By Bloodhorse.com
ARCADIA, Calif. (Oct. 20, 2022) — Racing fans who attend the Breeders’ Cup World Championships will get to see more than history made by active runners Nov. 4-5 at Keeneland.
They’ll also witness the final chapter of California-bred Hall of Famer Lava Man ‘s second career as a stable pony for Team O’Neill, as the 22-year-old grade 1 winner is headed for pasture at Old Friends Thoroughbred Retirement Farm near Georgetown, Ky.
Trainer Doug O’Neill announced the news Oct. 19 via social media, sharing that Lava Man will take Hot Rod Charlie to the gate for the Nov. 5 Longines Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) at Keeneland in his final assignment before joining the roster at Old Friends.
“It is with great excitement and sadness that (we announce) Lava Man will make his final coaching duties chaperoning Hot Rod Charlie to the gate in this year’s Breeders’ Cup Classic at Keeneland…” O’Neill’s statement read in part. “With tons of life left in his spirit, body, and mind we look forward to seeing lots of other people being able to meet and experience his greatness and uniqueness at Old Friends in Kentucky.”
Retired from racing at the end of 2009 after 47 starts with a 17-8-5 record and earnings of $5,268,706, Lava Man became a key member of Team O’Neill and was soon nicknamed “The Coach” for his role in helping teach young racehorses the ropes. He is also quite the road warrior, having shipped across the country with multiple contenders to their various assignments from O’Neill’s Southern California base.
“We would like to give a special ‘Thank You’ to these special and important people in Lava Man’ s life,” O’Neill’s statement continued, “Dave and Steve Kenly (and) Jason Wood, his longtime owners. In addition, Noe Garcia (his longtime groom), Antonio Romero (his longtime exercise rider), Sabas Rivera (his two-legged brother), Jimmy Jimenez (longtime shoer), and our right-hand man, Leandro Mora.
“We would like to also thank Corey Nakatani and Patrick Valenzula who piloted him to several grade 1 victories, Hollywood Park, Santa Anita, and Del Mar racetracks and management who supported Lava Man during his racing career. We would like to thank the National Racing Hall of Fame for his induction in his first year of eligibility in 2015.
“At Team O’Neill we are extremely grateful for the 18 years we had to race and work alongside Lava Man. He can never be replaced, and we will never look to replace him. Farewell, Lava Man. We Love You.”
Old Friends founder Michael Blowen said patience paid off in the case of Lava Man, who was already a living legend when he retired from racing.
“When he retired from running, I got a call from Jason Wood asking me if I would like to have Lava Man at Old Friends, and I said ‘Of course!’ Back then we didn’t have Silver Charm out here, we didn’t have any superstars like him,” Blowen recalled. “Then we were told he was going to stay and become a stable pony and I was very disappointed. But it seems to have worked out good for everybody. He became the greatest stable pony in the history of the world. It seems like it worked out really, really good for the horse. And in our case at Old Friends, if you’re patient and you wait long enough, good things happen.”
Lava Man, a son of Slew City Slew, was bred in California by Lonnie Arterburn and Eve and Kim Kuhlmann out of the Nostalgia’s Star mare Li’l Ms. Leonard. He was claimed by the Kenlys and Wood for $50,000 in 2004 and went on to win seven grade 1 events, earning more money than any other claimer in history. He took the Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) three times from 2005-07 and captured the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) in 2006-07. He also won the Charles Wittingham Memorial Handicap (G1T) and Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) in 2006.
“Lava Man is a horse that represents why people love horse racing,” Blowen said. “If more people were exposed to a horse like Lava Man, people would be falling all over themselves to get into horse racing. He raced every race, he fought every fight. Everything he’s ever done has been spectacular, even as a pony. People would come to Doug’s barn all the time to see him. He’s a superstar. To have two Hall of Famers at Old Friends in Silver Charm and Lava Man is really testament to everybody who works for us, and I’m thrilled to welcome him.”