Trainer Doug O’Neill said Sunday that Lava Man would be joined by stablemates SQUARE EDDIE
(Smart Strike) and HIGH COURT DRAMA (Ire) (Theatrical [Ire]) in the $100,000
Native Diver H. (G3) going 1 1/8 miles Saturday at Hollywood Park.
While Lava Man galloped on the main track for his first start in more than 16
months, his stablemates both worked. Square Eddie blazed a co-bullet four
furlongs in half-mile in :47 2/5 under exercise rider David Meah, while High
Court Drama was clocked in 1:02 1/2 for five furlongs under exercise rider Sal
Santiago.
“Lava Man looked just great,” said O’Neill, anxious for the comeback race of
the superstar who returned from retirement following stem-cell therapy on his
front ankles.
The eight-year-old Lava Man has won 17 of 46 starts and earned $5,268,706,
most of it after O’Neill claimed him for $50,000 in August of his three-year-old
year. Lava Man seeks his first victory since his third successive score in the
2007 Hollywood Gold Cup (G1) and will be ridden for the first time by Joel
Rosario. O’Neill and Rosario teamed to win the race last year with Slew’s Tizzy.
Square Eddie’s last win came in last year’s Breeders Futurity (G1) at
Keeneland, which also served as his U.S. debut. Since then, the chestnut has
placed in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), San Rafael S. (G3) and Lexington S.
(G2), but has tailed off since cutting back in distance in his past two, running
sixth in the Ancient Title (G1) and 10th in the Breeders’ Cup Turf Sprint. He’ll
be ridden for the first time by Garrett Gomez while returning to a route of
ground.
Irish import High Court Drama won his stateside debut on November 15 over
Hollywood’s turf but also has a good record on Polytrack in Ireland with two
firsts and two seconds in six outings.
Also headed to the Native Diver is Grade 1 hero MAST TRACK (Mizzen Mast), who
has lost nine straight races since capturing the 2008 Hollywood Gold Cup for the
late Bobby Frankel. The five-year-old bay best finish against stakes rivals this
season came as a nose second in the August 2 San
Diego H. (G2) at Del Mar.
Mast Track drilled five furlongs in 1:00 2/5 under exercise rider Jose
Dominguez to gear up for his return off a two-month break.
“I was pleased the way he worked,” said trainer Humberto Ascanio, Frankel’s
long-time assistant who took over the stable following his death on November 16.
“He has been training real well and I expect a good effort out of him in the
race.”
Mast Track will be reunited in the Native Diver with Rafael Bejarano, who has
guided him to three of his five career victories.
Also expected to start in the Native Diver is NEKO BAY (Giant’s Causeway),
who held Mast Track by a length in an allowance in that one’s last start on
October 9 at Santa Anita. The lightly-raced six-year-old Neko Bay, who returned
out of that allowance to run sixth by just 3 3/4 lengths in the Breeders’ Cup
Dirt Mile (G1), will have jockey Mike Smith in the irons for the Native Diver.
Other probable starters include multiple Grade 2 winner WHATSTHESCRIPT (Ire)
(Royal Applause [GB]), Grade 2 victor TRES BORRACHOS (Ecton Park), dual
listed-placed CIGAR MAN (Drewman) and allowance scorer VISCOUNT (Orientate).