Lava Man Oozes Class Lava Man became the the first horse to claim Southern California's ?big three' Grade One handicaps after a comfortable success in the 1 million Pacific Classic at Del Mar on Sunday.The five-year-old Slew City Slew gelding was adding to Grade One victories in the Hollywood Gold Cup and Santa Anita Handicap and cruised home by two-and-a-half lengths.He was winning his seventh race from 11 career starts and his story is all the more remarkable as he was claimed for only 50,000 two years ago by trainer Doug O'Neill.Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Lava Man was never far from the pace and took up the running over two furlongs out to beat Good Reward, partnered by Garrett Gomez.'When I hit the button at the three-eighths (pole), I wanted him to kick away from them,' said Nakatani, who notched his first Pacific Classic win in 10 attempts.'I wanted him to put some distance between us and the field. And he did that. He did everything I asked of him ... and less. After he cleared in the stretch, he just started waiting on them.'This horse has gears, so many gears,' the jockey told www.bloodhorse.com. 'What a horse. He's just about unbelievable.''We kept worrying about what kind of trip we were going to get from the two hole (stall), but Corey just rode him absolutely to a T,' said O'Neill, who was saddling his first Pacific Classic winner.Giocomo, the 2005 Kentucky Derby winner, came home fifth.(C) PA Sport
