Pedigree Look: Lava Man

Name: Lava Man

Year Born: 2001

Color: Dark Bay

Sex: Gelding

Sire: Slew City Slew

Dam: Li'l Ms. Leonard

Broodmare Sire: Nostalgia's Star

Profile: Last February, Doug O'Neill introduced to the world I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) when he upset the field in the Robert B. Lewis. It was just the start of what would be a very high profile Triple Crown run for the eventual 3yo Champion Male. However, there would be one horse in the O'Neill barn that would help ease the pressure and spotlight off of I'll Have Another. This horse was the one who first put O'Neill in the spotlight in 2005 and 2006. In matter of fact, he is called "The Coach" in his new role as a stable pony for the barn. So who is this horse? Why it's none other then the richest claimer of all time Lava Man (Slew City Slew)!

Lava began his career in Northern California where it took five times for him to break his maiden. He would then spend the next few months in primarily Allowance and Claiming company (he would venture into stakes company in the 2004 Snow Chief where he finished last). On August 13, 2004 at Del Mar he would finish second in a Claiming race where he was entered for a tag of $50,000. O'Neill claimed him in that race and that was when he took off, well not right away that is. After a win in the Derby Trial at Fairplex, he would finish no worse then third in his next three starts. That includes a runner up finish in the 2004 Malibu Stakes behind Rock Hard Ten (Kris S.) who was right behind Smarty Jones (Elusive Quality) in that year's Preakness. His four year old season was when he really blossomed. However, the year didn't start off as planned with loses in several stakes including the Sunshine Millions Classic. He broke thorough graded stakes company with a suprise win in the Californian where he defeated Borrego, Molengao, Ace Blue and others. He followed that up with his first G1 win in the Hollywood Gold Cup, once again beating Borrego and adding Congrats and Limehouse to the list. The Pacific Classic though would turn out to be a diester. He would finish third, but was vanned off (Borrego won the race with Perfect Drift finishing in the runner up spot). He would make two more starts that year, but finished off the board both times.

The 2006 season was his best ever. He won both the Santa Anita Handicap and defended his Hollywood Gold Cup title by a nose. He went into the Breeders' Cup Classic with a big chance at Horse of the Year honors. The race was billed as the showdown between him and Triple G1 winner Bernardini. Instead though it was Invasor who won the race and the title of Horse of the Year. 2007 would bring wins in the Sunshine Millions Turf and another win in the Big Cap. He would also tie Native Diver for three Hollywood Gold Cup's in a row. 

Here is he winning the HGC in 2007: http://youtu.be/ze6uRBSzqMs

That would be the final win of his career. He would run several more times, but wasn't the same horse. Lava Man retired and was unreturned, before being perminantly retired after a last place finish on the grass. Lava Man has become one of the most famous race horses turned stable ponies. Although, he could get a run for his money as fellow HGC winner Awesome Gem is currently training to be a pony for his trainer Craig Dollace.

Sire

Slew City Slew (Seattle Slew) is a multiple G1 winner and in 1988 set a track record at Laurel for a mile and a eighth. As a sire, he is not only the sire of Lava, but G1 winner Sis City.

Seattle Slew (Bold Reasoning) is the 1978 Triple Crown winner. He is also the sire to A.P. Indy and Swale. His dam My Charmer (Poker) is a stakes winner. Other then Slew, she is the dam to G1 winner in England and Ireland Lomond (Northern Dancer) and G1 placed in France Seattle Dancer (Nijinsky II). She is a full sister to stakes placed Keeper's Charm (Poker) and Sweeties Charm (Poker).

Weber City Miss (Berkley Prince) is a G1 winner. Other then City, she is the dam to G1 placed Dream Touch (Riverman) and G2 placed City Dance (Seattle Slew) (the latter is the dam to stakes winner in Japan Toyo Seattle (Deputy Minister) and G3 winner in France Black Rock Desert (Danzig)). 

Dam

Li'l Ms. Leonard (Nostalgia's Star) won eight races in her eighteen start career. Other then Lava, she is the dam to G2 winner Enriched (High Brite). 

Nostalgia's Star (Nostalgia) is a G1 winner. As a sire, his best foal is stakes winner Nipsy's Star. His dam Aunt Carol (Big Spruce) is a 1/2 sister to G3 winner Clocks Secret (Apalachee) (she is the second dam of Danish stakes placed Woven Roving (GB) (Mystiko).

Her dam, Pink Native (Be a Native) was unraced. Li'l was her best foal. This is the same female family as stakes winner C.Q. Cady (British Roman). 

Lets Hear it for the Ponies... Stable/Lead Ponies that is

It's a thankless job, but someone has to do it. The Stable/Lead pony has to be one of most toughest jobs in horse racing. They lead racehorses to either their morning workouts and/or to the gate in the afternoon races. In 2010, Steve Haskin did a great post on the ponies of Cigar (Snowball), Smarty Jones (Butterscotch), Monarchos (Mouse), and Unbridled (Mustard). All of them important members of their most famous charges teams.

Here are a few more that he didn't have in his post:

* The late Kona Gold also served as a pony for his trainer Bruce Headly before being retired to KY Horse Park.

