New Poll: Lava Man, Now What?
Lava Man still looking game in the Eddie Read (Charles Pravata)
The first thing I thought when Lava Man faded in the stretch was “Was that it? Is that how his career will end?” He was so damn came in the Whittingham and while he looked the part yesterday he just didn’t show up in the stretch.
Was it his time in the Detention Protection Barn? [DRF+] He does like his routine. Was the crowd too tough for him? He held his own last out in roughly the same company.
Retirement is seriously on the table for the wildly successful former claimer and fan favorite. The owners want to give it a week to see how they feel… but what you do think?
They could take the Funny Cide route by trying to find a race with a soft field that he could win and then retire him as a stable pony. They could just try him again at the same level if they thought it was a just an off day, or they can start running him in softer company if they thought he still wanted keep running but wasn’t up for G1 company (thanks Jeff!). Or, they could just turn him out.
Here’s his game effort in the Whittingham:
And his dud in the Eddie Read:
In our last poll about Curlin’s next move, 33 of you, myself included, want him to run on the turf here in the states before deciding on the the Arc, 17 of you thought he should just stick to dirt, 12 of you though he should stay on target for the Arc and 7 of you thought he should point towards the BC Turf.
Remember, the Jess Jackson’s poll is still open… and Turf is the current front runner at 52%.
As always, thanks for participating!
Posted by dana on Jul 21 2008
Filed Under: Doug O'Neill, Charles Pravata, 2008, Poll, Claimer, YouTube, Turf, Fans, Retirement Watch, Lava Man, Race Replay, Racing
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Pelase get a message to Lava Man’s owners if you can; please tell them to simply drop “The Man” into company he can keep, Maybe grade 2 or even grade 3. I’d prefer to see him keep running as long as he was sound and healthy.
I’d take a Lava Man at allowance company than no Lava man at all.
Regards,
Jeff Rosenthal
Buford, GA
One can always hope Lava Man’s owners make it here!
I added keep him running in softer company, thanks for the suggestion!
Remember: last summer Sackatoga entered Funny Cide in a minor stakes at Finger Lakes, with the hope that he could go out with a win on NY track. He did, and even though it was at Finger Lakes in undistinguished company, the guy went out with a win. And few of his fans thought the less of him because of the venue and the competition.
I remember it well… it was my inspiration for that option as I think it’s a totally viable one.
And I still think those of who thought less of him were A-holes! :)
Like Funny Cide, I’d like to see them put him in a softer race, get a win, and then retire him to stable pony/horse racing ambassador. He deserves to go out on a more positive note.
I voted stable pony, but after reading a few comments…
I agree. The Funny Cide exit was classy.
Then stable pony!! I LOVE how Funny Cide lives his life now!!
They should all have such luck.
He’s not done racing. He still tried in the stretch, the others were just too good for him. The detention barn didn’t help but then that is not his fault…
Drop him to GIII and see how he does. He doesn’t really owe anybody anything anyway. Maybe he is just sick of all these drugged up punks, drafted out of high school, who have one good season and then renegotiate their contract to go and breed. Chumps. Doesn’t sit well with old school types like Lava Man.
Why the switch to Baze? What is the deal with C-Nak?
Valerie - ugh, I should have made the combination from the get go!
Since only person voted for the stand alone ’soft race, then retire’ I merged it with ‘west coast Funny Cide’. Apologies to that one person, I hope you’ll come back and vote!
E - right on
Winston - rotten kids! and yeah, I wondered about the jock change too… and the silks change!
I say, move him down to give him a shot at some softer class. Race him once more, or a couple more times if he is successful, and then retire him on a good note. Wouldn’t mind seeing him in a few more races, but I think he’s paid his dues, and should get some rest and relaxation soon.