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Lava Man joins exclusive company in Big 'Cap repeat In what appeared to be an instant replay of many of his recent stakes wins, STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood's LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) moved to the fore at the head of the stretch and pulled clear to a professional three-quarters of a length win in the $1 million Santa Anita H. (G1) on Saturday. In the process, the Doug O'Neill charge joined John Henry (1981-82) and Milwaukee Brew (2002-2003) as the only repeat winners of the Big 'Cap. Tracking on the outside under Corey Nakatani, the 124-pound highweight began to inch closer to dueling front runners Ball Four (Grand Slam) and Spring at Last (Silver Deputy) after six furlongs in 1:12 3/5, and steadily worked past that pair before getting clear in midstretch. In the latter stages, Molengao (Brz) (Royal Academy) began to find his best stride but never seriously threatened the winner. "He is just a tremendous animal," Nakatani enthused. "I think he will move forward off of this race because he did get a little tired at the end and the weight didn't do him any good. I felt the other horse (Molengao) coming, but Lava Man turned in a gutsy effort. This horse will just do whatever you need him to do." "It's unbelievable," O'Neill said of his charge's historic accomplishment. "We're going to celebrate this moment." Lava Man completed 1 1/4 miles in 2:02 and paid $3.20, $2.60 and $2.10 as the overwhelming 3-5 choice. Molengao did well to earn the place, 1 1/2 lengths clear of his nearest pursuer as the 7-1 second choice. The second placer paid $4.40 and $3.20 while completing the $6.70 exacta ($1). Boboman (Kingmambo) showed good energy belatedly to earn third by a nose at 9-1. Show was worth $4.20, and the $1 trifecta gave back $35.90. McCann's Mojave (Memo [Chi]) was a head clear in fourth at 9-1, sitting on the bottom of the $105.60 superfecta ($1) (7-6-3-9), and was trailed by Spring at Last, Ball Four, El Roblar (War Chant) and Awesome Gem (Awesome Again). Arson Squad (Brahms) was withdrawn after popping an abscess on the top of his hoof following a gallop Saturday morning. The six-year-old continues to add to his legacy as one of the finest California-bred runners in recent times, earning his seventh graded score in the Golden State since 2005. Lava Man has now amassed $4,679,706 from his 37-16-7-3 mark, which reflects 12 stakes wins. His 2006 campaign began with a victory in the $1 million Sunshine Millions Classic on the main track. In addition to making history by becoming the first horse to win the Santa Anita H. (G1), Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic (G1) in the same year, Lava Man proved equally successful on the turf in the Charles Whittingham Memorial H. (G1) and Khaled S. He captured the Goodwood Breeders' Cup H. (G2) to extend his winning streak to seven before his setback in the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1), when he wound up seventh at Churchill Downs, his only defeat from eight starts last year. The dark bay scored a smart win in the Sunshine Millions Turf in his 2007 debut. Bred by Lonnie Arterburn, Eve Kuhlmann and Kim Kuhlmann in California, Lava Man was produced by the winning Nostalgia's Star mare Li'l Ms. Leonard. He has a juvenile half-brother by High Brite named Li'l Brite Star.
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