Old Friends, the Thoroughbred Retirement Farm in Georgetown, KY, will host an Open House Saturday, Nov. 26 from noon until 2pm for fans to meet new retiree Lava Man (Slew City Slew). The event is free and open to the public. Pizza and lava crunch cakes will be served.
The now 21-year old posted an impressive resume during a racing career that spanned seven years including victories in the GI Pacific Classic, GI Hollywood Gold Cup, and the GII Goodwood H., now called the Awesome Again. Lava Man retired as a 9-year-old with over $5.2 million in earnings.
Upon his retirement from racing, he became a lead pony in Doug O'Neill Stables, a position he held until Nov. 5 when he made his final appearance on the track leading Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbox) to the gate for the GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic.
On Tuesday, Nov. 8, Lava Man, aka “Coach”, arrived at Old Friends where he will enjoy his well-earned retirement.
Trainer Doug O'Neill has been suspended 60 days, fined $10,000, and put on probation for one year stemming from a medication positive by his starter Worse Read Sanchez (Square Eddie) at Golden Gate Fields May 1, according to a ruling posted on the California Horse Racing Board (CHRB) website. The 3-year-old gelding finished third in Golden Gate's Silky Sullivan S., his only start at the Northern California track. Worse Read Sanchez, who is owned by Reddam Racing LLC, has since made five additional starts at Santa Anita and Del Mar, with his best finish a third Oct. 7 in an optional allowance in Arcadia.
The ruling is pursuant to CHRB Rule #1887 for violation of CHRB Rules #1843 (a) & (d) (Medication, Drugs and Other Substances) and #1843.1 (a) (Prohibited Drug Substances). The prohibited substance was reportedly lidocaine, a Class 2 violation.
In addition to a 60-day suspension and $10,000 fine, O'Neill will be placed on a one-year probation, retroactive to May 1, the date of the violation, and ending May 1, 2023. His 60-day suspension is to be stayed 30 days for good cause. The actual days of suspension will begin Nov. 21 and end Dec. 20. If any of the probation is violated, the stayed 30 days will be reinstated in addition to any penalty for any addition rule violation.
Unbeaten sensation and guaranteed GI Breeders' Cup Classic favorite Flightline (Tapit) put in his final prep for the World Championships at Keeneland Saturday. The 'TDN Rising Star' covered five furlongs solo in 1:00.60 (4/62) shortly after 7:30 a.m. under assistant trainer Juan Leyva.
“I told Juan to go in a minute and change and out [seven-eighths] in 1:26, and that's what he did,” trainer John Sadler said. “Juan's a great work rider. It was not about going fast today, just getting around there happy today.”
Flightline arrived at Keeneland Sunday from his Santa Anita home base.
“He's had a good week and gotten settled in, and the track is a little similar to Del Mar,” Sadler said, noting that Flightline's schedule for next week will include returning to the track to jog Monday, gallop Tuesday through Friday and not go to the track the morning of the Classic.
Life Is Good Tops Pletcher Workers
Classic contender and 'TDN Rising Star' Life Is Good (Into Mischief) worked five furlongs in 1:00.60 on his own at Keeneland Saturday with fractions of :12, :24.60, :49, 1:00.60 then out six furlongs in 1:13.20, seven-eighths in 1:25.80 and the mile in 1:39.80.
“He is a superior work horse,” trainer Todd Pletcher said. “Today was typical of what we have seen his whole career.”
Pletcher is confident his charge will get the 10-furlong distance this time after a failed effort in the G1 Dubai World Cup.
“He is hard to pull up at the end [of his workouts],” the conditioner said. “We are eager to run on a real track not like in Dubai, which was really deep that night. I think that played against him.”
Pletcher's other Classic pre-entrant Happy Saver (Super Saver) had what the trainer called a “spirited gallop” in lieu of a timed breeze.
“We let him two-minute clip the whole way around,” Pletcher said. “We are going to do similar to what we did before the [GI Met Mile]: just one breeze two weeks out. He tends to run better when he is fresh. He'll have a few more strong gallops. He won't breeze again.”
Also working this morning on the main track for Pletcher were GI Breeders' Cup Distaff runners Nest (Curlin) and Malathaat (Curlin). In company with recent maiden winner Inventing (Union Rags), Nest worked a half-mile in :50.40. Malathaat worked a half-mile in :49.60 with the 3-year-old maiden Old Point (Curlin).
