Lava Man (USA)
March 20, 2001 – Living
Slew City Slew (USA) x Li'l Ms. Leonard (USA), by Nostalgias Star (USA)
Family 8-k
March 20, 2001 – Living
Slew City Slew (USA) x Li'l Ms. Leonard (USA), by Nostalgias Star (USA)
Family 8-k
Lava Man began his racing career in a US$12,500 maiden claiming race on the California fair circuit. By the end of his racing career, he was recognized as one of the best horses ever bred in California. Although he failed to win outside the Golden State, he received American racing's ultimate accolade in 2015 with induction to the National Museum of Racing's Hall of Fame. He continues to contribute to horse racing as a fan favorite and as a “coach” of young racehorses for trainer Doug O'Neill. He has also contributed to veterinary medicine as an example of racehorse rehabilitation through the use of stem cell therapy.
Race record
46 starts, 17 wins, 8 seconds, 5 thirds, US$5,268,706
2004:
2005:
2006:
2007:
2008:
Honors
As an individual
A handsome dark bay or brown gelding, Lava Man is intelligent and loves human attention. As a racehorse, he showed great tenacity, courage and adaptability. He was troubled by chronic foot issues during much of his racing career. He was rather high-strung as a racehorse but has mellowed as a stable pony, though he has days when he will test his human partners. As a “coach” of young racehorses, he helps teach them manners and provides them with a calming influence.
Connections
Foaled in California, Lava Man was bred and owned by Lonnie Arterburn, Eve Kuhlmann and Kim Kuhlmann. He was initially trained by Lonnie Arterburn. He was claimed for US$50,000 at the 2004 Del Mar meeting by trainer Doug O'Neill on behalf of STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood. Lava Man was officially retired July 30, 2008 after radiographic examination revealed degenerative changes in both front ankles. After having chips removed and receiving stem cell treatment to improve his soundness and comfort level, he was initially turned out at a small farm with the intent of moving him to Old Friends near Georgetown, Kentucky, as a permanent pensioner. The gelding did not seem to enjoy life at pasture and returned to O'Neill's barn, where a brief racing comeback failed with an unplaced finish in the San Gabriel Handicap (USA-G2) on December 27, 2009. While Lava Man came out of the San Gabriel sound and healthy, his owners decided to retire him permanently based on their judgment that he was no longer capable of competing at the top level. Lava Man is now a stable pony for Doug O'Neill.
Pedigree notes
Lava Man is inbred 5x5 to four-time American champion broodmare sire Prince John. He is a half brother to 2010 Del Mar Mile Handicap (USA-G2) winner Enriched (by High Brite). His dam Li'l Ms. Leonard (by 1986 Charles H. Strub Stakes, USA-G1, winner Nostalgia's Star) was a good allowance filly and much the best runner produced by unraced Pink Native (by Grade 3 winner Be a Native). Pink Native, in turn, was produced from Pink Khal (by the winning Khaled horse Khalex), a full sister to minor stakes winner Jobil and a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner C. Q. Cady (by British Roman). Pink Khal is also a half sister to Joquill (by Tipoquill), dam of the minor stakes winners Nuquill (by Noble Union) and Son Gary (by Son Ange). The female line traces back to Forever (by Ballot), dam of 1928 Belmont Stakes winner Vito (by Negofol).
Books and media
Fun facts
Photo credits
Photos taken by Jessica Morgan at Churchill Downs in 2012. Used by permission.
Race record
46 starts, 17 wins, 8 seconds, 5 thirds, US$5,268,706
2004:
- Won Derby Trial Stakes (USA, 8.5FD, Fairplex)
- 2nd Malibu Stakes (USA-G1, 7FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd California Cup Classic Handicap (USA-R, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- 2nd On Trust Handicap (USA-R, 7.5FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Pomona Derby (USA-L, 8.5FD, Fairplex)
2005:
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Californian Stakes (USA-G2, 8.5FD, Hollywood)
- 3rd Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
2006:
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Pacific Classic Stakes (USA-G1, 10FD, Del Mar)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup (USA-G1, 10FD, Hollywood)
- Won Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Hollywood)
- Won Goodwood Breeders' Cup Handicap (USA-G2, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Sunshine Millions Classic Stakes (USA-R, 9FD, Santa Anita)
- Won TVG Khaled Stakes (USA-R, 9FT, Hollywood; new course record 1:44.26)
2007:
- Won Santa Anita Handicap (USA-G1, 10FD, Santa Anita)
- Won Hollywood Gold Cup (USA-G1, 10FA, Hollywood; new track record (synthetic) 2:03.21)
- Won Sunshine Millions Turf Stakes (USA-R, 9FT, Santa Anita)
- 2nd Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Hollywood)
2008:
- 3rd Charles Whittingham Memorial Handicap (USA-G1, 10FT, Hollywood)
- 3rd Khaled Stakes (USA-R, 9FT, Hollywood)
Honors
- National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame (inducted in 2015)
- Arcadia Historial Society Walk of Champions (inducted in 2016)
- Eclipse Award nominee as American champion older male (2006)
- California-bred Horse of the Year (2005, 2006)
- California-bred champion older male (2005, 2006, 2007)
- California-bred champion turf horse (2006)
As an individual
A handsome dark bay or brown gelding, Lava Man is intelligent and loves human attention. As a racehorse, he showed great tenacity, courage and adaptability. He was troubled by chronic foot issues during much of his racing career. He was rather high-strung as a racehorse but has mellowed as a stable pony, though he has days when he will test his human partners. As a “coach” of young racehorses, he helps teach them manners and provides them with a calming influence.
