Lava Man leads the way before Saturday's Hollywood Gold Cup

A three-time winner of the prestigious Hollywood Gold Cup, legendary California-bred Lava Man, who currently resides at trainer Doug O’Neill’s Barn 88, will lead the parade to the post for the race’s 81st running this Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Run at Hollywood Park from 1938 through 2013, the iconic mile-and-a-quarter fixture for 3-year-olds and up was shifted to Arcadia, Calif., in 2014 and renamed the Gold Cup at Santa Anita. Recently restored to its original title, the Grade 1, $300,000 Hollywood Gold Cup will be run as the 10th race on an 11-race program on Saturday, with approximate post time listed at 8:12 p.m. ET.

A winner of three consecutive Gold Cups from 2005-07, Lava Man became the first three-time winner of Hollywood Park’s signature race for the handicap division since Hall of Famer Native Diver did it for trainer Buster Millerick in 1965-67.

Potentially the greatest claim in Thoroughbred history, Lava Man was haltered out of his 13th start for $50,000 on Aug. 13, 2004, at Del Mar. From there, Lava Man amassed more than $5.1 million in earnings for owners STD Racing and Jason Wood while winning 14 races under O’Neill’s skillful direction.

His storybook journey included wins in the 2006 and 2007 Santa Anita Handicaps as well as a stirring victory in the 2006 Pacific Classic at Del Mar. The all-time leading California-bred with seven Grade 1 wins, Lava Man amassed total earnings of $5,268,706 from an overall race record of 47: 17-8-5.

Inducted into racing’s Hall of Fame in 2015, he became a stable pony at age nine for O’Neill in May, 2010 and accompanied O’Neill’s I’ll Have Another to the starting gate prior to victories in both the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes in 2012.

“He’s family to me and to everyone connected with him,” said O’Neill, upon Lava Man’s HOF enshrinement. “You are lucky if you get a horse like this once in a lifetime.”

That's not all for the theatrics involved with Saturday's race.Originally presented on Dec. 9, 1950, and on loan from the California Thoroughbred Foundation, the 1950 Hollywood Gold Cup trophy will adorn a Winner’s Circle ceremony.

Crafted by Shreve & Co., the 1950 trophy consists of more than 42 ounces of 14-Karat Gold, and is more than a foot long.

Won by racing Hall of Famer Noor, who was ridden to victory by Johnny Longden and was owned by the estate of Charles S. Howard (the man who also owned Seabiscuit), the 1950 Hollywood Gold Cup trophy is proudly displayed as part of the California Thoroughbred Foundation’s Charles S. Howard collection.

Noor, who carried co-high weight of 130 pounds, defeated Palestinian by one length while covering the mile and a quarter in 1:59 4/5. With seven wins from 12 starts that year, including a 1 ¼ length triumph over the mighty Citation in the Santa Anita Handicap on Feb. 25, Noor was 1950’s leading money earner with $346,940.