* Funny Cide served as a pony for his trainer Barclay Tagg, before a back injury that he suffered in his 5yo season (which I may say is the only season he did not win a race) caught up to him. He now lives at KY Horse Park.

* While Curlin had Poncho as his pony, Rachel Alexandra would not be outdone. When she moved to Steve Asmussen's barn she was teamed up with Dakota. Together, he led her to several great wins including her thrilling Woodward.

* Kelly's Landing is a pony for his trainer Eddie Kenneally

* The late John's Call was a pony for his trainer Tom Voss. Shortly after his death in 2010, Voss won the stakes named in John's name with one of his trainees/John's pupil, Always First.

* Lava Man of course is currently the pony for his trainer Doug O'Neill. He and I'll Have Another will be in the center of attention on June 9th when the latter goes for the Triple Crown.

The Star Pupil does good

Lava Man, the winner of over 5 million dollars, tied with the great Hall of Famer and fellow Cal bred Native Diver with three straight Hollywood Gold Cups. The richest claimer of all time, and 3rd richest Cal bred (behind Tiznow and Best Pal). Now in retirement, Lava serves as a stablepony for his trainer Doug O'Neill. In the mornings he takes the O'Neill trainees to the track for their workouts and back home. Today, his star pupil I'll Have Another (Flower Alley) shined on racing greatest stage.

Ridden by Mario Gutierez who was riding in his first Derby, I'll Have Another ran down Bodemeister who had a 5 length lead in the stretch. Dullahan who had wide trip was third. It was the first win for O'Neill, Gutierez who expected after the SA Winter Meet to head home to Vancouver where he was riding at Hastings, owner Paul Reddam.

The downside of I'll Have Another's human connections is that O'Neill and Reddam don't have great reputations. However, as much as I don't care for them, I'm happy for Lava Man. I know, I know I'm nuts for saying that. However, he has a Twitter account (which is at @IamLavaMan) and is a riot. So, kudos to them for running such a fun Twitter account for a very popular former racehorse/stablepony.

A few things:

*Bodemeister: Bode Baffert should be very proud of the horse named after him. He ran an awesome race, and he has nothing to be ashamed of. His dad Bob was crying because he was sad for him, for a horse that had many things against him (other speed, never running at 2) the son of Empire Maker ran his eyeballs out. I liked how Ahmed Zayat gave Mike Smith confidence in keeping the mount. And for those who said that Smith choked again like he did on Zenyatta, no he didn't. Bode was hounded all the way around by Trinniberg and was able to stay up. He could be this year's Hard Spun, a horse who is plain out game everytime he runs.

*Gemologist: The Wood curse continues. Way in the back and is no longer undefeated.

*Rousing Sermon: this was a shot in the dark, and it somewhat payed off. Okay he didn't finish in the top five, but he finished ahead of Hansen, El Padrino, Gemologist, Alpha and Daddy Nose Best, all of them among the contenders who where considered among the top picks. I'm okay with that.

*Hansen: Dear Mike Maker, Please tell Kendall to shush! Dr. Hansen is the new Mike Repole.

*Santa Anita: The 23 year drought is over. That's how long it's been between Sunday Silence and I'll Have Another that a SA Derby winner won the KY Derby.

So that's it, the Derby is now over. We know move onto Baltimore and the Preakness. Will Bodemeister go? Will how many new shooters will we see? Will Rosie Napravnik get a mount? Will Lava Man join the champ? We'll find out two weeks from today.

I will have Pedigree looks on Believe You Can and I'll Have Another's parents all this upcoming week.

Former Claiming Horses Doing Good

In September of last year, you could have claimed a then Listed Stakes winning Peace Rules filly by the name of Izzy Rules for $40,000 and then again in November for the same amount (it should be noted that both of these races where Allowance/Optional Claimer, but she was in for a tag both times). December the price went down to $20,000 (this was a straight Claimer race). Then again, who knew that she would turn out to be possibly one of the fastest mares in the sprint division this year. With her win in Sunday's Las Flores, Izzy Rules joined a select, but talented group of horses who have come from claiming races to graded stakes victories. The claimers make up most of the races in the US, so that is even more impressive. Lets take a look at some famous horses who have stamped their names into history (Note: Most of these horses where put into claiming races more then likely because it was the only race available and to begin their careers. Still, they where in the race, so I will feature them). :

Blind Luck (Pollard's Vision): Yes the great rival of Havre de Grace started her career in a claiming race. She made her debut for $40,000 at Calder and just smashed the field by winning 13 1/4 lengths. She was then privately sold to her connections that raced her the rest of her career. Of course she went onto win the Kentucky Oaks and Alabama on her way to 3yo Filly honors.

She Be Wild (Offlee Wild): Her debut at Arlington was for $40,000 as well. All she did was turn that into an almost undefeated 2yo season that ended with a win in the BC Juvenile Fillies. That lead to an eventual 2yo Filly Championship. Unfortunately she had two poor starts as a 3yo, and was subsequently (and quietly) retired after failing to recover from an injury.