Connections
Foaled in California, Lava Man was bred and owned by Lonnie Arterburn, Eve Kuhlmann and Kim Kuhlmann. He was initially trained by Lonnie Arterburn. He was claimed for US$50,000 at the 2004 Del Mar meeting by trainer Doug O'Neill on behalf of STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood. Lava Man was officially retired July 30, 2008 after radiographic examination revealed degenerative changes in both front ankles. After having chips removed and receiving stem cell treatment to improve his soundness and comfort level, he was initially turned out at a small farm with the intent of moving him to Old Friends near Georgetown, Kentucky, as a permanent pensioner. The gelding did not seem to enjoy life at pasture and returned to O'Neill's barn, where a brief racing comeback failed with an unplaced finish in the San Gabriel Handicap (USA-G2) on December 27, 2009. While Lava Man came out of the San Gabriel sound and healthy, his owners decided to retire him permanently based on their judgment that he was no longer capable of competing at the top level. Lava Man is now a stable pony for Doug O'Neill.
Pedigree notes
Lava Man is inbred 5x5 to four-time American champion broodmare sire Prince John. He is a half brother to 2010 Del Mar Mile Handicap (USA-G2) winner Enriched (by High Brite). His dam Li'l Ms. Leonard (by 1986 Charles H. Strub Stakes, USA-G1, winner Nostalgia's Star) was a good allowance filly and much the best runner produced by unraced Pink Native (by Grade 3 winner Be a Native). Pink Native, in turn, was produced from Pink Khal (by the winning Khaled horse Khalex), a full sister to minor stakes winner Jobil and a half sister to multiple juvenile stakes winner C. Q. Cady (by British Roman). Pink Khal is also a half sister to Joquill (by Tipoquill), dam of the minor stakes winners Nuquill (by Noble Union) and Son Gary (by Son Ange). The female line traces back to Forever (by Ballot), dam of 1928 Belmont Stakes winner Vito (by Negofol).
Books and media
- Lava Man is the subject of a DVD biography that was given away to fans at Hollywood Park in December 2007. Narrated by Jim Forbes (whose other credits include VH1's Behind the Music series), the material included on the DVD was later incorporated into the TVG Network's series Legends.
- Lava Man has a Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/IamLavaMan. His Twitter account is @IamLavaMan.
- Inside Information: Lava Man aired on HRTV on December 30, 2012.
Fun facts
- Lava Man was named for a triathlon held on the Big Island of Hawaii by co-breeder Eve Kuhlmann, a triathlete.
- In 2006, Lava Man became the first horse since Vanlandingham in 1985 to win Grade 1 stakes on both dirt and turf in the same year.
- In 2006, Lava Man became the first horse to sweep the top races for older males at each of California's major tracks—the Santa Anita Handicap at Santa Anita, the Hollywood Gold Cup at Hollywood) and the Pacific Classic Stakes at Del Mar—during a single season.
- Lava Man's victory in the 2007 Hollywood Gold Cup enabled him to repeat Native Diver's feat of winning the Hollywood Gold Cup in three consecutive years, and he accomplished the triple on two different surfaces, dirt and synthetic.
- Lava Man's 2007 Hollywood Gold Cup win made him the first horse ever to win Grade 1 races on dirt, turf and synthetic surfaces.
- Lava Man retired as the richest horse ever to have been actually claimed during its career.
- Lava Man's total of seven Grade 1 victories is the highest ever for a California-bred.
- Lava Man earned nine triple-digit Beyer speed figures during his career, including a career high of 120 for the 2005 Hollywood Gold Cup.
- Lava Man came back into the limelight in 2012 as the regular lead pony for that year's Kentucky Derby/Preakness Stakes winner I'll Have Another, also trained by Doug O'Neill.
- In 2013, Lava Man made his debut as a show horse at the Thoroughbred Classic Horse Show held at the Rancho Mission Viejo Riding Park. He won all three classes in which he was entered.
Photo credits
Photos taken by Jessica Morgan at Churchill Downs in 2012. Used by permission.
Last updated: January 29, 2022