Masochistic faces only four in Pat O'Brien

DEL MAR, Calif. – Masochistic, the Grade 1-winning sprinter, might run only three times this year.

Masochistic scored a brilliant win in an optional claimer at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on July 8 while prepping for Saturday’s $200,000 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar. If things go well for Masochistic in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien, the 6-year-old gelding will not race again until the Breeders’ Cup Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5.

The gap between races going forward is ideal, trainer Ron Ellis said.

“It gives us two months,” he said. “He won his Grade 1 off a 2 1/2-month layoff.”

Masochistic won the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita in June 2015; it was the most prestigious of his two stakes wins. A victory in the Pat O’Brien Stakes will have its rewards: The race is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In program, offering a fees-paid berth in the BC Dirt Mile at Santa Anita on Nov. 4.

Ellis said this week that the focus for Masochistic is the BC Sprint and not the Dirt Mile, but a win Saturday would give owners Samantha Siegel and Will Shamlian a reduction in entry and starting fees for the BC Sprint or the option of a start in the BC Dirt Mile.

Masochistic will be a heavy favorite in the Pat O’Brien, which drew only five runners. The only other graded stakes winner in the field is Vyjack, who has not won a stakes in 23 months.

KEY CONTENDERS

Masochistic, by Sought After
Last 3 Beyers: 107-50-77

◗ Masochistic drew the outside post.

“It’s awesome for him,” Ellis said. “He’s the speed of the race.”

◗ Ellis said he has noticed a change in Masochistic of late. Despite setting fast fractions, Masochistic is doing so within himself, Ellis said.

“He saves his energy,” Ellis said. “He used to run on nervous energy. He’d run as far as he could as fast as he could. He’s extremely talented.”

◗ Masochistic was last of 14 in the BC Sprint last year, emerging from the race with a hind-leg injury. The injury forced Masochistic to the sidelines until the July comeback at Santa Anita, in which he led through fast fractions and won by 6 1/4 lengths.

“I was surprised he ran as good as he did,” Ellis said.

◗ Masochistic has worked well in recent weeks, including five furlongs from the gate in 58.60 seconds last Sunday under Tyler Baze, who has the mount. Baze rode Masochistic four times in 2015, including in the Triple Bend. Mike Smith was aboard for the BC Sprint and the comeback win but is riding at Saratoga on Saturday.

Vyjack, by Into Mischief
Last 3 Beyers: 98-94-80

◗ Vyjack was a multiple stakes winner on the East Coast from 2012 to 2014 when trained by Rudy Rodriguez. Vyjack was transferred from Rodriguez to Bill Mott in the spring of 2015 and had one win from six starts for Mott, an allowance race on turf at Keeneland in April. Vyjack has raced primarily on turf in the last year.

◗ Now trained by Phil D’Amato, Vyjack is starting in a sprint for the first time since a third in the Grade 1 Forego Stakes at Saratoga in August 2014.

“I think he’ll be in a good position,” D’Amato said. “He has nice back class on the dirt in graded stakes. We want to see if he can compete with these horses on the dirt.”