The Hall of Claim: Lava Man. How a $50,000 Claimer Became A Multi-Surface Champion.
They called him The “Coach” of the backstretch. Here’s his story.
Lava Man (photo credit: America’s Best Racing
Our latest inductee to the Hall of Claim is Lava Man. The Hall of Claim recognizes some of the greatest stories in the history of horse racing that started with a horse being claimed out of a race. Just as they are every day now. Because you never know.
The Humble Beginnings: Sired by the unheralded Slew City Slew, Lava Man was so overlooked early on that he began his career at a county fair meet in a $12,500 maiden claiming race, finishing fourth at odds of 35-1.
The Turning Point: Recognizing raw physical capability beneath an unpolished surface, Doug O’Neill dropped a $50,000 claim slip on the gelding during a mile turf race at Del Mar in August 2004. It would go down as one of the greatest claims in thoroughbred history.
The Historic Ascent: Lava Man didn’t just step up in class; he completely redefined versatility. He became the first and only horse in racing history to win Grade 1 races on three distinct surfaces: traditional dirt, turf, and synthetic polytrack.
The Legacy: He matched the great Native Diver by winning three consecutive editions of the Hollywood Gold Cup (2005–2007) and retired with over $5.2 million in earnings—the ultimate $50k investment. After his racing days, “The Coach” returned to the track as O’Neill’s lead stable pony, famously escorting another champion, I’ll Have Another, to his Kentucky Derby and Preakness victories.
Great idea. Next up, Seabiscuit??