Lava Claims Hollywood Hat-Trick Lava Man claimed a record-equalling third successive victory in the Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday.The six-year-old is only the second horse to have notched a hat-trick in the Hollywood Park contest alongside Native Diver, who dominated the race between 1965 and 1967.Doug O´Neill´s charge had to give his all for jockey Corey Nakatani as the pacesetting AP Xcellent rallied under pressure, but Lava Man eventually got up by a nose.'It´s not like driving cars. Lava Man has got to do the work,' Nakatani told www.thoroughbredtimes.com.'I was doing everything I could do to keep him out of trouble and get him into the perfect striking position.'I think he deserves (a statue in the paddock). For him to do something that´s only been done once in the history of Hollywood Park, that´s pretty special.'(C) PA Sport
