HORSE RACING

• Lava Man continues training for return

  
  

  By Don Agriss, Horse Racing Editor Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Fan favorite Lava Man took to the track again Friday morning in preparation for his return to the races. The eight- year-old gelding was retired back in July of last year.

  Under the watchful eye of trainer Doug O'Neill, Lava Man worked four furlongs at Hollywood Park Friday morning in 50 1/5-seconds.

  "He was just breezing," O?Neill noted.

  "It's very exciting.

  He's doing everything right. He's sound and he looks like the picture of health." O'Neill has not committed himself to a return race for the millionaire thoroughbred, but indicated that Hollywood Park would most likely be the site for the comeback.

  Lava Man earned more than $5.2 million in his racing career. His first official workout came on Wednesday, September 23 at Hollywood Park. He went three furlongs in 36-seconds on Hollywood Park's synthetic surface.

  O'Neill trains Lava Man for owners STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood. The gelding became the first horse to sweep southern California's three major handicap races in the same year. In 2006 he won the Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic.

  Lava Man captured the Hollywood Gold Cup three straight years beginning in 2005 and won the Santa Anita Handicap in 2006 and 2007. His last race was last year's Eddie Read Handicap at Del Mar when he finished sixth.

  10/02 16:42:27 ET