Masochistic Tries Top Level in Triple Bend

Masochistic, the 5-year-old gelding embroiled in so much controversy in recent years, has proven himself to be a formidable racehorse this season.



Now, under the tutelage of trainer Ron Ellis, the son of Sought After will try the top level of competition in the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes (gr. I) June 27 at Santa Anita Park.



Owned by Los Pollos Hermanos Racing and Jay Em Ess Stable, Masochistic moved to the Ellis barn after previous trainer A. C. Avila was suspended by the California Horse Racing Board for the bay gelding's test that showed elevated levels of acepromazine in March of 2014.



BLOOD-HORSE STAFF: Trainer A. C. Avila Suspended, Fined by CHRB



It didn't take long for Masochistic to make an impression, as he took the April 11 Kona Gold (gr. II) at Santa Anita in both his graded stakes debut and his first start for Ellis.



BALAN: Masochistic Grabs First Stakes in Kona Gold



But what has Ellis so optimistic now, is how his trainee entered the Kona Gold and how he's entering the Triple Bend.



"I didn't know what to expect. When you don't run a horse, you don't know," Ellis said of his preparations for the Kona Gold. "I thought he gave all he could, but he wasn't physically at 100%. He was eating his food off and on, and could have been a touch sharper, but he's eating up a storm now."



Ellis' feelings were validated June 19, when Masochistic sizzled through a bullet six-furlong workout in 1:10 4/5.



"I've only ever worked a horse in 1:10 and change once before," Ellis said, mentioning Rail Trip, who he trained to four graded victories and a second-place finish in the 2012 Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (gr. I). "He was doing it all on his own. I wanted a decent work into him, but if you saw it, you wouldn't have believed (the time). (Jockey) Tyler (Baze) didn't move. He was just pulling him around."



San Onofre and Sahara Sky, second and third in the 6 1/2-furlong Kona Gold, will also return to challenge in the seven-furlong Triple Bend. Matson Racing's San Onofre followed the Kona Gold with another second-place finish in the Los Angeles Stakes (gr. III). Sahara Sky, owned by trainer Jerry Hollendorfer and Sweetwater Stable, is a multiple graded winner, but hasn't won in four starts since last year's San Carlos Stakes (gr. II).



Another Hollendorfer trainee, Wild Dude, won this year's San Carlos and was third in the Los Angeles, 1 1/4 lengths behind San Onofre. Graded stakes placed entrants Blue Tone, Appealing Tale, and Holy Lute complete the field.