Working on the grass together were GI Shadwell Mile winner Annapolis GI (Mile) and GII Pilgrim S. victor Major Dude (GI Juvenile Turf), who were timed in :50.40 for a half-mile.
Charlie Puts in Final Classic Prep
Gutsy GII Lukas Classic winner Hot Rod Charlie (Oxbow) also had his final breeze ahead of the BC Classic Saturday in Lexington, going six panels in company in 1:12.80.
“He looked good and I got him in 1:12 4/5,” trainer Doug O'Neill said.
Other O'Neill BC workers included Awake At Midnyte (Nyquist) (5f, 1:01.20, Distaff), Slow Down Andy (Nyquist) (5f, 1:00.40, GI Dirt Mile), Vegas Magic (Good Magic) (5f, 1:02.20, GI Juvenile Fillies) and Sharp Aza Tack (Sharp Azteca) (5f, 1:01 on the training track, GI Juvenile Turf Sprint).
Brown Breezes BC Contingent
Jack Christopher | Coady
Trainer Chad Brown sent out a dozen of his Breeders' Cup pre-entrants, with seven working on the dirt and five on the turf at Keeneland Saturday.
Working a half-mile on the dirt were MGISW Jack Christopher (Munnings) (:48.60, GI Sprint or Dirt Mile), Goodnight Olive (Ghostzapper) (:47.80, GI Filly and Mare Sprint), Blazing Sevens (Good Magic) (:47.20, GI Juvenile) and working in company I'm Very Busy (Cloud Computing) and Oxymore (Astern {Aus}) (:49.60 Juvenile Turf).
Working five furlongs on the dirt were Search Results (Flatter) (1:01.20, Distaff) and Pipeline (Speightstown) (1:01, Dirt Mile).
On the turf, which was rated as good, were Regal Glory (Animal Kingdom) (4f, :49.80, Mile) in company with Rougir (Fr) (Territories {Ire}) (4f, :49.80, GI Filly and Mare Turf), In Italian (GB) (4f, :50.80, Filly and Mare Turf) and Virginia Joy (Ger) (Soldier Hollow {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Filly and Mare Turf) in company with Domestic Spending (GB) (Kingman {GB}) (5f, 1:02.60, Mile).
“We did great,” a beaming Brown said following the works.
Other Keeneland BC Workers Saturday
On the main track were Kimari (Munnings) (5f, 1:01.40, Sprint or Filly and Mare Sprint) and Chi Town Lady (Verrazano) (5f, 1:01.80, Filly and Mare Sprint) in company for Wesley Ward; Willy Boi (Uncaptured) (4f, :49.20, Sprint) for trainer Jorge Delgado and Simplification (Not This Time) (5f, 1:00.40, Dirt Mile) for Antonio Sano.
Working on the turf course were Reckoning Force (Air Force Blue) (4f, :50.40, Juvenile Turf) and Cazadero (Street Sense) (4f, :50.40, Turf Sprint) for Brendan Walsh; Arrest Me Red (Pioneerof the Nile) (5f, 1:03.60, Turf Sprint) and Campanelle (Ire) (Kodiac {GB}) (5f, 1:03.80, Turf Sprint) for Wesley Ward; Private Creed (Jimmy Creed) (3f, :39, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Steve Asmussen; Tyler's Tribe (Sharp Azteca) (3f, :38.20, Juvenile Turf Sprint) for Tim Martin and Caravel (Mizzen Mast) (4f, :51, Turf Sprint) for Brad Cox.
BC Workers at Churchill Downs
MGISW Cyberknife (Gun Runner) put in his final work for the GI Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile at Churchill Downs Saturday, covering five furlongs in :59 flat. With regular rider Florent Geroux in the saddle, Cyberknife started his work about two lengths behind stablemate Forza Di Oro (Speightstown) and finished even at the completion of his work.
“With a week out from the Breeders' Cup it was the right move we wanted to see,” trainer Brad Cox said. “Both of these horses are really good work horses and I think matching up Cyberknife with him he'd get a lot out of his work. We ended up choosing to run in the Dirt Mile instead of the [GI Breeders' Cup] Classic because we thought it would be the most likely race he could win. The Classic came up a very deep field and even though Cyberknife is going to cut back in distance we feel he can handle the two-turn mile at Keeneland.”
