Originally Posted by somerfrost

A mixed bag really...on the one hand, Lava Man clearly struggled in the stretch, the entire race fell apart really just as Jerry Bailey said. On the other hand, the grit and determination he displayed is what separates a champion from other horses...the old saying applies here..."the good ones win the close ones and they overcome trouble to do so!" Lava Man clearly stumbled coming out of the gate, PVal cut him off in the first turn (legally), he overcame a lot today and found a way to win...still, that last quarter makes you wonder....