Former claimer Lava Man spurted clear leaving the turn and fended off a furious rally from runner-up Magnum (Arg) in the stretch to win the $1-million Santa Anita Handicap (G1) by three-quarters of a length.

The Slew City Slew gelding, trained by Doug O'Neill for owners STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood, won the Hollywood Gold Cup Handicap (G1) in July. The Big 'Cap, however, marked the most lucrative score of Lava Man's 29-race career and boosted his career earnings to $2,184,706.

"He's joined an incredible list [of Big 'Cap winners]—Affirmed, Spectacular Bid, John Henry," O'Neill said. "I can't even imagine it, but we're in the Big 'Cap books and they can't take that away from us. It's a great feeling."

O'Neill claimed Lava Man for his current owners $50,000 on August 13, 2004, at Del Mar. Since that astute claim, the dark bay or brown gelding has won or placed in nine stakes races and captured three graded races.

Guided by Corey Nakatani, Lava Man raced four wide in the early stages of the 1 1/4-mile test for older horses along with multiple Grade 2 winner High Limit, Spellbinder, and pacesetter With Distinction. Two Grade 1 winners—2005 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Giacomo and 2004 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) victor Wilko—raced in eighth and ninth, respectively, through a half-mile in :47.21.

Lava Man seized command at the quarter-pole with 8-to-5 favorite High Limit within a half-length, but leaving the turn the former claimer spurted clear gamely to open up by two lengths.

Longshot Magnum (Arg) split rivals entering the lane and rallied willingly along the rail, but Lava man would not be denied, completing the circuit in 2:00.57 over a fast track.

Wilko passed tiring rivals to finish 7 1/2 lengths behind Magnum in third. High Limit and Giacomo never threatened and hit the wire in fourth and fifth, respectively.

Bred in California by Lonnie Arterburn, Eve Kuhlmann, and Kim Kuhlmann, Lava Man is out of the winning Nostalgia's Star mare Li'l Ms. Leonard.

For an Equibase chart, click here.