Hollywood Gold Cup, Grade 1, $750,000
LAVA MAN has stepped up through the graded ranks with ease. Coming off a win the Grade 2 Californian S. three weeks ago he stretched an 1/8th further here to 1 1/4 miles to win going away by a record setting margin!
Drawn against the top company of Limehouse, Borrego and Congrats, Lava Man was carrying top weight of 118 and was sent off the third choice. He stalked the pace from the outside breathing down the neck of Congrats. Leaving the turn, a 1/4 mile out, he kicked clear and was on fire under Jockey Patrick Valenzuela who urged him to the wire increasing his margin to 8 3/4 at the finish!
Lifetime 24-7-7-2 $908,039. Congratulations to all his connections.
SLEW CITY SLEW has two Grade 1 stakes winners in 2005 and earnings over $2,000,000, putting him ahead of Forest Wildcat, Hennessy, Dixieland Band, etc.
