Horse Racing: Lava Man goes for third straight Hollywood Gold Cup

Inglewood, CA (Sports Network) - Two-time defending winner Lava Man is back to retain his title in the $750,000 Hollywood Gold Cup on Saturday. The six-year- old can join Native Diver as the only three-time winner of the Gold Cup.
The 1 1/4 mile race has attracted nine older thoroughbreds.
Lava Man, owned by STD Racing and Jason Wood, will start from post eight with regular rider Corey Nakatani in the saddle. Trained by Doug O'Neill, Lava Man is coming off a second place finish in the Charlie Whittingham Handicap on the turf to After Market.
In his career Lava Man has won 16 of 39 starts for more than $4.7 million. This year he won the Sunshine Millions Turf and repeated as champ in the Santa Anita Handicap.
Last year he became the first thoroughbred to sweep the three big handicap races in Southern California in the same year, Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. Lava Man's lone loss in 2006 was a seventh place finish to Invasor in the Breeders' Cup Classic.
Native Dancer won the Hollywood Gold Cup from 1965 to 1967 and along with Lava Man are the only two-time winners of the race. Native Dancer also was third to Colorado King in the 1964 Gold Cup.
Molengao, second in the Santa Anita Handicap, returns to face Lava Man, Coming off a victory in the Mervyn LeRoy Handicap, Molengao will be ridden by Victor Espinoza from post five.