Hollywood Gold Cup

[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?

[chupster2]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

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

Hey, I have no beef with him. I love this horse. Did my post indicate something else? If so, it was just bad writing.

Originally Posted by chupster2

Hey, I have no beef with him. I love this horse. Did my post indicate something else? If so, it was just bad writing.

I dont think I meant to quote you--sorry.

What the hell the horse was close to his knees... He got taken wide around the first turn by Magnum and found himself in a position he is not used to. Then he got sent too early and the damn horse still won. He had every reason to lose that race. A winner. I dont know how the heck he does in the future but that was the race of a winner.

Horse is a heck of an athlete to regain his footing so quickly. That was a hell of a tough win.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

I know it seems very minor,but I'd give this horse 35-40 days off between races(not the 28 he had going into today's race.)

Originally Posted by SCUDSBROTHER

I know it seems very minor,but I'd give this horse 35-40 days off between races(not the 28 he had going into today's race.)

Oh i agree. I guess they are going to the Pacific Classic. Not sure when that is, but it has to be his next race.

[Five Star Derek]

I've never given Lava Man the credit he deserves and have always thought he was a little overated. He changed my mind after this last race. I thought it was very impressive. After stumbling badly and being forced to rate third, he still showed enough heart to squeeze out a victory. He would have had a legit excuse if he didn't run a lick. I still think he would be better served staying on the West Coast but I'm a bigger fan of his after this victory.

Hey hes become a legend. My favorite horses are the ones who try like hell to win no matter what the obstacles. hes a dead game dude, and I love him. But even with the stumble he beat Ace Blue by a 1/16th of an inch. I'm thinking he may find Invasor and Flower Alley just a "tad" tougher, especially out of the friendly confines of California.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by eurobounce

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

I'll take a horse like Lava Man over the over-rated Flower Alley anyday, he actually races. His schedule is out there for all to see, if he's so bad why not come out and challenge him? Lava Man is as good as anyone right now, Flower Alley has done nothing to make me place him higher than he is, Flower Alley is having a pussified schedule of hand-picking late in the year races ,while Lava Man is in the trenches on both surfaces slugging it out and winning Grade 1's, not hiding in the barn.

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

I'll take a horse like Lava Man over the over-rated Flower Alley anyday, he actually races. His schedule is out there for all to see, if he's so bad why not come out and challenge him? Lava Man is as good as anyone right now, Flower Alley has done nothing to make me place him higher than he is, Flower Alley is having a pussified schedule of hand-picking late in the year races ,while Lava Man is in the trenches on both surfaces slugging it out and winning Grade 1's, not hiding in the barn.

I believe Invasor is coming out there to challenge him in the next one. Flower Alley seems to like Saratoga and has two races for him there. The BC Classic will decide it all but I wouldn't count out Bernardini.

[Gander]

I'll take a horse like Lava Man over the over-rated Flower Alley anyday

I agree 100%. While Lava Man may not have beaten the best grade 1 fields out there, he hasnt ducked a single horse and his schedule has been made very clear. Those with the traditional East Coast bias are welcome to send thir horses out West to take him on before the BC, but have chose not to. The mighty Seek Gold sure looked great on Saturday! LOL!

Lava Man has won 3 grade 1's (winning on both surfaces) plus 2 other races while the only thing Flower Alley has done is beat Gold and Roses in a listless glorified NJ allowance race.

Sure Flower Alley is top notch but it doesnt do the fans any good keeping their favorite horses in their barns. We've seen Flower Alley once in 9 months, while Lava Man has run 5 times in that timeframe. You tell me if this is even a contest right now?

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by Gander

I'll take a horse like Lava Man over the over-rated Flower Alley anyday

I agree 100%. While Lava Man may not have beaten the best grade 1 fields out there, he hasnt ducked a single horse and his schedule has been made very clear. Those with the traditional East Coast bias are welcome to send thir horses out West to take him on before the BC, but have chose not to. The mighty Seek Gold sure looked great on Saturday! LOL!

Lava Man has won 3 grade 1's (winning on both surfaces) plus 2 other races while the only thing Flower Alley has done is beat Gold and Roses in a listless glorified NJ allowance race.

