Lava Man---California Is His Home
 

Don't bet him outside of Cali however unless you want to lose money

I couldn't agree more.

It's really unbelievable. I still can decide how good he is, or isn't. How can a horse be so dominant in grade 1's in one state, and do squat when he leaves SoCal?

I said this on another thread...and I stand by it.

In the end I think you have to say this guy is good. Not being able to win outside of SoCal is obviously a BIG limitation, but he wins at all three of the SoCal tracks, on dirt and turf, against anyone who shows up there.
It is pretty impressive.
But I agree, it is weird to determine how good he is given his strange Home/Away record.

Oh, I agree with you. He is tough and consistent. I actually am more impressed with his turf races which have been smashing. Not many horses can win Grade 1s on the turf and the dirt. As Andy would say, he's a "real good" horse. (IN CA)

Horseplayers are pretty negative bastards aren't they?

A horse who shows up for all the battles wins the goddamned Santa Anita Handicap twice in a row and the first thing said is "don't bet him (insert location) unless you want to lose money..."

****ing ****, man..

I just can't think of another horse ever who could win at a variety of different tracks, on a variety of different surfaces, but was severely limited geographically. It is really odd.

The Man
 

Lavaaaaaaaaaamannnnnnnnnn!

Apparently you didn't read the post above yours. No matter. Curse away.

I don't see it as negative....just factual. He deserves all the credit in the world for his accomplishments.

37 lifetime races and 10 for his last 11 in stakes races and people will be talking about Pletcher and his bunch of speedsters who last for 10 lifetime starts hopefully.

I'm not pointing you out randallscott...

I probably think almost the same as you. It is just funny.

Pletcher doesn't have a bunch of geldings does he? This guy would've been retired years ago had he not had his sack cut off. Get a grip.

My opinion,and I am entitled to one,Is he hasn't really raced against anything except Southern california garbage.Let's look at today's win.He beat:Two horses who just broke their third level allowance condition.Let's look at some of his other competition from his other races.
Brother Derek,Giacomo-Two of the most pathetic losers of late
Good Reward,Super Frolic-Gee,I don't ever remember either of them being big standouts in stakes company.
Ace Blue,Red Fort,Super Strut,Cheroot-Never heard of them
Magnum,Wilko-What has either of them done in the last couple years?
You look at his races where he gets some legitimate competition and he gets his ASS handed to him.
BUT,This is just my opinion.If I owned him,I would keep him there too.Nothing better than FREE MONEY!!!!

I agree with the level of competition point. He is amazing to watch in CA but who has he really beat? Looking back...King's Drama as of late may be the best horse he beat and that was on turf. I don't have the lifetime PPs so there may be some others I have missed.

But man do I wish I was in on that 50K claim :)

You know...the great Easy Goer never won outside N.Y. too.
He was great and right now you can't take anything away from Lava Man.

IT'S A MILLION BUCKS. I guess if they thought it was an easy spot,then they would have come.

Kimmeastar i agree with you

My suspicion has generally been that it has to do with humidity. That is the biggest difference in running conditions between East/Midwest and West. Horses in general prefer lower humidity conditions; the only population of true wild horses was found near the Gobi Desert, after all. The escaped wild horse population in North America stayed pretty much in the low humidity high plains and intermountain regions - they didn't spread to the humid river valleys of the south and Midwest, although they had plenty of time to do so. Human intervention, by taking horses to more humid places (like the British Isles!), has selected for those horses that can tolerate more humidity in the air they breath, but the species preference still unlies these manipulated genes and can come to the fore.

it isn't like he is ducking people. he has been entering all of the big races out there. i have never been a real big fan of the horse, but winning that many g1s is impressive.

WRONG! He won the Swale at Gulfstream going 7 furlongs and Blew them away!!! All the others were lost by a very small margin.See the lifetime past perf.thread.

SORRY! :( Missed it...my bad, gotta give credit to the L-Man though :D

Not only did he win ANOTHER Grade 1, he looked better in the after the race than I have ever seen him look... I hope he kicks arse in Dubai...

