LAVA MAN’s (Slew City Slew) racing future was undecided as of Monday morning,
the day after his seventh-place finish in Sunday’s San Gabriel H. (G2), his
first race back since his retirement 17 months ago. The eight-year-old gelding
was beaten about 6 1/4 lengths in the nine-furlong turf race after setting the
pace until turning for home.
“He looks fantastic,” trainer Doug O’Neill said Monday morning from his
Hollywood Park headquarters. “He came out of the race in great shape.
“We’re going to huddle up and figure out what to do. A decision could be made
in maybe a week or so.
“I might send him up to Alamo Pintado (Equine Medical Center in Los Olivos,
California) and let them do a once-over on him, and then let us think about what
they say and do what’s right by Lava Man. We’re going to play it by ear.”
It was decided to bring Lava Man out of retirement after the seven-time Grade
1 winner underwent state-of-the-art procedures at Alamo Pintado
to regenerate cartilage in his ankle.
O’Neill told Daily Racing Form Monday that Lava Man is still under
consideration for the January 30 Sunshine Millions Classic S. at Santa Anita.