Charismatic (Summer Squall): Who knew that a former $62,000 claimer (once at Hollywood, the other time at Santa Anita) would turn out to be a Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner, and finish third in the Belmont? Obviously he wouldn't be with us today though if it wheren't the efforts of his jockey, the late Chris Antley after his injury in the Belmont. Charismatic would be named the Horse of the Year long with picking up 3yo Champion Colt/Gelding honors in 1999.

Rapid Redux (Pleasently Perfect): The lone non-stakes winner in this group, he had been running in claiming races since 2009 as a 3yo. Since late 2010, all he has done is win. 22 races straight breaking a North American record (19 straight wins) that was shared by New Mexico superstar Pepper's Pride and the legendary Zenyatta.

John Henry (Ole Bob Bowers): Much like Izzy Rules, John Henry was already a stakes winner by the time he made his claiming debut. While Affirmed and Alydar where taking all the spotlight, he was struggling in claiming races down at the Fair Grounds and then Belmont. Once those two retired, John Henry was able to shine. Not only did he win 2 Arlington Millions (finishing second in between the two wins), he was named Horse of the Year twice (the second time being the oldest horse to win the title). The hotheaded gelding is often mentioned in the same breath with 2 other greats Kelso and Forego.

Willieconker (IRE) (Pyrus): He began his career in Europe doing okay there, but prob. not a stakes quality horse. He was claimed this past August at Del Mar for $40,000 (in the same race stakes winner Kelly Leak was claimed for the same price, sadly he continues to struggle in claiming company). He was second in the Arcadia earlier this year, and just last week he was able to turn the tables on the winner of that race, Mr Commons, to win the Kilroe.

Stymie (Equestrain): $1,500 was all it took to claim him in his 3rd start. When he retired in 1949, he was at that time America's leading earner with a little under a million dollars. A 2 time winner of the Met Mile, he also won the Whitney.

Subsidy (Mr. Prospector): He is the most royally bred horse on this list. By one of the greatest sires around out of a sister to the great Inside Information. However, in the US he won $51,530 while running his claiming races at Delaware Park and Philadelphia Park (now Parx). He made his name in South Korea by winning their most prestigious race the Grand Prix winning over $1,000,000 Kwon ($889.798 US according to Google). To read more about him you can click here.

Chamberlain Bridge (War Chant): He started his career in maiden claimers and has won almost every single time that he's been entered for a tag. Those times have also resulted in him being claimed twice in his career. Still he is one of the best turf sprinters in the US, winning the BC Turf Sprint. A bit of a rough patch as of recently, but he looks to be on the upswing again with a win in December and recently a runner up finish. Both races at the Fair Grounds.

Calibrachoa (Southern Image): Plucked from a Aqueduct claiming race for $40,000, he was put straight into stakes company by his new connections. It payed off as he finished in the top three with the exception of a 5th place finish in the Vosburgh last year. Last weekend he defeated BC Dirt Mile winner Caleb's Posse in his defence of the Tom Fool.

Megahertz (GB) (Pivotal (GB)): The little ball of dynamite began her career in struggling claiming company in France. The lightbulb went on when she arrived in the States. I did a post on her for Thorough Chat that you can find here.

Lava Man (Slew City Slew): One of the greatest Cal breds of all time, the richest claimer of all time, one of only 2 horses to win the Hollywood Gold Cup 3 times in a row and you could have had him for a little as $20,000. When he was claimed for $50,000 out of Del Mar, it was the last time he saw the claiming ranks (although he was entered for a tag in an Allowance/Opt. Claimer for $100,000 when he was struggling a little bit). After that, he started a journey that led him to not only the three HGC wins, but wins in the Big Cap and the Pacific Classic as well. He is the first horse to win a G1 on three different surfaces (turf, dirt and synthetic) and he is one of the richest Cal breds (I think only Tiznow has more then he does). While he ran poorly outside of California, as well as being retired, unretired (with controversy), and retired again, he still hold a place in peoples hearts.

I want to thank a few people for helping me get some of these names into the list. You can follow them all on Twitter by their Twitter Handles:

@sidfernando
@JoshD3173
@korearacing

Lava Man: Returning to concerns

The past few days have been quite sad with the deaths of El Prado, and yesterday 1990 Preakness winner (and half brother to A.P. Indy) Summer Squall. However, some news came out yesterday that a certin beloved gelding is coming out of retirement. Lava Man is back in training, and well I have some concerns about this.

1. He's now eight, which means he's going to go against horses that are at the oldest 3, that's five years younger then him. That is, if he makes a start.

2. He has some ankle problems, he did have some stem cell injections. Still it's asking alot after a year layoff... at age eight.

3. He was supposed to go to Old Friends in Kentucky, however the stem cell injections and surgery delayed it. Now I'm sure he won't be welcome as much as Old Friends wants him.

His owners should be ashamed for themselves, and in a way so should Doug O'Neill for agreeing to take him back. However, I will give Doug some credit as he will be donating his earnings (if he runs) to a California foundation. We'll have to see how well he does if he does make it to a race. I just hope he can stay safe and sound if he does make a start.

Here is a vid showing his heart in happier times his third Hollywood Gold Cup win over a game A.P. Excellent.