Lava Man---California Is His Home

[randallscott35]

Don't bet him outside of Cali however unless you want to lose money

[Left Bank]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Don't bet him outside of Cali however unless you want to lose money

I couldn't agree more.

[zippyneedsawin]

Originally Posted by randallscott35

Don't bet him outside of Cali however unless you want to lose money

It's really unbelievable. I still can decide how good he is, or isn't. How can a horse be so dominant in grade 1's in one state, and do squat when he leaves SoCal?

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by miraja2

The only play that makes less sense than betting against Lava Man in California, is betting on Lava Man anywhere else.

I said this on another thread...and I stand by it.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by zippyneedsawin

It's really unbelievable. I still can decide how good he is, or isn't. How can a horse be so dominant in grade 1's in one state, and do squat when he leaves SoCal?

In the end I think you have to say this guy is good. Not being able to win outside of SoCal is obviously a BIG limitation, but he wins at all three of the SoCal tracks, on dirt and turf, against anyone who shows up there.
It is pretty impressive.
But I agree, it is weird to determine how good he is given his strange Home/Away record.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by miraja2

In the end I think you have to say this guy is good. Not being able to win outside of SoCal is obviously a BIG limitation, but he wins at all three of the SoCal tracks, on dirt and turf, against anyone who shows up there.
It is pretty impressive.
But I agree, it is weird to determine how good he is given his strange Home/Away record.

Oh, I agree with you. He is tough and consistent. I actually am more impressed with his turf races which have been smashing. Not many horses can win Grade 1s on the turf and the dirt. As Andy would say, he's a "real good" horse. (IN CA)

[Scurlogue Champ]

Horseplayers are pretty negative bastards aren't they?

A horse who shows up for all the battles wins the goddamned Santa Anita Handicap twice in a row and the first thing said is "don't bet him (insert location) unless you want to lose money..."

****ing ****, man..

[miraja2]

I just can't think of another horse ever who could win at a variety of different tracks, on a variety of different surfaces, but was severely limited geographically. It is really odd.

[onebadbeast]

Lavaaaaaaaaaamannnnnnnnnn!

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Horseplayers are pretty negative bastards aren't they?

A horse who shows up for all the battles wins the goddamned Santa Anita Handicap twice in a row and the first thing said is "don't bet him (insert location) unless you want to lose money..."

****ing ****, man..

Apparently you didn't read the post above yours. No matter. Curse away.

[miraja2]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

Horseplayers are pretty negative bastards aren't they?

A horse who shows up for all the battles wins the goddamned Santa Anita Handicap twice in a row and the first thing said is "don't bet him (insert location) unless you want to lose money..."

****ing ****, man..

I don't see it as negative....just factual. He deserves all the credit in the world for his accomplishments.

[Scurlogue Champ]

37 lifetime races and 10 for his last 11 in stakes races and people will be talking about Pletcher and his bunch of speedsters who last for 10 lifetime starts hopefully.

[Scurlogue Champ]

I'm not pointing you out randallscott...

I probably think almost the same as you. It is just funny.

[randallscott35]

Originally Posted by moodwalker

37 lifetime races and 10 for his last 11 in stakes races and people will be talking about Pletcher and his bunch of speedsters who last for 10 lifetime starts hopefully.

Pletcher doesn't have a bunch of geldings does he? This guy would've been retired years ago had he not had his sack cut off. Get a grip.

[Left Bank]

My opinion,and I am entitled to one,Is he hasn't really raced against anything except Southern california garbage.Let's look at today's win.He beat:Two horses who just broke their third level allowance condition.Let's look at some of his other competition from his other races.
Brother Derek,Giacomo-Two of the most pathetic losers of late
Good Reward,Super Frolic-Gee,I don't ever remember either of them being big standouts in stakes company.
Ace Blue,Red Fort,Super Strut,Cheroot-Never heard of them
Magnum,Wilko-What has either of them done in the last couple years?
You look at his races where he gets some legitimate competition and he gets his ASS handed to him.
BUT,This is just my opinion.If I owned him,I would keep him there too.Nothing better than FREE MONEY!!!!

Originally Posted by Kimmeastar

My opinion,and I am entitled to one,Is he hasn't really raced against anything except Southern california garbage.Let's look at today's win.He beat:Two horses who just broke their third level allowance condition.Let's look at some of his other competition from his other races.
Brother Derek,Giacomo-Two of the most pathetic losers of late
Good Reward,Super Frolic-Gee,I don't ever remember either of them being big standouts in stakes company.
Ace Blue,Red Fort,Super Strut,Cheroot-Never heard of them
Magnum,Wilko-What has either of them done in the last couple years?
You look at his races where he gets some legitimate competition and he gets his ASS handed to him.
BUT,This is just my opinion.If I owned him,I would keep him there too.Nothing better than FREE MONEY!!!!

I agree with the level of competition point. He is amazing to watch in CA but who has he really beat? Looking back...King's Drama as of late may be the best horse he beat and that was on turf. I don't have the lifetime PPs so there may be some others I have missed.

But man do I wish I was in on that 50K claim

[Hickory Hill Hoff]

You know...the great Easy Goer never won outside N.Y. too.
He was great and right now you can't take anything away from Lava Man.

[SCUDSBROTHER]

Originally Posted by Kimmeastar

My opinion,and I am entitled to one,Is he hasn't really raced against anything except Southern california garbage.Let's look at today's win.He beat:Two horses who just broke their third level allowance condition.Let's look at some of his other competition from his other races.
Brother Derek,Giacomo-Two of the most pathetic losers of late
Good Reward,Super Frolic-Gee,I don't ever remember either of them being big standouts in stakes company.
Ace Blue,Red Fort,Super Strut,Cheroot-Never heard of them
Magnum,Wilko-What has either of them done in the last couple years?
You look at his races where he gets some legitimate competition and he gets his ASS handed to him.
BUT,This is just my opinion.If I owned him,I would keep him there too.Nothing better than FREE MONEY!!!!

IT'S A MILLION BUCKS. I guess if they thought it was an easy spot,then they would have come.

[POINTGIVEN1985]

Kimmeastar i agree with you

[Pedigree Ann]

My suspicion has generally been that it has to do with humidity. That is the biggest difference in running conditions between East/Midwest and West. Horses in general prefer lower humidity conditions; the only population of true wild horses was found near the Gobi Desert, after all. The escaped wild horse population in North America stayed pretty much in the low humidity high plains and intermountain regions - they didn't spread to the humid river valleys of the south and Midwest, although they had plenty of time to do so. Human intervention, by taking horses to more humid places (like the British Isles!), has selected for those horses that can tolerate more humidity in the air they breath, but the species preference still unlies these manipulated genes and can come to the fore.