Cox also worked GI Breeders' Cup F/M Sprint contender Lady Rocket (Tale of the Cat). She went five furlongs in 1:00.60 outside 3-year-old filly Girl With a Dream (Practial Joke). Cyberknife and Lady Rocket, along with Cox juveniles Chop Chop (City of Light) and Verifying (Justify), are scheduled to ship to Keeneland Monday.
Also on the Churchill worktab Saturday was GI Breeders' Cup Turf Sprint runner Casa Creed (Jimmy Creed), who went a half-mile in :47.80 outside of a stablemate.
Taiba Has Final Classic Work at Santa Anita
GI Runhappy Santa Anita Derby winner Taiba (Gun Runner) had his final major workout for the Breeders' Cup Classic Saturday, going six furlongs at Santa Anita this morning in 1:13 flat under Juan Ochoa in company with Messier (Empire Maker), who was also clocked in 1:13.
“He went well,” trainer Bob Baffert said. “He's not a great work horse, so he went with Messier. I was happy with it. He'll ship tonight for Kentucky].”
The gutsy Hot Rod Charlie clawed his way back late to deny a late rally from GI Kentucky Derby winner Rich Strike in the GII Lukas Classic S. Saturday beneath the Twin Spires. Favored at 6-5, the bay hustled up to press Art Collector (Bernardini) through opening splits of :23.55 and :47.94. Turning up the heat as three-quarters went in 1:11.77, the bay took control entering the far turn and had his nose in front at the top of the stretch. Rich Strike rallied up the outside and briefly headed Hot Rod Charlie, but the gritty 4-year-old dug deep to deny the Derby winner in the shadow of the wire.
Winner of the GI Pennsylvania Derby last year, Hot Rod Charlie checked in second in both the G1 Dubai World Cup in March and the GIII Salvatore Mile June 18. He was last seen finishing third behind Saturday's GI Woodward S. winner Life Is Good (Into Mischief) in Saratoga's GI Whitney S. Aug. 6.
Pedigree Notes:
Hot Rod Charlie is the lone Grade I winner for his sire Oxbow. He is a half-brother to champion and new Spendthrift sire Mitole. Larry best went to $1.9 million to acquire the winner's dam Indian Miss in foal to Into Mischief at the 2020 KEENOV sale. The resulting foal was a colt and she produced an Instagrand colt this year. Indian Miss was bred back to Practical Joke.
Saturday, Churchill Downs LUKAS CLASSIC S.-GII, $498,000, Churchill Downs, 10-1, 3yo/up, 1 1/8m, 1:49.77, ft.
1–HOT ROD CHARLIE, 125, c, 4, by Oxbow 1st Dam: Indian Miss (Broodmare Of The Year), by Indian Charlie 2nd Dam: Glacken's Gal, by Smoke Glacken 3rd Dam: Lady Diplomat, by Silver Deputy
($17,000 Ylg '19 FTKFEB; $110,000 Ylg '19 FTKOCT).
O-Roadrunner Racing, Boat Racing, LLC, Strauss Bros Racing &
Gainesway Thoroughbreds, Ltd.; B-Edward A. Cox (KY); T-Doug
O'Neill; J-Tyler Gaffalione. $305,520. Lifetime Record:
GISW-USA, GSW & GISP-UAE, 18-5-5-4, $5,556,720. *1/2 to
Mitole (Eskendereya), Ch. Male Sprinter, MGISW, $3,104,910. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Rich Strike, 122, c, 3, Keen Ice–Gold Strike, by Smart Strike.
O-RED TR-Racing, LLC; B-Calumet Farm (KY); T-Eric R. Reed.
$99,200.
3–King Fury, 121, c, 4, Curlin–Taris, by Flatter. ($950,000 Ylg '19
FTSAUG). O-Fern Circle Stables & Three Chimneys Farm, LLC;
B-Heider Family Stables, LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek.
$49,600.
Margins: HD, 4 1/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.33, 4.86, 16.20.
Also Ran: Happy Saver, Art Collector, Chess Chief. Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by TVG.
