Masochistic could return in Midnight Lute Stakes

Masochistic, a multiple stakes winner who has not raced since May, is nearing his first start for trainer Bob Baffert.

Masochistic has been working steadily and could return in the Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita on Dec. 30, Baffert said earlier this week. The $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes is run at 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt.

“We’re sort of looking at the Midnight Lute,” Baffert said. “We’ll see how the next few weeks go.”

Masochistic has not raced since finishing 13th in the Grade 2 Churchill Downs Stakes on the Kentucky Derby undercard on May 6. After that race, Masochistic was rested at Taylor Made Farm in Kentucky.

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The Churchill Downs Stakes was Masochistic’s final start for trainer Ron Ellis. The 7-year-old gelding was initially trained and co-owned by A.C. Avila, and later won 4 of 10 starts for Ellis.

Masochistic resumed training this fall with Baffert. Owned by Samantha Siegel and Will Shamlian, Masochistic has won 8 of 16 starts and earned $857,550.

In 2016, Masochistic finished second in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita, but was later disqualified from the purse because of the presence of a banned steroid. Ellis faces a possible sanction for the positive, but no decision has been announced.

Masochistic, who worked a half-mile in 47.60 seconds at Santa Anita last Saturday, has won three stakes, most notably the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita in 2015.