Good and Bad of Lava Man

[Calzone Lord]

The Hall of Fame Lava Man: (his first 14 races in Southern California at the Graded Stakes or Sunshine Millions class level)



11 wins from 14 tries. All in the money. The three who beat him (Rock Hard Ten, Borrego, and After Market) all came right back to win Grade 1's.

A record 3 Hollywood Gold Cups. Two Big Caps. A Pacific Classic. Sunshine Millions features on both surfaces. Grade 1 wins on all 3 surfaces. A Beyer figure of 120 at peak.

Valiant defeat in the Pacific Classic was his signature losing performance. He went head-to-head with Surf Cat through blistering fractions. Put him away and almost lasted to win. Had to be vanned off after the race in a courageous defeat. Surf Cat won all of his next 4 starts, three at the Graded Stakes level including fast sprints.



The non-effort Lava Man: (every single time Lava Man shipped out of state he ran terrible)





The Move-up Lava Man: (Good Northern California trainer Lonnie Aurterburn had a claiming horse -- within just a month, he was transformed into a stakes caliber triple digit Beyer horse for the new barn)