Stevie Wonderboy to Jog Next Week

(from Hollywood Park notes)
Stevie Wonderboy, winner of the Bessemer Trust Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) at Belmont Park on Oct. 29, will be back on the Hollywood Park track next week, trainer Doug O'Neill said Friday.

"He's been tack-walking twice a day since he got back," said O'Neill. "He's doing fabulous. He looks better than he did going to the Breeders' Cup.

"He will probably have his first work back in December," said O'Neill of the Merv Griffin-owned son of Stephen Got Even. O'Neill said the colt would not race again this year and begin his 3-year-old campaign in either January or February.

O'Neill said that Hollywood Gold Cup (gr. I) winner Lava Man was scheduled to work Saturday under Corey Nakatani before being flown to Japan Tuesday for the Japan Cup Dirt (Jpn-I) on Nov. 26. Assistant Leandro Mora, exercise rider Tony Romero and groom Noe Garcia will accompany the horse to Japan. Nakatani has the call. Lava Man bled in his last start in the Jockey Club Gold Cup (gr. I) at Belmont on Oct. 1, when he was unplaced.

O'Neill also said that multiple stakes winner Whilly will race in Hong Kong on Dec. 11 with jockey Felipe Martinez during a rich day of international races.