Lava Man - Prep at Keeneland

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

o'neill said some time ago he was going to ship in weeks ahead. smart move, as shipping in just prior obviously didn't work for the Man.
also, as was noted above, this horse is running lights out compared to last year, and certainly hasn't had to be vanned off after a huge effort, as he was last year just before going to japan.
he's been training on poly while racing on dirt. and of course the turf back when. horse is doing well, so keep doing it.

he's not the only one shipping either. invasor and bernardini taking a trip to ky as well. neutral ground...apparently ky is the new switzerland.

To say he is running lights out compared to last year is just dead wrong. His figures from last year, his racing times from last year.......he was running better last year than he has been this year. He just got back to back 109 Beyer's in the Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. Last year he got 120 and 112 in those two races, right on the heels of a 116 in the Californian.

[Danzig]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

To say he is running lights out compared to last year is just dead wrong. His figures from last year, his racing times from last year.......he was running better last year than he has been this year. He just got back to back 109 Beyer's in the Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. Last year he got 120 and 112 in those two races, right on the heels of a 116 in the Californian.

guess i was just going by his overall record this year, and all he's accomplished this year, compared to last. i'll take his undefeated year over his beyers from last year.

[King Glorious]

Originally Posted by Danzig188

guess i was just going by his overall record this year, and all he's accomplished this year, compared to last. i'll take his undefeated year over his beyers from last year.

Ok, understood. I do think though that last year, he was running a lot better than he is this year. The only races that I thought he's run as well as he did last year have been his turf races. I don't think any of his dirt efforts have been as good as his Gold Cup and Pacific Classic last year, even though he lost the Pacific Classic.

This poor horse could prep on Mars and I doubt it would matter much on Nov. 4....he'll be staring at the asz of a locomotive rolling away from him in the stretch called "Bernie's Express"

[2Hot4TV]

Originally Posted by Cunningham Racing

This poor horse could prep on Mars and I doubt it would matter much on Nov. 4....he'll be staring at the asz of a locomotive rolling away from him in the stretch called "Bernie's Express"

Lava Man is not poor by any means and for a former claimer to race in the Classic is the underdogs dream and legends are made of.

[Pointg5]

Originally Posted by 2Hot4TV

Lava Man is not poor by any means and for a former claimer to race in the Classic is the underdogs dream and legends are made of.

Bud Royale

[SniperSB23]

Originally Posted by King Glorious

Ok, understood. I do think though that last year, he was running a lot better than he is this year. The only races that I thought he's run as well as he did last year have been his turf races. I don't think any of his dirt efforts have been as good as his Gold Cup and Pacific Classic last year, even though he lost the Pacific Classic.

I agree with you that he was running faster last year, the level of competition out west was exposed by Brother Derek and Good Reward. Last year there was a really strong California contingent of older horses, this year it is dreadfully weak behind Lava Man.

I think you are overestimating the days missed due to the weather factor. I thought one of the biggest positives for polytrack was that horses never had to miss time due to weather since the track is just as good, or better, when it rains.