Sure Flower Alley is top notch but it doesnt do the fans any good keeping their favorite horses in their barns. We've seen Flower Alley once in 9 months, while Lava Man has run 5 times in that timeframe. You tell me if this is even a contest right now?

Do you really think Seek Gold is a top east coast horse?

I thought it was cool that he won the Stephen Foster, but I don't think he's close to a Top Older horse...

The HOY is not won in the early part of the year, may not be right, but that's the way it is, besides Lava Man's a Gelding, he has to earn on the track, what do you think Flower Alley will make with track and stud fees, alot more than Lava Man, so I would definetely rather own him...

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by Pointg5

Do you really think Seek Gold is a top east coast horse?

I thought it was cool that he won the Stephen Foster, but I don't think he's close to a Top Older horse...

The HOY is not won in the early part of the year, may not be right, but that's the way it is, besides Lava Man's a Gelding, he has to earn on the track, what do you think Flower Alley will make with track and stud fees, alot more than Lava Man, so I would definetely rather own him...

I'm not talking about owning a stallion over owning a gelding, I'm talking about the respective horses and Lava Man would make me a hell of a lot prouder to own than Flower Alley, and even if I was looking for a stallion prospect it sure as hell woudn't be Flower Alley.

[Gander]

I think anybody on this board would take ownership in just about any horse, and I didnt think we were arguing who would be a better horse to own. Obviously with the money that comes out of breeding any horse with a functioning pecker would be a better own than a gelding.

The older horse division is so weak this year that Seek Gold was able to win one of the premier older horse events in the Stephen Foster and horses like Invasor are looking like Skip Away. So sure, I would consider Seek Gold one of the top horses and he went out West and got whacked.

The HOY may not be won in the first half of the year but if Lava Man wins his next 2 races that would give him 4 grade ones for the year and that is very hard to topple, unless Flower Alley wins the Classic. Hes the only horse on the East Coast who impresses me but its hard to get excited about a horse who runs once in 9 months.

I like Flower Alley. He is a good horse. What I think is going to happen in the BCC if Lava Man and Flower Alley go is that you are going to see a fresh horses vs a tired battled weary horse. I dont think it is going to be a fair match. Flower Alley finish ahead of Lava Man on BCC. If they were to face each other in August at some other track other than a Cali or east coast track I would take Lava Man. But come Nov, Flower Alley will be fresh and Lava Man will be tired. Advatage Flower Alley.

[LARHAGE]

Originally Posted by Gander

I'll take a horse like Lava Man over the over-rated Flower Alley anyday

I agree 100%. While Lava Man may not have beaten the best grade 1 fields out there, he hasnt ducked a single horse and his schedule has been made very clear. Those with the traditional East Coast bias are welcome to send thir horses out West to take him on before the BC, but have chose not to. The mighty Seek Gold sure looked great on Saturday! LOL!

Lava Man has won 3 grade 1's (winning on both surfaces) plus 2 other races while the only thing Flower Alley has done is beat Gold and Roses in a listless glorified NJ allowance race.

Sure Flower Alley is top notch but it doesnt do the fans any good keeping their favorite horses in their barns. We've seen Flower Alley once in 9 months, while Lava Man has run 5 times in that timeframe. You tell me if this is even a contest right now?

Gander, you should have heard the cheers Lava Man received when he returned to the Winners Circle, the fans out here love him, he looked real tired but it was a miserably hot day, he has those eyes that just look at everyone around, he knew he won and was proud. It's great to see a horse the fans can cheer for, he's becoming a real legend out here, all the sports pages had an article on him.

[Buffymommy]

Originally Posted by LARHAGE

Gander, you should have heard the cheers Lava Man received when he returned to the Winners Circle, the fans out here love him, he looked real tired but it was a miserably hot day, he has those eyes that just look at everyone around, he knew he won and was proud. It's great to see a horse the fans can cheer for, he's becoming a real legend out here, all the sports pages had an article on him.

Now isn't that a horse we want to be HOY? I am cheering for him. He ran a game race to a horse carrying a lot less weight than him. So far he has my vote for HOY considering he has run all year. Not to say that my mind may change later on about this, but for now Lava Man is on the top of my list for HOY.