|
Lava Man retired
 | |
Lava Man, seen here making his final start, gave his all in every race
(Benoit Photo) |
Seven-time Grade 1 hero LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew), an earner of $5,268,706, has been retired.
Steve Kenly of STD Racing Stable, co-owner of the seven-year-old gelding with
Jason Wood, made the announcement Wednesday afternoon. The decision was made
following initial examinations at Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos,
California.
Kenly said he was told by the center's staff that X-rays taken of the horse's
front ankles were significantly different from those taken earlier this year.
That was a negative, Kenly said.
"When we heard about the results of the X-rays, the decision was easy," he
said, adding, "It was time to call it a day.
"We sent him up there to make sure he was OK and if not, we knew we'd retire
him."
Doug O'Neill claimed the horse for STD and Wood for $50,000 at Del Mar in
2004 and trained him through the rest of his career.
|
"It's been wonderful to be around such a great champion," O'Neill said.
"He'll be missed, but I'm going to put in my vote for him to be our stable
pony."
Lava Man ran his last race Sunday in the Eddie Read H. (G1), finishing sixth
and last by just 3 1/2 lengths. He had his best year in 2006, becoming the first
horse to win the Santa Anita H. (G1), Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and Pacific
Classic (G1) in the same year. In addition, he won three consecutive Gold Cups
(2005-07), to join the great Native Diver in that effort. He won two consecutive
Big 'Caps in 2006-07, and also captured the 2006 Charles Whittingham Memorial H.
(G1) on turf.
The massive dark bay retires with 13 total stakes victories and a
46-17-8-5 career mark.
Send this article to a friend
| 
