Multiple Grade 1 winner Lava Man will be permanently pensioned at Old Friends, a Thoroughbred retirement facility in Georgetown, Kentucky.
The seven-year-old Slew City Slew gelding, who was retired with front ankle problems shortly after finishing last of six in the Eddie Read Handicap (G1) on July 20 at Del Mar, is scheduled to arrive at the farm on September 16.
Owned by the Kenly family’s STD Racing Stable and Jason Woods, Lava Man won 17 of 46 career starts, including seven Grade 1 races, and earned $5,268,706 over six seasons.
“From the beginning, Steve and everyone associated with this amazing athlete have done what's best for Lava Man,” Old Friends President Michael Blowen said. “I can't tell you how thrilled we are that they’ve entrusted the care of this unbelievably talented champion to us.”
As a three-year-old, Lava Man was claimed for $50,000 by trainer Doug O’Neill. He earned his first career graded stakes win in the 2005 Californian Stakes (G2) at Hollywood Park, and, before long, Lava Man became one of the most dominant horses on the California circuit, winning nine consecutive California starts at Del Mar, Hollywood Park, and Santa Anita.
In 2006, Lava Man became the first horse to sweep Southern California's three biggest races—the Santa Anita Handicap (G1), the Hollywood Gold Cup Stakes (G1), and the Pacific Classic Stakes (G1)—in a single season. He also is the only horse to equal Native Diver’s record three consecutive victories in the Hollywood Gold Cup from 2005-’07.
Bred in California by Lonnie Arterburn and Eve and Kim Kuhlmann, Lava Man was named after the annual Lava Man Triathlon that is held each March in Waikoloa, Hawaii.
“Michael called us about retiring Lava Man, and he was just so energetic and excited,” Steve Kenly said. “I didn’t think there was that much interest in the horse outside of the West Coast, and Michael just said, ‘Are you kidding me?’
“We’re not blue-blood, we’re not the uber-wealthy. Lava Man is a small guy’s horse and Michael is a small-guy’s farm, so we thought it was a perfect fit.”
An event celebrating Lava Man’s arrival has been scheduled for October 7 at Old Friends.