Lava Man, Champs Elysees try to get back on track in
Whittingham
Seven-time Grade 1 star LAVA MAN (Slew City Slew) will try to snap a
four-race losing streak in Saturday’s $300,000 Charles Whittingham Memorial H.
(G1). Intriguingly, his two primary opponents are also on recovery missions of
their own in this grassy 1 1/4-mile affair at Hollywood Park. CHAMPS ELYSEES
(GB) (Danehill) was upset as the 2-5 choice last time out, and ARTISTE ROYAL
(Ire) (Danehill) has not visited the winner’s circle since taking the Clement L.
Hirsch Turf Championship S. (G1) last October.
This will be the third straight year that Lava Man has competed in the
Whittingham, posting a victory in 2006 and a solid second last year. Each time,
the Whittingham served as his prep en route to scores in the Hollywood Gold Cup
(G1). Trainer Doug O’Neill hopes that Saturday’s renewal will set Lava Man up
for an unprecedented fourth straight win in the Gold Cup on June 28.
Since achieving his historic three-peat in the Gold Cup last June, the dark
bay gelding has gone winless. After turning in three straight sixth-place
finishes, he went to the sidelines for some rest and recreation. The
seven-year-old made his first start back in the April 27 Khaled S. versus
California-breds, where he pressed the pace before fading to third, beaten 2 1/2
lengths by MR. WOLVERINE (Last Lion). Despite his string of subpar efforts, Lava
Man still ranks as the 121-pound highweight on Saturday. Tyler Baze will take
over the riding assignment from Corey Nakatani, who had guided him for his last
18 races, in hopes of improving his fortunes.
Juddmonte Farms’ homebred Champs Elysees was a handy winner of the San Marcos
S. (G2) in January. The Bobby Frankel trainee then tried the Cushion Track for
the first time in the Santa Anita H. (G1), finishing strongly for third after
finding trouble. Back on the turf last time out for the May 10 Jim Murray
Memorial H. (G2), Champs Elysees struck the front on the far turn, only to be
run down late by On the Acorn (GB) (Inchinor [GB]). Like Lava Man, Champs
Elysees will also get a rider switch, as Rafael Bejarano picks up the mount. The
full brother to champions Banks Hill (GB) and Intercontinental (GB) will
shoulder 119 pounds.
Artiste Royal has run creditably, albeit in defeat, in his last four outings
for Neil Drysdale. A respectable eighth in the Japan Cup (Jpn-G1) going 1 1/2
miles in November, the seven-year-old bay has cut back in trip this season. He
was runner-up in the Frank E. Kilroe Mile H. (G1), fourth in the one-mile
Arcadia H. (G2), and most recently third in the 1 1/8-mile Woodford Reserve Turf
Classic (G1). Artiste Royal figures to enjoy stepping back up to 10 furlongs
here. In keeping with the theme of musical riders, David Flores will be in the
saddle.
Completing the seven-horse field are Grade 3 winner WARNING ZONE (Chester
House), exiting a runner-up effort in the San Juan Capistrano Invitational H.
(G2); MONZANTE (Maria’s Mon), who captured the Santana Mile H. on the Cushion
Track two back; and multiple stakes hero PLUG ME IN (Hold for Gold), the likely
pacesetter.
Monzante will lead the post parade beneath a 113-pound impost, mostly
comprising Joel Rosario. Next will come Artiste Royal, 117; Warning Zone, Mike
Smith, 115; Mr. Wolverine, Michael Baze, 114; Plug Me In, Alonso Quinonez, 113;
Lava Man; and Champs Elysees.
Hollywood will host two other turf stakes on Saturday. The $175,000
Honeymoon H. (G2), the final local prep for the July 5 American Oaks
Invitational (G1), features a field of nine sophomore fillies. Headlining the 1
1/8-mile test is MISSIT (Ire) (Orpen). A smart performer in England last year,
the bay finished a close second in the Rockfel S. (Eng-G2) and Radley S., and
checked in a decent fifth in the Cheveley Park S. (Eng-G1). Missit made her
American debut for Ben Cecil in the Providencia S. (G2) and got up in the final
strides, just nipping SWEETER STILL (Ire) (Rock of Gibraltar [Ire]) by a nose,
with BEL AIR SIZZLE (Unusual Heat) third.
The Providencia form has held up well. Sweeter Still came right back to
capture the Senorita S. (G3), holding on from a fast-finishing MAGICAL FANTASY
(Diesis [GB]). The Barry Abrams-trained Bel Air Sizzle, who had in the meantime
won the Melair S. via disqualification, was again third in the Senorita.
Abrams will also saddle LETHAL HEAT (Unusual Heat) in the Honeymoon. After
capturing her first two starts on the turf, the California-bred switched to the
Cushion Track and rallied to victory in the Santa Paula S. (G3), but suffered
her first defeat when third in the Railbird S. (G3). Lethal Heat will be
tackling two turns for the first time here.
Older distaffers will travel a grassy mile in the $75,000
Redondo Beach S. TUTTA BELLA (Holy Bull), who posted a front-running score
in her stakes debut in the Fran’s Valentine S., will attempt to extend her
winning streak to four. Among her nine rivals are San Clemente H. (G2) heroine
PASSIFIED (GB) (Compton Place), a near-miss runner-up to FLEET CAROLINE (Tejano
Run) in her 2008 bow; French listed winner GREEN LYONS (Ire) (Green Desert),
beaten all of a neck in third in that same allowance/optional claimer; multiple
English Group 3 queen WAKE UP MAGGIE (Ire) (Xaar), most recently successful in
the Long Beach S. at this course and distance; and multiple stakes victress
UNSPOKEN WORD (Catienus), a close second in the Mother’s Day H. in her latest
venture.