Lava Man (outside) outgamed a tough A. P. Xcellent to record his historic score (Benoit Photo)

STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood's LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) looked defeated in the stretch of the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup S. (G1) on Saturday, but the resilient California-bred found just enough in the final two jumps to eke out a nose win, joining Native Diver (1965-67) as the only winners of three consecutive Gold Cups. Trained by Doug O'Neill, who was in Ireland on holiday, the gelded six-year-old tracked the pace of A. P. Xcellent (A.P. Indy) throughout the duration of the race but could never get by the stubborn leader, who led for virtually every jump of the 1 1/4 miles on the Cushion Track, until the final moments. Jockey Corey Nakatani went to work late on Lava Man and he responded with a champion-like surge at the wire, stopping the teletimer in 2:03 1/5.

Sent off as the 7-5 favorite, the winner paid $4.80, $3 and $2.10, while topping the $18.70 exacta ($1) and $185.90 trifecta ($1). The $1 superfecta totaled  $1,033.10 (8-2-9-4) and $317 (8-2-9-5), as there was a dead-heat in fourth. A. P. Xcellent ran valiantly in defeat at nearly 9-1, worth $7.40 and $4.80. Big Booster (Accelerator) closed from last with a huge late surge but fell three-parts of a length shy of second at 24-1, returning $8.40 to show. Porfido (Chi) (Mash One [Chi]) and 8-5 second choice Molengao (Brz) (Royal Academy) dead-heated for fourth and were followed by A. P. Arrow (A.P. Indy), Saint Stephen (Saint Ballado), Wilko (Awesome Again) and My Creed (Beau Genius).