Hollywood Gold Cup

[2Hot4TV]

It would appear that Lave Man lost some luster today. I know most of you don't think the weights make a differance, but at 1 1/4 mile I think it does. It looks like Lava Man really doesn't want a mile and a quarter. Think we will have a bigger field in the Pacific Classic?

[somerfrost]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

It would appear that Lave Man lost some luster today. I know most of you don't think the weights make a differance, but at 1 1/4 mile I think it does. It looks like Lava Man really doesn't want a mile and a quarter. Think we will have a bigger field in the Pacific Classic?

A mixed bag really...on the one hand, Lava Man clearly struggled in the stretch, the entire race fell apart really just as Jerry Bailey said. On the other hand, the grit and determination he displayed is what separates a champion from other horses...the old saying applies here..."the good ones win the close ones and they overcome trouble to do so!" Lava Man clearly stumbled coming out of the gate, PVal cut him off in the first turn (legally), he overcame a lot today and found a way to win...still, that last quarter makes you wonder....

Originally Posted by somerfrost

A mixed bag really...on the one hand, Lava Man clearly struggled in the stretch, the entire race fell apart really just as Jerry Bailey said. On the other hand, the grit and determination he displayed is what separates a champion from other horses...the old saying applies here..."the good ones win the close ones and they overcome trouble to do so!" Lava Man clearly stumbled coming out of the gate, PVal cut him off in the first turn (legally), he overcame a lot today and found a way to win...still, that last quarter makes you wonder....

Completely agree ... Lava Man wasn't terrific today ... but he did what he had to do ... and the ten pound weight pull does make some kind of difference at 10f.

He ran just an OK race ... but still won. I wouldn't bet him in the BC Classic future book though.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

It would appear that Lave Man lost some luster today. I know most of you don't think the weights make a differance, but at 1 1/4 mile I think it does. It looks like Lava Man really doesn't want a mile and a quarter. Think we will have a bigger field in the Pacific Classic?

I don't know if I would say that he "lost some luster." He stumbled out of the gate in a G1 race in which he was carrying top weight and in which he was running on dirt for the first time in awhile. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, but he still won.
I would not have bet him to win the Classic before this race OR after the race. I am just not sure you can win a G1 and lose luster.

Originally Posted by miraja2

I don't know if I would say that he "lost some luster." He stumbled out of the gate in a G1 race in which he was carrying top weight and in which he was running on dirt for the first time in awhile. That sounds like a recipe for disaster, but he still won.
I would not have bet him to win the Classic before this race OR after the race. I am just not sure you can win a G1 and lose luster.

That field was a disaster. lava is fast becoming a legend with his heart and incredible determination. How can you not love this horses heart? But as far as him coming east later on this year to face horse like invasor or Flower Alley, forget it, no way. If you have to struggle to beat Ace Blue in a nose Bob on your home track, well, I mean its kind of hard to imagine that translating to anything when he comes east.

[PeteMugg]

Detention barn probably didn't help LM much either. So he had a lot going against him and still gritted out the win. Gotta love the effort. But count me as one of the doubters when the competition steps up a bit.

[chupster2]

You know, if this race were in a vacuum or we just didn't see much of LM, I'd say the jury is out on this horse, but that stumble set my heart racing. It wasn't little. My heart pumped all the way through. Plenty of "good" horses or even champions would have lost, but he stuck it out. It wasn't pretty. I doubt if it was, in form, even good. But he got 'er done, as they say. With the early fractions being really paltry, the lead should have been able to do it. I was most impressed with Ace Blue. In my short time watching racing, when a quarter and the half are that slow, usually, I see the front runner steal it easy. So, all in all, taking in his turf races too, this is a helluva horse. I think maybe it is true, that turf is his real milieu. Which, in a way, makes all these dirt races even better. Also, we know he isn't good with heat. I don't know, looked like a damned dog fight to me. Not pretty, not dazzling, but down, dirty and another notch on the belt. Isn't this a good reason to watch this horse?

Originally Posted by chupster2

You know, if this race were in a vacuum or we just didn't see much of LM, I'd say the jury is out on this horse, but that stumble set my heart racing. It wasn't little. My heart pumped all the way through. Plenty of "good" horses or even champions would have lost, but he stuck it out. It wasn't pretty. I doubt if it was, in form, even good. But he got 'er done, as they say. With the early fractions being really paltry, the lead should have been able to do it. I was most impressed with Ace Blue. In my short time watching racing, when a quarter and the half are that slow, usually, I see the front runner steal it easy. So, all in all, taking in his turf races too, this is a helluva horse. I think maybe it is true, that turf is his real milieu. Which, in a way, makes all these dirt races even better. Also, we know he isn't good with heat. I don't know, looked like a damned dog fight to me. Not pretty, not dazzling, but down, dirty and another notch on the belt. Isn't this a good reason to watch this horse?

Another Grade I win for Lava Man--what else do you want the horse to do?