Lava Man Gets Passing Grade in Californian

Lava Man has more than held his own in graded stakes races since being claimed for $50,000 nearly a year ago.

The Slew City Slew gelding was second in the Malibu, a Grade I on Dec. 26. He was beaten by less than a length by eventual Santa Anita Handicap winner Rock Hard Ten.

On Saturday, the 4-year-old did even better. Ridden for the first time by Patrick Valenzuela, Lava Man, an 8-1 longshot, stepped into graded company again and won the $250,000 Californian at Hollywood Park.

Trained by Doug O’Neill, Lava Man beat 6-1 longshot Anziyan Royalty by one length in 1:47.83 for the 1 1/8 miles.

He became the first California bred in 24 years to win the Californian, the last major prep for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on July 9. Eleven Stitches won in 1981 and returned to take the Gold Cup on a disqualification.

Never far off the lead while engaged with Ace Blue, Lava Man took over into the stretch and won for the sixth time in 23 outings.

“We put blinkers on him for the first time last time and he kind of turned the corner,” said Dennis O’Neill, the trainer’s brother. “The horse looked so good in the paddock today. I told Patrick, ‘This is thievery, buddy, because we’re going to steal one today.’ ”

Choctaw Nation, the 2-1 favorite, never threatened in the Grade II, finishing fifth, beaten by a little more than seven lengths. It was the first race for the 5-year-old gelding since he was third behind Roses In May and Dynever in the $6-million Dubai World Cup on March 26. He is winless in his last four races after beginning his career five for five.

*

Making his first start for trainer Bobby Frankel, Saint Liam, the 4-5 favorite, dominated his seven opponents in winning the $750,000 Stephen Foster Handicap at Churchill Downs. Eurosilver was second and Perfect Drift, who won the Foster in 2003, was third.

Idle since his disappointing effort as the 11-10 favorite in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 5, the 5-year-old Saint Ballado horse tracked the pace set by longshot Presidentialaffair most of the way, then kicked clear in the stretch. In winning for the seventh time in 17 races, Saint Liam ran the 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.52 under Edgar Prado.

*

In the other five stakes Churchill offered Saturday, the winners were Rush Bay ($200,000 Jefferson Cup), Don’t Get Mad ($200,000 Northern Dancer Breeders’ Cup), Rich In Spirit ($200,000 Regret), Two Trail Sioux ($300,000 Fleur De Lis) and Senor Swinger ($100,000 Opening Verse).

*

Taking full advantage of a slow early pace, Ashado led throughout to win the $300,000 Ogden Phipps Handicap at Belmont Park in New York.

Winning for the first time since taking the Breeders’ Cup Distaff on Oct. 30 at Lone Star Park in Texas, the 4-year-old Saint Ballado filly and 4-5 favorite prevailed by three lengths over 2-1 second choice Society Selection and three others.

*

Indian Ocean, the second-longest shot in a field of four at 5-1, out-finished favored Surf Cat by a neck to win the $105,100 Affirmed Handicap, one of two other stakes on the Hollywood Park card. Santa Anita Derby winner Buzzards Bay finished last.

Earlier, Continental Red ended a 20-race losing streak when he won the $78,600 Quicken Tree Stakes for the second time in three years. The California-bred gelding also became the third 9-year-old to win a stakes at Hollywood Park, joining John Henry and Native Desert.