HORSE RACING: SUN-SHINY DAY FOR CALIFORNIA LAVA MAN STARS IN SUNSHINE MILLIONS.Byline: KEVIN MODESTI Staff Writer ARCADIA -- Lava Man Lava Man (foaled on March 20, 2001) is a dark bay gelded thoroughbred race horse by Slew City Slew (Seattle Slew) out of L'il Ms. Leonard (Nostalgia's Star) who rose from the lowest levels of claiming races to become regarded by many racing fans and members of the racing media as a scored big points for the stronger-than-expected California cause at Saturday's Sunshine Millions, which pitted Cal-bred horses against Florida-breds in a multi-race event split between Santa Anita Santa Anita may refer to:
The Golden State's star thoroughbred got credit for a big assist, too. When Lava Man stayed at Santa Anita to open his season by winning a $500,000 race on home turf as the odds-on favorite, he opened the door for McCann's Mojave to go to Gulfstream and win the afternoon's $1 million main event at 33-1. Lava Man and jockey Corey Nakatani won the Sunshine Millions Turf The Sunshine Millions Turf is a race for thoroughbred horses held in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California or at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Half the eight races of the Sunshine Millions are run at one track and half at the other. by two lengths over Icy Atlantic, standing out on a day of long shots. McCann's Mojave and Frank Alvarado won the Sunshine Millions Classic The Sunshine Millions Classic is a race for thoroughbred horses held in January at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California or at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale Beach, Florida. Half the eight races of the Sunshine Millions are run at one track and half at the other. by three-quarters over Summer Book as favored Sweetnorthernsaint faded to fifth. It was hard to tell which victory was more popular at Santa Anita, where McCann's Mojave owner Mike Willman is publicity director. ``I was really happy Lava Man didn't go out of town,'' said Willman, who remembers his horse's loss to Lava Man in the 2006 Sunshine Millions Classic. ``When those guys (Lava Man's owners) zig, I'm going to zag.'' Lava Man and McCann's Mojave were among fourCal-bred winners -- and five Cal-based winners -- in the eight-race event with purses totaling $3.6 million. But because the fifth-annual ostensibly os·ten·si·ble adj. Represented or appearing as such; ostensive: His ostensible purpose was charity, but his real goal was popularity. state-vs.-state competition is scored on a 5-3-1 basis, the deeper squad of Florida-breds won by a closer-than-usual score of 37-35. McCann's Mojave ($69.80) was the longest of the day's long-priced winners. In front of 36,355 fans at damp Santa Anita, Smokey Stover ($16) had the day's most impressive victory, running a race-record 1:08.03 in the Sprint as Bordonaro finished third, Joint Effort ($14.60) added the Distaff to her 2006 Oaks victory and Cal-bred Mistrial A courtroom trial that has been terminated prior to its normal conclusion. A mistrial has no legal effect and is considered an invalid or nugatory trial. It differs from a "new trial," which recognizes that a trial was completed but was set aside so that the issues could be Plan ($6.20) won the Oaks to start a double for Lava Man trainer Doug O'Neill. Smokey Stover, a Florida-bred California-based 4-year-old who has been winning lesser races in the Bay Area, runs for the Harry Aleo-Greg Gilchrist owner-trainer team that produced Lost in the Fog Lost in the Fog (February 4, 2002 - September 17, 2006) was an American thoroughbred race horse. Bred by Susan Seper and born in Florida, the Fog's sire was Lost Soldier (sire so far of 10 stakes winners), a son of Danzig (himself the son of Northern Dancer ranked at #43 by The . At sunnier Gulfstream, near Miami, Cal-bred Shaggy Mane ($19.40) romped in a fast Filly & Mare Sprint, Storm in May ($55) won the Dash, and Miss Shop ($13.40) took the Filly & Mare Turf. Willman was in tears in his press-box office after watching McCann's Mojave open a two-length lead on Sweetnorthernsaint in mid-stretch and hang on for his first stakes-level victory since the 2005 Cal Cup Classic. Willman said the $550,000 winner's purse will make a huge difference as he raises two sons after a difficult divorce. The publicist and weekend radio host -- who has been familiar to racing fans as an intertrack TV host at Del Mar, Fairplex Park and Hollywood Park -- rejected a suggestion that McCann's Mojave challenge Lava Man when the latter seeks a Santa Anita Handicap The Santa Anita Handicap is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually in the late winter at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is a Grade I race for horses three years old and up, and is considered the most important race for older horses in North America during repeat on March 3. ``I've had enough of (running against) Lava Man,'' Willman said. ``I have the ultimate respect for Lava Man.'' Lava Man put his Breeders' Cup failure in the past and turned back into a standout Saturday, this time standing out as the only star to perform as expected in the Sunshine Millions. ``We just turned the page and started a new streak today,'' Nakatani said of Lava Man, who finished seventh behind Horse of the Year Invasor in the Breeders' Cup Classic The Breeders' Cup Classic is a Grade 1 Weight for Age thoroughbred horse race for 3 years old and older run at a distance of 1¼ miles (2012 m) on dirt. It is held annually at a different racetrack in the United States or Canada as part of the Breeders' Cup. at Churchill Downs in November but has won eight races in a row in California. ``Hopefully he'll win a championship this year.'' Nakatani said he was disappointed that Lava Man -- the first horse to sweep the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup The Hollywood Gold Cup is a Grade I stakes race for thoroughbred horses inaugurated in 1938 at Hollywood Park Racetrack in Inglewood, California. It was run as a handicap race until 1997 when it was switched to weight-for-age conditions. and Pacific Classic, and also a Grade I winner on both dirt and turf in 2006 -- didn't come close to the Horse of the Year title. Lava Man received three first-place votes to Invasor's 228, Barbaro's 21and Bernardini's 16. Lava Man's owners, Steve Kenly and his father, David, said they understood. Lava Man hasn't won out of town and lost at the Breeders' Cup. The Kenlys said they'll look to the $1 million Santa Anita Handicap for their 6-year-old, while hoping to try the $6 million Dubai World Cup The Dubai World Cup is a Thoroughbred horse race held annually since 1996 at the Nad Al Sheba Racecourse in the city of Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The race is operated through the Emirates Horse Racing Authority (EHRA) whose Chairman is Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, on March 31 as well. Sitting beside them, Willman said he'll look for a different next race for McCann's Mojave. heymodesti(AT_SIGN)aol.com (818) 713-3616 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Lava Man, with Corey Nakatani aboard, won the $500,000 Sunshine Millions Classic on Saturday at Santa Anita. Edna T. Simpson/Associated Press |
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