Holding the horse with his right hand, groom Noe Garcia walked Lava Man around the Doug O'Neill stable in Barn 73 North Wednesday before the 7-year-old gelding galloped on the main track in preparation for his 2008 debut Sunday at Hollywood Park in the $150,000 TVG Khaled Stakes, part of the $1.3-million Cal National Gold Rush card.
The return of Garcia is as much a story as the return of the three-time Hollywood Gold Cup winner in the emotional highlight of the week.
Garcia, a 40-year-old native of Guatemala, had been Lava Man's regular groom since the horse was claimed at Del Mar in August, 2004, and won 14 of 27 starts under his care during a meteoric rise to fame.
On July 23, 2007, Garcia's van was struck by a drunken driver on the freeway near Del Mar. The groom lost his left arm just below the shoulder in the accident and would have probably bled to death had it not been for the quick actions of a passing driver, who applied a tourniquet until paramedics arrived.
Garcia went through rehabilitation and was fitted with a prosthetic left arm before returning to work at the O'Neill barn two months ago.
Was it coincidence that immediately after Garcia's accident, Lava Man went off form, weakening to finish sixth as the favorite in three straight races from August until November before O'Neill decided to turn him out at NexStar Farm in Temecula?
The groom pinch-hitting for Garcia did nothing technically wrong with the strong-willed Lava Man but O'Neill recognized a bond may have been missing that only Garcia was able to provide.
"There's definitely an animal-human connection," said O'Neill, noting that Lava Man has rediscovered a level of enthusiasm and energy in training more typical of his previous top form since being reconnected with Garcia.
"He feels different; he's better with me," said Garcia, a father of four, who is again seeming to bring out the best in Lava Man despite his handicap. A stable worker who served as translator for the Spanish-speaking groom said Garcia's return to work with Lava Man may be the best therapy for Garcia…and apparently for Lava Man as well.
O'Neill said that Lava Man, with career earnings of $5,214,706, is being pointed for the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup June 28 in a bid for an unprecedented fourth straight victory.
Lava Man, who won the Khaled at 1 1/8 miles on turf two years ago but bypassed it last year, will have regular jockey Corey Nakatani aboard and face a lineup expected to include defending champion Epic Power (Martin Garcia), Celtic Dreamin (Alex Solis) and Mr. Wolverine (Michael Baze).
In other Gold Rush highlights:
--Trainer Carla Gaines, who won two races on the card last year with Nashoba's Key and Tiz Elemental for owner-breeder Warren Williamson, hopes for another big day with Tiz Elemental in the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes and Tiz A Blend, her 5-year-old full sister, in the $150,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes. She also plans to enter River Glow in the B. Thoughtful and both Lucky J.H. and Cost of Freedom in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes. The latter trio are all John Harris homebreds.
--The featured $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles looms as a wide-open test expected to include Bert's Law (Martin Garcia), Nitro Active (Aaron Gryder), Overland (Victor Espinoza), Pleasure Grounds (Garrett Gomez), Roar of Eagles (Joel Rosario), Sassou (Tyler Baze), Waafi (Rafael Bejarano) and Warrens Attack Cat (Jose Campos).
--Bilo, third-place finisher in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes last year, is expected to try again in the 7 ½-furlong test after fading badly in the 1 1/8-mile Sunshine Millions Classic in January at Santa Anita in his first start for trainer Mike Mitchell and first try routing. Defending champion Greg's Gold, winner of the Potrero Grande Handicap April 5 at Santa Anita, will pass and wait for another spot sprinting at this meet, according to trainer David Hofmans.
--Santa Ysabel Stakes winner Final Fling and unbeaten Lethal Heat are expected to head the lineup in the $200,000 Melair Stakes for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles.
--Trainer Barry Abrams, who plans to start five horses in the Gold Rush, worked Spenditallbaby three furlongs in :35.40 for the $150,000 B. Thoughtful Stakes.
--Trainer Jorge Gutierrez plans to enter four in the Gold Rush: Jack's Wild in the Tiznow, Mr. Wolverine in the Khaled, Warren's Attack Cat in the Snow Chief, and Warren's Appeal in the Melair.
LOBO SEEKS THIRD MERVYN LEROY WIN
Trainer Paulo Lobo is making a career out of winning the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap with Brazilian-bred imports. The Brazilian-born conditioner, who won the race in 2005 with Ace Blue and last year with Molengao, seeks his third triumph in four years Saturday in the $150,000 Mervyn LeRoy with Fly Dorcego. The Grade II test at 1 1/16 miles serves as a prep for the Hollywood Gold Cup.
"I hope this is going to be my third," said Lobo with a smile Wednesday while watching a pair of workers from trackside. "Fly Dorcego is the same level as Ace Blue. Molengao was a little better." (The latter was retired to stud in Brazil).
Lobo expects the 6-year-old horse, a Group II winner in Brazil and winner of an allowance race at one mile in his last start at Santa Anita March 29, to close from off the pace. "He was close to the pace in his last start because the pace was slow," noted Lobo. "In his only start here, he was too close to a fast pace (and faded to fifth last November)."
