Denman's Call has Breeders' Cup Sprint as year-end goal

ARCADIA, Calif. – The Breeders’ Cup Sprint this November at Del Mar will be the long-range goal for Denman’s Call, who scored an upset victory in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes last Saturday, according to trainer Doug O’Neill.

Denman’s Call was making his third start following a nine-month layoff in the Triple Bend. The win was his first since a debut victory against maidens in January 2016. He had lost six straight since.

“That was an incredible effort,” O’Neill said. “We gave him time off last year because he was body sore, and fortunately he has super-patient owners. He just needed maturity, both for his mind and his body.”

Masochistic, who finished second as the favorite in the Triple Bend, was “a little tired” following the race, according to trainer Ron Ellis, who said he had not mapped out any immediate plans for Masochistic.

Both Masochistic and Ellis are barred from competing in this year’s Breeders’ Cup owing to a medication violation from last fall’s Breeders’ Cup Sprint that resulted in his disqualification from second place.