Lava Man was assigned high weight of 124 pounds for Saturday’s $750,000 Grade I Hollywood Gold Cup. Lava Man, who will have regular rider Corey Nakatani in the saddle, will be trying to match Native Diver’s record of three consecutive Gold Cup victories in the mid-1960s.
Molengao, who will be ridden by Victor Espinoza, will carry second high weight of 120 pounds in the 1 1/4-mile race that will be run over Cushion Track. A field of eight is shaping up for the Gold Cup as Wilko, who has not won since a victory in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile as a 2-year-old, is now considered probable for trainer Craig Dollase, an Arcadia High School graduate. Joe Talamo, making a late charge at Michael Baze for the Hollypark riding title, will be aboard the 5-year-old.
