O’Neill sending out his best

Another victory by Lava Man today in the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap isn’t the only item on trainer Doug O’Neill and jockey Corey Nakatani’s wish lists.

Before they try to make some history with Lava Man, the 4-5 morning line favorite in the 70th running of Santa Anita’s most famous race, O’Neill and Nakatani hope to see Great Hunter successfully start his 3-year-old season in the $200,000 Robert B. Lewis Stakes.

Lava Man will be trying for his ninth consecutive win in California and seeking to join John Henry and Milwaukee Brew as a two-time winner of the Big ‘Cap. Great Hunter, a son of Aptitude, will be looking for his second graded stakes victory.

One of three Kentucky Derby prospects -- along with Notional and Liquidity -- trained by O’Neill for owner Paul Reddam, Great Hunter has been idle since finishing third behind runaway winner Street Sense in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile last Nov. 4 at Churchill Downs.

The layoff of four months was by design, according to O’Neill. Great Hunter was active in 2006, starting seven times in a span of six months.

“He’s already proven himself,” O’Neill said of the Pennsylvania-bred. “He had a good campaign as a 2-year-old and the goal with him is the first Saturday in May [the Kentucky Derby]. We needed to give him a breather. So far, everything is kind of coming together well and, hopefully, we’ll see a good effort from him.”

The Lewis, formerly called the Santa Catalina, is a Grade II at 1 1/16 miles. It will be the first start at Santa Anita for Great Hunter, but he has run well at every venue he has visited. Never worse than third, the dark bay has run at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas; Hollywood Park, Del Mar, Keeneland and Churchill Downs.

“He’s a beautiful looking individual and very strong,” O’Neill said. “In the last few weeks, we’ve really seen his body tighten down and he’s got more of a fit, pre-Breeders’ Cup look to him. He’s doing great. He came out of his last work [half a mile in 49 4/5 Monday at Hollywood Park] well and he’s ready to roll.”

Seven others are scheduled to run in the Lewis, the second of three graded stakes on the card. The $300,000 Frank Kilroe Mile, a Grade I on turf, will precede the Lewis, then the Santa Anita Handicap is two races later.

Besides Great Hunter, O’Neill also has longshot Tap It Light in the Lewis. Tiago, Giacomo’s half-brother, Scat Thief, Hurry Up Austin, French Transition, Saint Paul, Sam P. and Boutros are also scheduled to run.

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Hours before Great Hunter makes his 2007 debut, Nobiz Like Shobiz, the top 3-year-old in the country in the minds of many, will be favored to win for the fourth time in five starts in the $350,000 Fountain of Youth at Gulfstream Park in South Florida.

Owned by breeder Elizabeth Valando and trained by Barclay Tagg, Nobiz Like Shobiz, who began his year with a win in the Holy Bull on Feb. 3, will race eight in the Grade II at 1 1/8 miles.

“He’s been doing fine,” said Tagg, who won the 2002 Kentucky Derby and Preakness with Funny Cide. “He’s been eating well and looking good and he came out of his last race very well.... If you were going to design a horse for the Derby, this horse is perfect both mentally and physically to go in something like this.”

Among those running against Nobiz Like Shobiz are California shipper Stormello, who won the Norfolk and Hollywood Futurity for co-owner and trainer Bill Currin in 2006, and Adore The Gold, a game winner of the 6 1/2 -furlong Swale in his first start as a 3-year-old Feb. 3.

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In the Kilroe, Milk It Mick will try to become only the second horse to win the race twice. Ga Hai turned the trick for trainer Gene Cleveland in 1975 and ‘76, when it was called the Arcadia Handicap. Owned by Paul Dixon and trained by Jim Cassidy, Milk It Mick, who won the Kilroe by a head at 12-1 last year, will be making his first start since finishing sixth in the Shoemaker Breeders’ Cup Mile last May 29 at Hollywood Park.

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There will be a guaranteed $1-million pool in the pick six today at Santa Anita and a winner’s circle ceremony honoring the 25th anniversary of John Henry’s second win in the Santa Anita Handicap. Trainer Ron McAnally, Laffit Pincay Jr., who rode John Henry to some of his important wins, and Lewis Cenicola, who was the gelding’s regular exercise rider, will be on hand.

A 32nd birthday party is planned for John Henry at the Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington on Friday. The Ole Bob Bowers gelding has lived there since his retirement in 1984.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com