by K. T. Donovan

Lava Man is a Grade 1 winner on turf and dirt, but trainer Doug O’Neill had been saying all week he would approach the Sunshine Millions San Manuel Indian Bingo and Casino Turf Stakes as if the seven-year-old gelding was an underdog.

If a horse who eclipsed $4-million in earnings can ever be considered an underdog, then Lava Man not only fit the bill but prospered in his role, thrilling his fans with an easy victory in the $500,000 race on Saturday at Santa Anita Park.

Wild Buddy led the field through the first six furlongs while the rest of the field remained bunched two or more lengths back.

Lava Man settled off the rail in fourth and made his move midway up the backstretch. The Slew City Slew gelding had the lead by the turn and drew away to loud cheers all down the stretch to win by two lengths, covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:47.60 for his sixth victory in 12 turf starts.

The win for the former claimer was his 15th from 36 starts, boosting his earnings to $4,079,706. Icy Atlantic closed well but too late, and held off Go Between, who also closed strongly, by a neck to keep second.

“I was just biding my time, letting him get into stride,” said an elated Corey Nakatani, who hugged and kissed his mount on the way back to the winner’s circle. “Doug and the owners are thinking he could go for the championship on grass or go to Dubai.”

Lava Man is out of Li’l Ms. Leonard, by Nostalgia’s Star.

For an Equibase chart, click here.

K. T. Donovan is a Thoroughbred Times contributing writer