American Oaks has supplanted the Gold Cup as Hollywood Park’s most important race, facts would suggest otherwise.

Despite a marketing effort that seemingly paled in comparison to the Oaks and CashCall Mile, which was run the night before the Oaks, the Gold Cup attracted more fans on track -- even though one television advertisement for the race had post time being at 1:20 p.m. instead of the correct time of noon -- and the total handle on the Gold Cup program was some $3 million more than for the American Oaks program last Saturday. Both cards had 11 races.

And, contrary to any public-address announcement heard at the track, the Oaks did not feature the top 3-year-old fillies in the world. How could that claim be made when the 1 1/4 -mile turf race did not include Kentucky Oaks and Belmont Stakes winner Rags To Riches?

The Gold Cup is still the most significant race run in Inglewood. Thirty years from now, fans will remember what Lava Man accomplished in the 2007 Gold Cup. Thirty days from now, those same fans may be hard-pressed to remember who won the latest American Oaks.

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A rundown on the other bests of the meet:

* Older filly/mare and horse of the meet -- Nashoba’s Key. The unbeaten California-bred filly won three stakes, capturing the Fran’s Valentine on turf and the Vanity and Milady on the Cushion Track. There might even be better days ahead for the daughter of Silver Hawk, who is trained by Carla Gaines for owner-breeder Warren Williamson.

* Handicap horse -- Lava Man. He won the Gold Cup again, getting up in the final strides to defeat pacesetter A.P. Xcellent. The race might have been even more compelling had it included Californian winner Buzzards Bay.

* 3-year-old male -- The honor should go to whichever horse prevails in the $350,000 Swaps this afternoon.

* 3-year-old filly -- Panty Raid. She made a successful turf debut for trainer Todd Pletcher in the American Oaks.

* 2-year-old -- Salute The Sarge. He began his career for trainer Eric Guillot by following his maiden victory with a win in the Hollywood Juvenile Championship, but the feeling is we’ll see many more talented 2-year-olds during the Del Mar season.

* 2-year-old filly -- The Golden Noodle. Picked the right spot to break her maiden, rallying from far back to win the Landaluce, giving trainer Jack Van Berg his most significant win in Inglewood in well over a decade.

* Grass horse -- After Market. Handed Lava Man his first loss in California in nearly two years in the Charles Whittingham Memorial on June 9, some six weeks after overcoming a wide trip to win the Inglewood. He is a legitimate threat in the Arlington Million on Aug. 11.

* Sprinter -- Bilo. Returned in style for trainer Marty Jones, winning two of three at the meet, including an upset of a good field in the Triple Bend Handicap last weekend.

* Claiming horse -- Deputy Lad. The 8-year-old loved the Cushion Track, winning four in a row for trainer Mike Mitchell while moving up the class ladder.

* Trainer -- Ron Ellis. He won’t finish with as many wins as leader Doug O’Neill but won at a much higher percentage with a wide array of horses. The highlights included the Californian win by Buzzards Bay and a long-awaited victory by 2004 2-year-old champion Declan’s Moon, ending a seven-race losing streak for the gelding. Jones, Jeff Mullins, Mike Mitchell, John Sadler and Vladimir Cerin all had solid meets as well.

* Jockey -- Michael Baze. The youngster, who turned 20 in April, has all but clinched his first riding title, defeating Joe Talamo, 17. Those two rising stars enter Del Mar with momentum.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com