Edwards Going Left clearly best in Cal Cup Sprint

ARCADIA, Calif. – Edwards Going Left, racing from the inside throughout, overwhelmed five rivals, including the heavily favored Masochistic, to win his second stakes in Saturday’s $150,345 California Cup Sprint for statebreds at Santa Anita.

The race was essentially won at the end of the backstretch when jockey Tyler Baze urged Edwards Going Left to the front, and past Drayden Van Dyke who was in front aboard Masochistic.

“He showed some guts today,” Baze said of his mount. “Drayden had me in tight. He showed some guts being a half-length behind, stuck inside.”

Edwards Going Left led by 1 1/2 lengths with a quarter-mile remaining and did not face a threat in the stretch, extending a three-length lead with a furlong to go to six lengths at the finish.

B Squared was second. Masochistic, sent off at 3-5 in his first start since May, tamely faded in the final three furlongs to finish fifth, beaten 11 3/4 lengths.

Masochistic led through an opening quarter-mile in 22.50 seconds, leaving Van Dyke confident at that stage.

“I was smiling,” Van Dyke said.

When challenged by Edwards Going Left, Masochistic was quickly out of contention.

“He didn’t fire,” Van Dyke said. “I thought I was in a good spot. I was surprised when I called on him and nothing was there.”

Tough Sunday, second in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes on Dec. 30, finished third, followed by Solid Wager, Masochistic, and Country Road.

The Cal Cup Sprint was Masochistic’s first start for trainer Bob Baffert, who began training the 8-year-old gelding last fall. Masochistic finished second in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint, but was disqualified from the purse money after a post-race tests showed the presence of steroids. Masochistic was trained at the time by Ron Ellis, who is in the midst of a 60-day suspension for the infraction.

Edwards Going Left ($6.80) was timed in 1:09.47 for six furlongs. Trained by John Sadler for Pete and Kosta Hronis, Edwards Going Left won the Cary Grant Stakes for California-breds at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Nov. 19 and was second in the Grade 1 Malibu Stakes at seven furlongs for 3-year-olds here on Dec. 26.

“He’s getting better and better,” Kosta Hronis said. “Tyler rode a good race. He had to make a decision and away he went.”

A gelding by Midnight Lute, Edwards Going Left has won 7 of 11 starts and earned $381,390. He was claimed by Sadler on behalf of Hronis Racing for $50,000 last February from a maiden race for California-breds in which he finished sixth.