Masochistic registers first stakes victory in Kona Gold

Masochistic was never seriously threatened in recording his initial stakes tally (Benoit Photo) Masochistic (Sought After) made his first start for new connections a winning one in Saturday’s $200,250 Kona Gold (G2) at Santa Anita, scoring by three-quarters of a length. The five-year-old gelding earned his first stakes victory as well, completing 6 1/2 furlongs in 1:14 3/5 with jockey Tyler Baze. Jay Em Ess Stable bought into the California-bred following his allowance/optional score on February 28 at Santa Anita and Masochictic was making his first outing for trainer Ron Ellis. He finished second in his previous stakes attempt, the Los Alamitos Mile in early September, and the Kona Gold was only his second start since. “I thought he ran awesome,” Ellis said. “He’s been training great. I’ve been very surprised. It’s been easy to get him to gallop. As we get up higher in graded stakes I think the key with him will be getting him to learn to relax. Masochistic broke on top but San Onofre (Surf Cat) sprinted forward to show the lead by a head to his inside through opening splits of :22 1/5 and :44 3/5. Baze entered the stretch drive with plenty of horse and Masochistic easily seized command after straightening for home, prevailing comfortably in the end.

“This was just basically, don’t change anything that ain’t broken,” said Baze,
who replaced an out-of-town Victor Espinoza in the saddle. “I talked to Victor
(Friday) before he left for Arkansas and he said to get him out of the gate and
keep him going.

“We weren’t going fast down the backside, like 22 and change and 44 and
change, but we picked it up around the turn. When I asked him turning for home,
he pinned his ears and took off.”

“He had a perfect trip. Tyler did a great job,” Ellis added.

San Onofre saved runner-up honors by a neck over the late-running Sahara Sky
(Pleasant Tap).

Off as the 4-5 favorite among six rivals, Masochistic returned a $3.80 win
mutuel.

After dropping his debut, Masochistic reeled off three straight convincing
wins over maiden and allowance/optional claiming opponents. He’s now earned
$343,850 from a 7-5-1-0 career line.

“I think he could go a mile,” Ellis said of future plans. “The Breeders’ Cup
Mile (G1) would be something we’d consider, but we’ll see how he comes out of
this race and go from there.”

Bred by Francois Dupuis and Louise Julian, Masochistic is out of the unraced
Unusual Heat mare Trotinette. He’s the only stakes winner in the first three
generations of his female family.

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