Lava Man chases history as trainer takes it easy

If Lava Man wins a record-equaling third consecutive Hollywood Gold Cup today at Hollywood Park, one person will be conspicuously absent from the winner’s circle photo.

Trainer Doug O’Neill, who claimed the California-bred gelding for $50,000 for owners Steve, Tracy and Dave Kenly and Jason Wood nearly three years ago, won’t be in Inglewood. O’Neill, his wife Linette and mother Dixie are in the midst of a one-week vacation in Ireland, celebrating Dixie’s 70th birthday. They will return home on Monday.

“They planned the trip in January and were locked into these dates,” said Dennis O’Neill, the trainer’s brother and assistant.

In O’Neill’s absence, Leandro Mora, the stable’s head assistant, will saddle Lava Man, who will be favored as he tries to continue his dominance in Hollywood Park’s signature race. Another success would enable him to match Native Diver, who won three consecutive Gold Cups from 1965 to ’67.

Besides a missing trainer, there will be another difference as Lava Man seeks his sixth Grade I win since the start of 2006. The 6-year-old’s other wins in the Gold Cup came on a conventional dirt surface. He will be making his first start on a synthetic track in the 1 1/4 -mile event.

This switch is not a concern for Dennis O’Neill because Lava Man has been training on the Cushion Track for months.

“He’s been on it since they put it in here last fall and he sure seems to love it,” he said. “He’s trained well and he is getting stronger every day. We’re expecting a big effort.”

Molengao, the 5-2 second choice on Russ Hudak’s morning line, is proven over the Cushion. Trying to join 1996 winner Siphon as the lone Brazilian-breds to capture the Gold Cup, Molengao won the Mervyn LeRoy by 4 1/2 lengths May 5.

Trained by Paulo Lobo for owner-breeder Goncalo Borges Torrealba’s T N T Stud, the 6-year-old Royal Academy horse will be trying to turn the tables on the favorite.

Molengao finished second, three-quarters of a length behind Lava Man in their last meeting in the Santa Anita Handicap on March 3.

“His last race was an amazing effort,” Lobo said. “He came into the LeRoy fresh and he’s done very well since that race.

“I thought he ran huge in the Santa Anita Handicap because the pace was slow and he was the only one that was closing ground. I like the way he overcame that and was able to run second.”

Trainer Todd Pletcher, whose last Gold Cup starter was Limehouse, who finished fifth as the favorite in Lava Man’s record 8 3/4 -length victory in 2005, will have his third runner in the race.

A.P. Arrow shipped to California a couple of days ago and probably will be the third choice in the wagering.

Owned and bred by the Allen Paulson Living Trust, A.P. Arrow, a 5-year-old son of A.P. Indy, has won four of 17. He has not been worse than third in four starts at the Gold Cup distance.

The nation’s leading trainer in terms of money earned halfway through the year, Pletcher’s other Gold Cup starter was Harlan’s Holiday, who was second behind Congaree in 2003.

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Before Lava Man tries to complete his hat trick, The Tin Man will attempt to become the first horse to win the $250,000 American Invitational Handicap for a third time.

A 9-year-old Affirmed gelding owned by breeders Ralph and Aury Todd and trained by Richard Mandella, The Tin Man is the defending champion in the Grade II. He also won the 1 1/8 -mile turf race in 2002. The other two- time winners are Bold Tropic (1980-81) and Takarian (1999 and 2001).

Riding a four-race win streak that began with his three-quarters of a length decision over Hendrix in last year’s American, The Tin Man will carry highweight of 123 pounds against six opponents.

The 11-race program, which begins at noon, also includes the $100,000 Landaluce, an ungraded event for 2-year-old fillies.

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bob.mieszerski@latimes.com

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(BEGIN TEXT OF INFOBOX)

Gold Cup

The field for today’s 10th race at Hollywood Park. Post time 4:50 p.m.; TV coverage begins at 4 p.m. on ESPN2.

*--* PP. HORSE JOCKEY 1. My Creed Russell Baze 2. A.P. Xcellent Mike Smith 3. Saint Stephen Jose Valdivia Jr. 4. Porfido Joel Rosario 5. Molengao Victor Espinoza 6. Wilko Joseph Talamo 7. A.P. Arrow David Flores 8. Lava Man Corey Nakatani 9. Big Booster Michael Baze

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Purse: $750,000. Age: 3 years and older. Distance: 1 1/4 miles. Surface: All-weather track.