Lava Man recovering after colic surgery

DEL MAR, Calif. -- Lava Man, a popular gelding who went into the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in 2015 following a career in which he was a three-time winner of the Hollywood Gold Cup and then became a stable pony at the barn of his trainer Doug O'Neill, "underwent colic surgery to correct a large colon displacement" on Tuesday but was back in his stall at a local clinic and beginning the recovery process, O'Neill reported via Twitter on Tuesday night.

In a text message at approximately 6:30 p.m. Pacific on Tuesday, O'Neill said, "All good as we speak."

O'Neill in another text message said that Lava Man would remain at thel clinic, where he had the surgery, to recuperate.

A California-bred, Lava Man, 17, won 17 of 47 starts during a career that saw him earn more than $5.2 million, the bulk of that coming after he was claimed by O'Neill for the Kenly family's STD Racing Stable and Jason Wood.