Lava Man and Super Frolic, first and third in July 8's Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) finished their work for Sunday's $1 million Pacific Classic (gr. I) with solid six-furlong drills Sunday morning over Del Mar's main track.With the 1 1/4-mile Classic just a week away, both veterans of the 2005 renewal were tested in company and both passed with flying colors, nosing out their work mates. The Doug O'Neill-trained Lava Man was clocked in 1:14 flat breezing, and Vladimir Cerin's Super Frolic was timed in 1:12 2/5.Lava Man was joined by 2-year-old filly, Lainey Lu, and Super Frolic was pressed by stakes runner Publication, who picked up Super Frolic at the five-furlong mark. Lava Man was caught in :25 1/5 for the first quarter-mile and then hung up a :49 1/5 half-mile, 1:01 3/5 for five furlongs, and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:27 3/5. Super Frolic went the first three furlongs in :35 4/5, the half-mile in 48 1/5, and galloped out seven furlongs in 1:25 1/5.Regular exercise rider Antonio Romero was aboard Lava Man, and Super Frolic had his regular rider - Jon Court - in the irons. Not surprisingly, trainers O'Neill and Cerin were happy with their workers. "Exactly what we wanted," O'Neill said. Cerin commented, "He worked well and galloped out strong. Everything worked out well."
O'Neill said Lava Man would walk a day, jog a day, and gallop up to the race.Pacific Classic prospect Papi Chullo made a surprise work appearance, going a half-mile in :49 4/5. After the unscheduled work, owner Greg Norman said the colt's regularly scheduled 3-furlong work from the gate on Wednesday is still on tap.
