Lava Man comes up short in main event

The 18th California Cup, Santa Anita’s annual extravaganza restricted to horses bred in the state, belonged to the late Eddie Nahem and jockeys either named Baze or related to the family.

Those who thought Lava Man would be the star of the day Saturday again left disappointed. Lava Man, a three-time winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup and numerous other graded stakes since being claimed for $50,000 in 2003, was sixth for a third consecutive race. He wasted a perfect trip as the 8-5 favorite in the main event, the $250,000 Classic.

Clearly, the 6-year-old Lava Man, who has earned over $5.2 million, has seen better days. Fortunately, a vacation is coming, according to trainer Doug O’Neill.

“He’ll get away from the track,” O’Neill said. “I’m not sure yet which farm he will go to. We’ll do all the proper diagnostics to make sure while he is off, we’re doing what we should.”

Bold Chieftain, a 4-year-old Chief Seattle colt and 5-1 third choice, prevailed in the Classic, giving Russell Baze, the world’s winningest jockey, his second victory of the day. He had taken the $125,000 Juvenile earlier with 6-1 shot Sierra Sunset.

Owned and bred in partnership by trainer Bill Morey Jr., Bold Chieftain won by a half-length over 2-1 second choice Celtic Dreamin, running the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.23.

Competing in the Classic turned out to be the right choice for Bold Chieftain. Morey’s preference was the $150,000 Mile on turf, but was outvoted by his partners.

“He’s a good horse and a consistent one,” Morey said. “We’ve been trying to teach him to relax and it seems to have worked.”

Immediately before Baze’s Juvenile win, Kyle Kaenel, his new son-in-law, had a stunning performance aboard 54-1 shot Gentle Charmer in the $150,000 Distaff Handicap. Kaenel, the son of former rider Jack Kaenel, recently married Baze’s daughter Trinity.

These victories came after cousins Michael and Tyler Baze, who are second cousins to Russell Baze, had combined for three wins. The former won the $50,000 Starter Sprint Handicap with 7-2 shot Switzerland and the $150,000 Matron with Romance Is Diane ($12.60); the latter took the $125,000 Juvenile Fillies with favored Runforthemoneybaby.

Nahem, who died of liver failure Wednesday night at his Beverly Hills home, would have relished the proceedings.

Bertrando, a champion on the track and a prolific sire he owned, had three of his sons and daughters win consecutively, including Nahem-owned Bilo. The other two Bertrando offspring to succeed were Sierra Sunset and Gentle Charmer.

In his first appearance since a 10-1 upset in the Triple Bend Handicap on July 7 at Hollywood Park, Bilo, the 5-2 second choice, immediately took the lead, then gamely withstood Bonfante late to win the $150,000 Sprint by a half-length under jockey Joe Talamo.

“He rode the horse just like Eddie would have told him to ride,” said trainer Marty Jones. --

Owned by Senji Nishimura and trained by Mike Mitchell, Romance Is Diane, whose final time for the 1 1/16 miles of 1:40.30 was the fastest of the meet, is now a double Cal Cup winner. The daughter of In Excess won the Juvenile Fillies in 2006.

--

The other California Cup winners were 12-1 shot Unusual Suspect, who captured the $175,000 Mile under Talamo, favored Imagine, who teamed with Corey Nakatani in the $100,000 Distance Handicap, and 11-1 outsider Lil Mitch, who won the $50,000 Starter Handicap under Richard Migliore.

--

Thanks to a string of double-digit winners, there is a pick six carry-over of $590,499 for today and there is a mandatory payout because it is the final day of the Oak Tree meet.

--

Trainer Paul Jones won five races on his 42nd birthday Friday at Los Alamitos, including the evening’s top prize.

Eye For Corona, a 19-1 shot Jones trains for Glenn Collins’ Keilani Farms, won the $1,202,700 Golden State Million Futurity, defeating Fighter On Fire by a nose under jockey Ramon Sanchez.

Corona Cartel, the favorite who won the Kindergarten and Ed Burke futurities this year, finished fifth, but was disqualified and placed last for causing interference early in the race.

--

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com