LAVA MAN BECOMES JUST THE SECOND HORSE IN THE 67 YEAR HISTORY TO WIN THE GRADE 1 HOLLYWOOD GOLD CUP BACK-TO-BACK.
Coming off FIVE straight wins and carrying 124 lbs, giving 11 lbs to runner up ACE BLUE, handicappers were doubting that his best was good enough to strike gold twice, but LAVA MAN’s fans backed him as heavy favorite and he ran a huge race to earn a 108 Beyer!
LAVA MAN stumbled leaving the gate but recovered quickly to track the pace in third along the back stretch. Shifting to the outside leaving the final bend he was all out to wear down Magnum on the rail and was pressured from the outside down to the wire by the gallant Ace Blue. Cory Nakatani said Lava Man put his heart out there, driving hard to get the nod at the wire.
LIFETIME: 31-12-7-3 $2,904,706