Fly Dorcego, owned by a pair of Brazilians who race under the name Brincaggiore Stable, will face a strong field headed by highweight Surf Cat.
Lobo, who has Kentucky Derby hopeful Gayego stabled at Churchill Downs, could be nicknamed Fly Lobo with all the air miles he has and will be logging recently.
"I was at Churchill Monday and Tuesday and go back Friday," explained Lobo. "Gayego will work five-eighths Saturday with (jockey) Mike Smith. I will fly back after the work and arrive here at 1:45 p.m. to saddle Fly Dorcego. Then I go back to Kentucky next Tuesday (and remain for the Derby May 3)."
Gayego, stabled here year-round, won the Arkansas Derby in his last start. "He's improving at the right time," said Lobo, optimistic about the colt's Derby chances. "He ran a very game race at Oaklawn and took the distance very well." Lobo's only previous starter at Churchill Downs, Farda Amiga, won the 2002 Kentucky Oaks.
CURRIN HIGH ON MALIBUWED
Trainer-owner-breeder Bill Currin thought he was watching the reincarnation of 2006 Hollywood Futurity winner Stormello when an unraced chestnut 2-year-old flashed by him on the track Wednesday morning.
"She's a half-sister to Stormello," said Currin of Malibuwed, a filly by Malibu Moon out of Wilshewed. "I like it when the exercise rider comes back with a smile on his face. She worked a half in 46 and change (:46.80). That's her fifth work, all bullets. You will probably see her in the Cinderella Stakes (May 25)."
Currin added that Stormello has been bred to 80 mares in his first season at stud at the The Vinery in Kentucky. "He's as good at stud as he was on the track: fast," mused Currin.
Currin also said that graded stakes-winning mare Memorette was bred to Empire Maker last week and that her mother, Forever Fondre, was bred to Awesome Again.
PANZA CONFIDENT OF BANNER MEET
Martin Panza, vice president-racing at Hollywood Park, spoke optimistically of a successful Hollywood Park Spring/Summer Meet from his desk in the racing office Wednesday morning before the first program of a 60-day session scheduled through July 13.
"The barns are full--about 1,930 horses--and the people stabled here have been very happy with our Cushion Track," said Panza of the synthetic surface on the main track as Hollywood Park ushered in its 70th season. "Everyone recognizes it as the most consistent surface in Southern California. We're trying to get on an even keel again after the mess at Santa Anita."
Panza hoped Cal National Gold Rush IX, a $1.3-million program restricted to California-breds on Sunday, will help jump-start an $8.5-million stakes schedule.
Lava Man, a 7-year-old gelding, is scheduled to make his season bow in the TVG Khaled Stakes on the Gold Rush card in the anticipated highlight of the week.
"It could be quite a Gold Cup with Lava Man looking for four in a row and handicap horses like Heatseeker, Tiago and Brother Derek in there," said Panza, salivating at the prospects of a star-laden lineup in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on June 28.
Panza also excitedly looks forward to July 5 when the track offers one of the richest cards in its history, highlighted by the $750,000 American Oaks, $750,000 CashCall Mile, $300,000 Triple Bend Handicap and $300,000 Vanity Handicap.
"We've also added a new stake at 1 5/8 miles, the $100,000-added Gallant Man on June 1, to go along with the Breeders' Cup," said Panza in reference to offering an early prep for a new distance race at Santa Anita in October.
GOMEZ TO RIDE IN GOLD RUSH
Garrett Gomez, 2007 Eclipse Award-winning jockey, will be flown in from Kentucky to compete in the Cal National Gold Rush Sunday, agent Ron Anderson confirmed Wednesday from Kentucky, where Gomez is currently based.
Anderson said that Gomez's mounts include Pleasure Grounds in the featured $250,000 Snow Chief Stakes for 3-year-olds at 1 1/8 miles. The gelding has won three of six starts in Northern California for trainer Dean Pedersen.
Gomez also has taken calls on Final Fling in the $200,000 Melair Stakes, Tutta Bella in the $150,000 Fran's Valentine Stakes and Notional in the $150,000 Tiznow Stakes.
Gomez, leader of the last two Autumn Meets at Hollywood Park, paced the nation in earnings for the second straight year with earnings of $22.8-million. He won two races on the Gold Rush card last year, including the Fran's Valentine with Nashoba's Key.
FINISH LINES--Jockey Victor Espinoza returns to action Friday after completing the final two days of a three-day suspension Thursday…Joel Rosario, coming off a banner Santa Anita meet in which he finished fourth with 49 winners, will be back Saturday after completing a three-day suspension…Trainer Jerry Hollendorfer has expanded his division here to 40 horses with assistant Dan Ward, who said that Santa Anita Handicap and Native Diver Handicap winner Heatseeker is being pointed to the $250,000 Californian Stakes May 31...Brice Blanc will be at Bay Meadows Saturday to ride 2006 Hollywood Turf Cup winner Boboman for Richard Mandella in the Bay Meadows Breeders' Cup Handicap… Neko Bay worked four furlongs in :49.60 for trainer John Shirreffs for the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap Saturday.
