- Blame me for my east coast bias if you'd like, but, in the wake of Pletcher's five winners at Gulfstream on Saturday, I failed to mention (until now) Doug O'Neill's four winners at Santa Anita, which included, of course, Great Hunter and Lava Man.
For Lava Man, it was a workmanlike, if not dominant performance as he disposed of a competitive field to whom he spotted eight to nine pounds as well as some ground on the final turn, earning a Beyer of 109. He was also hampered by a slowish pace up front, and Nakatani said he waited longer than usual to make his move. "Today I waited and didn't make that standard run of his because the track has been so heavy all day." [SGVTribune.com] The final quarter was run in 25.47 seconds. "He did get a little tired at the end," Nakatani said. "This horse will just do whatever you need him to do." [AP] Lava Man became the third horse to win the Big Cap twice.
Next for Lava Man could very well be the $5 million Dubai Duty Free at 1 1/8 mile on the grass, on March 31. In these remarks made to the North County Times, Doug O'Neill seems to already be conceding that the trip overseas will knock his horse out of subsequent competition for awhile....even for a race as far out as the Pacific Classic at Del Mar in August.
"To pass on the Pacific Classic is a little bit of a bummer," said winning trainer Doug O'Neill. "When you have an opportunity to run for $5 million ... if he runs well there, we can zero in on a turf race in the Breeders' Cup."And while one of his owners told the paper that "(Running in Dubai) is more to prove a point," another said "It is the money." What do you think? In any event, it would be a loss for racing in North America this year, and not the only one caused by the early season, big bucks festival in Dubai.
Great Hunter's owner J. Paul Reddam said that he'll "probably" race just once more, in the Blue Grass. "He likes that track and he would go there . . . and just stay for the Derby." O'Neill told the Orange County Register that "we really weren't expecting him to win today....We just wanted a good performance, something to build on. He ran better than we expected." That's for sure.
Barclay Tagg seems a little less depressed than he did right after the Fountain of Youth, and told the NY Post that the Wood was back in his plans for Nobiz Like Shobiz.
"I'm disappointed we lost, but I don't feel bad about the horse," he said. "We just have to try and get him to come out of his shenanigans soon."But he's only given himself one more prep in which to do so.
7 Comments:
Lava Man to Dubai is a big mistake. Look at his PP's and you will see a common characteristic among his losses. No it is not the fact that he has lost every race outside of California. Look closer and you will see that he is 0-3 without the use of bute. I am almost positive that bute is illegal in Dubai as well as lasix.
If Lava Man can not ship across the country and win without those drugs why would one expect a different outcome when traveling half way around the world? Look at his race in Japan. No drugs and he was up the track. If he runs in Dubai I will be betting against him.
Lenny
Could be the Bute, but more likely it's a surface issue. Just my opinion, of course. I do believe his form will transfer much better on a grass course. I guess we'll find out in Dubai.
Btw, the BC Mile for Lava Man? Is that what you guys get from the O'Neill comment?
Lenny - I don't think you can give a horse a Tylenol in Dubai.
yeah Alan & Lenny, shoot, Tylenol is probably a class 1 volation out there. you remember what happened to Brass Hat, and that was even when they followed the withdrawl guidelines provided by the Dubai racing association.
They'll take away your purse money in the desert if a little too much b-12 shows up.
Was there ever any finding on what happened to Simpatico Bribon in last year's UAE Derby? You know, the alleged drugging that was being investigated by the Dubai Racing Association (or whatever they're called).
Walter, I was thinking the same thing. You can not give anything to YOUR horse, but someone else may. Better bring security.
Hahahahahahahahahahahahaha.
O'Neill better focus on keeping this horse sound until the Breeder's Cup goes back to California. Or Hoosier.
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