After Market cools off Lava Man

After Market accomplished something on Saturday no other horse in California had done since the 2005 Pacific Classic.

Specifically, win a race in which Lava Man was a participant.

Making only his second appearance in a Grade I, After Market, the 2-1 second choice, ran past 9-10 favorite Lava Man nearing the finish to win the $300,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap at Hollywood Park.

The victory by the 4-year-old Storm Cat colt, who is owned by breeders Pam and Marty Wygod and trained by John Shirreffs, ended a nine-race win streak in the state for Lava Man. The gelding’s last defeat came at Del Mar when he finished third behind Borrego and Perfect Drift nearly 22 months ago.

In a race where Lang Field and longshot Valiant Effort, who is owned by the Wygods and was entered to guarantee a quick pace, dueled each other into submission, Lava Man and After Market were in perfect position down the backside.

Positioned in front of the eventual winner, Lava Man made his usual move around the turn to take the lead but couldn’t match strides with After Market, who was ridden by Alex Solis, through a rapid final quarter of a mile. En route to a final time of 1:58.77, the final two furlongs were run in less than 24 seconds.

“It was a great race,” Marty Wygod said. “To win this race which honors Charlie is a great thing. This horse ran an unbelievable race. He’s really coming into his form and it is tremendous.”

Although Lava Man, who was making his first start since finishing last in the $5 million Dubai Duty Free on March 31 in the United Arab Emirates, was defeated, trainer Doug O’Neill was far from discouraged with the effort.

“Every time we send him out of town, he runs poorly,” O’Neill said. “That’s always a worry. We’re like, ‘Gosh, did we just screw him up and take the fight out of him?’ When he runs a race like he did today, you realize he is back. We feel very good about that.”

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If there were any doubts about Valbenny’s ability to handle extra distance, they were dispelled when she won the $154,750 Honeymoon Breeders’ Cup Handicap at Hollywood Park.

A winner three times at a mile in four U.S. starts, the 3-year-old Val Royal filly stretched successfully to 1 1/8 miles in the Grade II Honeymoon, closing strongly to win going away under Solis.

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Somethinaboutlaura, the 3-1 second choice, won for the 14th time in 26 starts, beating favored Dancing Edie to take the $95,575 Redondo Beach at Hollywood Park.

The victory was the fourth in six races on turf for the 5-year-old Dance Floor mare, who is trained by Jerry Hollendorfer and was ridden by Victor Espinoza.

In winning by a head, Somethinaboutlaura ran the mile in 1:34.66.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com