Hollywood Park | Posted 9/23/2009, 5:02 pm

Lava Man working for comeback
By Brad Free

Benoit & Associates
Lava Man, who was retired from racing last fall, is now working toward a comeback.
INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Lava Man's retirement from racing lasted all of one year.

The 8-year-old gelding, who dominated the California handicap division during most of two years, earning $5.2 million and winning five Grades 1's, worked three furlongs Wednesday morning at Hollywood Park and will aim for a racing comeback.

Owners Steve Kenley and Jason Wood, and trainer Doug O'Neill, confirmed tentative comeback plans for Lava Man after the snappy three-furlong work in 36 seconds, fastest of 24 works at the distance.

Lava Man, who retired last fall due to declining form, returned to the track two weeks ago in improved physical condition following months of stem-cell therapy administered by Dr. Doug Herthel of Alamo Pintado Equine Medical Center.

In stem-cell therapy, cells that can promote healing and help regenerate healthy tissue are extracted from a horse's bone marrow or fat and then injected into an injury site.

The monthly procedure allowed Lava Man to regenerate cartilage in his ankle, and he began light exercise this spring and summer at Magali Farms in Santa Ynez. His condition improved and he wanted to do more.

"Training was part of the study, which we agreed to," O'Neill said. "He's been in training for three or months, and they have been raving about him."

Lava Man was scheduled for retirement at Old Friends in Kentucky, an event delayed once in spring and now indefinitely postponed pending resumption of a racing career by one of the most popular geldings to race in California.

"He was telling us, don't send me to Kentucky," Kenley said. "This horse wants to train, probably more so than most horses."

Lava Man was claimed Aug. 13, 2004, for only $50,000 by Wood and STD Racing Stable (Steve, Tracy, and Dave Kenley). He improved for his new trainer, O'Neill, and went on to sweep the 2006 Grade 1 handicap races in California - the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup, and Pacific Classic at Del Mar.

A three-time winner of the Gold Cup and 17 for 46 lifetime, Lava Man last raced July 20, 2008, at Del Mar. Nagging ankles and declining form forced Lava Man into retirement in fall 2008.

Lava Man returned to Hollywood Park on Sept. 11 and continued to progress.

"We have his best interests in mind," Kenley said, "and if he tells us anytime he doesn't want to do this, that's it."

O'Neill said if Lava Man makes it back, all his trainer purse earnings would be donated to the racehorse retirement foundation CARMA.

Both Kenley and O'Neill emphasized that Lava Man will return at top class, or not return at all.

"Either he competes at the highest level, or nothing," Kenley said.

Copyright © 2007 Daily Racing Form, LLC. All rights reserved.

Interesting therapy, stem cells that is, but all the data I've seen has been inconclusive. Great variability in the processes used to collect them so I guess a good deal depends on that factor. It's been used for at least the past 5 years and I've heard very mixed results.

While not the "feel good story" that Lava Man could turn out to be, there is another runner returning from a tendon injury that has been in the news this week, Sam P. Not sure if stem cell therapy was used here, but it certainly does not appear at first glance from the story that the planning and forethought which accompany Lava Man's return were in place here!

http://www.ntraracing.com/blog.aspx?blogid=17&year=2009&month=9&day=23

2006 PACIFIC CLASSIC ~ LAVA MAN

From one of the horsey lovers on the AOL boards on this subject ...

"The stem cell thing was done on my favorite Quarter race horse "Be A Bono" and he came back great, finishing 2nd in the Champion of Champions by a short nose"

The Bobtail

"It was a woman who drove me to drink. I never did thank her" - W C Fields

LAVA MAN
Date: December 2, 2009
Track: HOLLYWOOD PARK
Distance: Six Furlongs
Time: 1.13:60 Handily
Track Condition: Fast
Surface: All Weather Track
Rank: 1/5

http://community.drf.com/files/lavaman.pdf

California's $5-million gelding Lava Man is set to return to action
in the $100,000 Native Diver Handicap (gr. III) Dec. 12 at Hollywood Park,
according to trainer Doug O'Neill.

"I think hes ready," ONeill said Dec. 3,
speaking a day after the 8-year-old worked six furlongs in a bullet 1:13.60
at Hollywood under regular exercise rider Tony Romero. "He looks great."

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/54282/lava-man-set-for-native-diver-dec-12

PAST PERFORMANCES:
http://www.dougoneillracing.com/trainers/oneill/public/brisnet.cfm

SUNDAY, DEC. 27th, 2009.

RACE 7
San Gabriel Handicap (G2)

1 1/8 Miles (Turf) | Open |
3 Year Olds And Up Stakes | Purse: $150,000

1 Acclamation - Flores [113]
2 Cherokee Artist - Rose [116]
3 Proudinsky (GER) - Bejarano [119]
4 Lava Man - Baze T [119]
5 Great Siege - (IRE) Espinoza [113]
6 Sir Dave - Rosario [113]
7 Loup Breton (IRE) - Gomez [119]

Lava Man seemed ready to run... kickin' & snortin'... ready to roll.


Rafael Bejarano chatted with Tyler Baze on the way to the gate...

Lava Man went to the front...






...but faded in the stretch and finished last in his comeback.

3 Proudinsky (GER)-Bejarano - $5.60 $2.80 $2.20
7 Loup Breton (IRE)-Gomez ---------- $2.80 $2.20
1 Acclamation-Flores ------------------------- $3.00

Also ran: Great Siege (IRE), Cherokee Artist, Sir Dave and Lava Man

VOTE HERE:
http://answers.polldaddy.com/poll/2448941/

It was an honor to be there for your last race big guy.
The way you snorted when you entered the walking ring...
the way you strutted your stuff in the post parade...
you loved being a race horse and it showed. Thank you!

The thing that bothers me really about this latest retirement announcement is that they're not giving him a chance to recover from a very bad placement decision. I couldn't believe that O'Neill was bringing Lava Man back off a layoff like that, after undergoing all the veterinary things that he did, in an 9f stakes race. The initial target of the Native Diver was just as ridiculous.

An O-Claiming at a mile on the grass would have been so much better. If there wasn't one in the condition book, Santa Anita would have written one for him. If it only drew 4 horses it would have been worth it. If you're going to bring a horse like Lava Man back off all that he's gone through, you don't do it in the San Gabriel!

What's done is done, and I think that was a major mistake. Their pledge was that he would only run at the highest level, and I appreciate that they are honoring that, but the comeback race didn't have to be a stakes, and it certainly didn't have to be at 9 furlongs!

I wish they would try with Lava Man just one more time....that's all. If he falters badly again, second off the lay, then I would agree that the experiment is over.

I just wish they would have given him a chance!

Livin' the good life!

After escorting horses to the track,
most notably Kentucky Derby & Preakness winner,
I'll Have Another..., retired racing great Lava Man
is turned loose for a few minutes to grab a bite to eat
in Doug O'Neill's barn.