I dont see any of these Eastern monsters chalanging this "softie" for 500k winning purse or e4ven tryin to get part of thw 1 mil

Exactly. What a bunch a crap about knocking his competition. There just aren't ANY top handicap horses ANYWHERE. Who are we comparing him to in the East? Corinthian? Hesanoldsalt?

If you had a top horse that could pick up a Grade I and the 600K for winning it, and Lava Man was nothing special, wouldn't you send your horse out to California? Gee, I don't see a stampede of the REALLY good horses.

--Dunbar

East----- Invasor, Bernardini(last year), Sun King, Premium Tap, Discreet Cat

Comparing the Grade 2 horses running in GP today is not exactly the best the east has to offer....But I do agree that you have to beat who shows up and he always does that....Keep him on the turf. I would like to see him in the BC mile.

You know, I was thinking about this today, fact is that we all bitch about not having good horses around long and we are getting to see Lava Man, who could essentially be around for 3-4 more years. (I doubt you will see him in a 4k claimer like Shake you Down)

I for one just want to see the friggin horse challenged, put 130 lbs on him, do something because he is just that much better then the competition out there. I would love to see some East Coast people take a shot at him but I doubt they will

Oh,he was challenged today.Either the track was a little heavy,or the weight(going 10f) that he was giving away....... is starting to get close to stopping him.As far as I am concerned,he felt the fatigue at the top of the stretch(when the Oneil horse in purple n' white was upside of him,)and he dug deeper.Oneil was a little worried about it in the post-race interview.He didn't just draw off today.They went with him when he tried to break away from them.Maybe that's what he was doing at the top of the stretch(he was irritated,and trying to figure out how to shake them.)

i dunno man...... i believe this is one of the truly incredible rags to riches story, a former cal bred claimer who now has about 5 mil. in the bank. wow.

Lava Man just proved again he can beat glorified high level allowance/claimers under the guise of a Grade 1 in southern california.

easy goer won in florida--and that loss in maryland was so close--i doubt geography was the key between winning and losing at pimlico.

I will make the call right now and say that if he goes to Dubai,He will get his ass handed to him ROYALLY!!!
I am not saying he isn't a good horse.He is.I just put no credibility in southern California racing,period.It is like a private,good old boy club where everyone takes turns winning.Occasionally there is a good one who can prove it's worth,like Azeri,at other venues.But graded stakes in SoCal mean nothing to me.I won't even wager on their races,for if another horse even LOOKS at another horse,the stewards will take him down.Other than that,Good for Lava Man and his owners.Get all that free money while you can.

won the swale at Gulfstream - by 8

Ya, I screwed up...missed that in the PP's

With that said, no one can take anything away from Lava Man from what he's done.

He may not win outside Cali...but he wins!

The track was real deep in the final 3/16 to the wire.(like Santa Anita can be) Like running in sand. You had to have the lead when you turned for home because you were not going pass anybody in the last 1/8 unless they stopped. I was at the track and had one of the best seats in the house (Kristin Mulhul's Box which is right in front of the winners circle and on the wire)to watch the race and all the winners activity after the race. You are right about Lava Man being used in this race. He looked like he was all out to win yesterday.
I have to tell you that having that box yesterday was the best day that my poor a s s has ever had at Santa Anita. Talking with Hall of Famer Jack Van Berg in the box next to me and I have My son in law to thank. Thanks Dennis! TOO COOL!

It makes no sense to take Lava Man to Dubai... the horse evidentally does NOT travel well, so why ruin him by doing it? He's a really nice horse... I just don't think it's worth it taking him all the way over there and ruining him.

they had blinkers added tyesterday . when thehorse came into view he dug down with enough to win. This horse does something suoer and all we here is negative, We see gr1 horses scratched often because of something,weather ,post position,surface change or something physical. Why knock this horse because of him not shipping well? I use the term HIM loosley.

There's not much evidence that running outside of California has done any harm to Lava Man's subsequent performances in California. I think the connections feel Lava Man is capable of winning anywhere. He's never tried turf outside of California, so they are giving it a shot. IMO it should be applauded.

--Dunbar

Agreed, don't make the same mistake again. I may get shipped over there though...if the "better-half" has her way! :p