Lava Man

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 2:08 am

Just watched replay and read the footnotes. Says hinds were bloody, hopes he comes out race ok. I knew he couldn't come back as I stated previously as a graded stakes. Wish him well thou one of my favs.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 7:48 am

I think asking him to go a mile and an eighth off an 18 month layoff against graded stakes horses is a bit much. He was pretty pumped up in the paddock and post parade. My guess is we'll see him next in the Sunshine Millions. I would rather they ship up north for a soft spot in a local GGF stake..

fastappy · Postby **fastappy** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:15 am

zinn21 wrote:I think asking him to go a mile and an eighth off an 18 month layoff against graded stakes horses is a bit much. He was pretty pumped up in the paddock and post parade. My guess is we'll see him next in the Sunshine Millions. I would rather they ship up north for a soft spot in a local GGF stake..

I completely agree, that's asking an awful lot of any horse coming off surgery and a lay off. The connections have to understand that a horse like Lava Man comes maybe once in a lifetime. He ran his heart out for the connections and perhaps they want it to go on, but it's probably not in the cards.

ireneinwa · Postby **ireneinwa** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 11:35 am

zinn21 wrote:I think asking him to go a mile and an eighth off an 18 month layoff against graded stakes horses is a bit much. He was pretty pumped up in the paddock and post parade. My guess is we'll see him next in the Sunshine Millions. I would rather they ship up north for a soft spot in a local GGF stake..

That's where they should have started up North.

Shammy Davis · Postby **Shammy Davis** » Mon Dec 28, 2009 5:44 pm

I wasn't disappointed in this effort. It looked to me that he made 7f on the lead against some pretty substantial company. I noted that his ears were pinned throughout but after a long layoff maybe he wasn't so comfortable. I hope they can keep him healthly, I love it when the old "war horses" show their stuff. I wish he was a better shipper. With the Doug O'Neil barn in PA, I'd traveled up to see him. I rather see LAVA MAN running at Philly Park than standing in paddock at KY Horse Park.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:03 am

They interviewed Doug yesterday on HRTV and he said LM came back dead tired and drank two buckets of water. He thought he had him tighter. Said he experienced a superficial cut near his stifle they surmise occurred coming out of the starting gate.

I looked at a form going into the race and it sure as hell looked like he wasn't ready to go a mile and an eighth on paper so I'm am totally not surprised he came back tired.

He needs a softer spot but will bet a dollar to a donut they will enter in one of the Sunshine millions races and decide to run..

jrgators · Postby **jrgators** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 2:05 pm

i enjoyed seeing the old guy out there doing his thing. He was obviously out of gas at the head of the lane, but he ran a strong race to the point that he ran out of gas.

These guys have a horse that they love, and that tens of thousands around the planet love as well. I'm sure he'll come back to a good level, but I agree with an earlier poster who said putting him in an easy spot at GG maybe a good move for him too.

Theo

Lisann · Postby **Lisann** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 10:01 am

I enjoyed seeing him race again. I think the old war horses like this are great for race fans. Hope he just needed a race....

theballandchain · Postby **theballandchain** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:52 am

I just hope they are making absolutelty all choices for the good of this and every horse! I have my reservations

karenkarenn · Postby **karenkarenn** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 6:58 pm

http://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/ ... f-comeback

WHAT! WHAT IS THIS, CANT THEY MAKE UP THEIR MINDS

ArchDandy · Postby **ArchDandy** » Tue Jan 05, 2010 11:02 pm

Of the options they listed, I like him being a pony the best.

winds · Postby **winds** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:04 am

I think they made the right decision, personally they shouldn't have brought him back.

winds

UmmYeah · Postby **UmmYeah** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:41 am

This is just stupid, and it makes me think that the owners had completely unrealistic expectations in regards to this comeback. Any horse running a mile and an eighth off a layoff of nearly a year and a half (against graded company no less!) could be expected to tire in the stretch. Under the circumstances, I think his race was about the best that anyone in their right minds could hope. Yet these dummies are disappointed and "expecting more out of him." There are old warriors that are LM's age or older who are still winning stakes races, yet these doofuses conclude after this one race that "obviously he has lost a step."

So fine. With these idiots calling the shots for him, it is probably much better off that he doesn't race anymore.

zinn21 · Postby **zinn21** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 2:51 pm

Umm Yeah wrote:

This is just stupid, and it makes me think that the owners had completely unrealistic expectations in regards to this comeback. Any horse running a mile and an eighth off a layoff of nearly a year and a half (against graded company no less!) could be expected to tire in the stretch. Under the circumstances, I think his race was about the best that anyone in their right minds could hope. Yet these dummies are disappointed and "expecting more out of him." There are old warriors that are LM's age or older who are still winning stakes races, yet these doofuses conclude after this one race that "obviously he has lost a step."

So fine. With these idiots calling the shots for him, it is probably much better off that he doesn't race anymore.

Absolutely dead on.. What a bunch of idiots.

My only other thought is I wonder if he came back with puffy or hot ankles and they are using his performance as an excuse to bail out without telling the truth about his soundness?? Guess we'll never know..

UmmYeah · Postby **UmmYeah** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 4:46 pm

zinn21 wrote:My only other thought is I wonder if he came back with puffy or hot ankles and they are using his performance as an excuse to bail out without telling the truth about his soundness?? Guess we'll never know..

Yeah, that is possible, but I don't know if that's too likely. Any bigger soundness issues would still come out in his new career (although I guess the could act like those issues happened after this announcement). Plus, looking back, they have been consistent in what they have said regarding his comeback.

For instance, I interpreted phrases like "if he couldn't compete at the highest level, we wouldn't continue" to mean that they wouldn't drop him into a claiming race to keep him competitive. In retrospect, I was giving them much too much credit. Evidently what they were really saying is "if he can't hit the board in his first race, he probably won't be able to win in Dubai or at the Breeder's Cup, so let's just not bother." Now, I'm starting to doubt whether this was ever about what was best for Lava Man, so much as an opportunity for these owners to have a top horse again.