Lava Man edged A.P. Xcellent by a nose to win a record-tying third consecutive $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday in a thrilling duel to the wire in Inglewood, Calif.
Lava Man tied the mark of three-time winner Native Diver, who is buried at Hollywood Park where the horse, nicknamed “The Black Bullet,” won the Gold Cup from 1965-67.
“This meant a lot,” co-owner Steve Kenly said. “To tie a record like that is something.”
Ridden by Corey Nakatani, Lava Man covered 1 1/4 miles in 2:03.21, the slowest winning time since Seabiscuit (2:03 4/5) took the inaugural race in 1938. Lava Man paid $4.80, $3 and $2.10 as the 7-5 wagering favorite.
A.P. Xcellent returned $7.40 and $4.80, while Big Booster earned $8.40 to show.
Already the richest claiming horse in history, Lava Man earned $450,000 to push his career total to $5,189,706.
Political Force rallied to beat Fairbanks by 1 1/4 lengths in the $400,000 Suburban Handicap at Belmont Park in New York.
Political Force earned $240,000 for owner Joseph Allen and paid $12, $4.70 and $4.50. Fairbanks set the pace and returned $3.50 and $4.50. Malibu Moonshine, the longest shot in the race at 52-1, paid $10.60 to show.
