Del Mar, CA (My Sportsbook) - Reports out of Del Mar indicate that veteran racehorse Lava Man has competed for the last time. The seven-year-old gelding finished last in Sunday's Eddie Read Handicap versus five at Del Mar.

"Nothing's official," said Steve Kenley, of co-owner STD Racing, Monday morning, "but I'm sure we'll huddle up and make a decision before too long on what to do. It's nothing we feel we have to do in a day or two, but we'll huddle up and decide to do what's best for the horse."

Lava Man, in a career that spanned 46 starts, earned $5.2 million with 17 wins. In 2006 he became the first horse to sweep the three major handicap races in Southern California in the same year: Santa Anita Handicap, Hollywood Gold Cup and Pacific Classic. His last win was in the 2007 Hollywood Gold Cup, which gave Lava Man three consecutive victories in the event, matching Native Diver's three straight wins in the race.

"We were really confident yesterday (Sunday) because he looked so good in the paddock," Kenley noted, "and he had been training really well since the Whittingham. And he ran great in the Whittingham. With that, we thought we could do better yesterday. We thought he'd be cruising along on the lead and things would go our way."

Lava Man finished a close third to Artiste Royal and Monzante in the Whittingham on June 7.

"We have nothing but appreciation for this horse," Kenley stated. "It's been quite a ride for four years. He's been in the spotlight and he's put us on the map."

Tyler Baze rode Lava Man in Sunday's Eddie Read.

"He felt good out there," Baze said after the race. "He was cool and calm. He's sound, he's happy. And I'm just loving it that I can ride a horse this cool."