Masochistic full of energy for Santa Anita Sprint Championship
ARCADIA, Calif. – Masochistic, the favorite for Saturday’s $300,000 Santa Anita Sprint Championship, was ready for action on Thursday in the Santa Anita barn area.
Unfortunately, his first objective was attempting a kick in the direction of trainer Ron Ellis.
“He about kicked my head off,” Ellis said.
No one was hurt, but the incident served as a reminder to Ellis that Masochistic is ready for a race in the Grade 1 Santa Anita Sprint Championship at six furlongs. Masochistic can win his first Grade 1 race and his third stakes of 2015 on Saturday.
This could be part of a big month for the winner. The Santa Anita Sprint Championship is part of the Breeders’ Cup Win and You’re In series, offering a fees-paid berth for the winner to the BC Sprint at Keeneland on Oct. 31, provided the horse is paid into the Breeders’ Cup program.
Masochistic was nominated to the Breeders’ Cup for $50,000 before a July 15 discounted deadline, Ellis said.
Other runners include Gimme Da Lute, who has won his last four starts in stakes for 3-year-olds; Wild Dude, who beat Masochistic in the Grade 1 Bing Crosby Stakes at Del Mar in July; and Kobe’s Back, who won the Grade 3 Commonwealth Stakes at Keeneland in April but has lost his last three starts.
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Distinctiv Passion, a four-time stakes winner, is likely to set the pace.
The field will be reduced by one. San Onofre, unraced since finishing fourth in the Grade 1 Triple Bend Stakes in June, was cast in his stall Thursday and will be withdrawn, trainer Karen Headley said.
KEY CONTENDERS
Masochistic (Last 3 Beyers: 103-109-102)
◗ Masochistic will break from the inside post with the expected withdrawal of San Onofre. Masochistic can lead or stalk the pace, and Ellis expects the 5-year-old gelding to be prominent.
“He’s pretty sharp right now, and he could force the issue,” Ellis said. “I imagine we’ll sit a little off Distinctiv Passion.”
◗ Masochistic has not raced since finishing second at 2-5 in the Bing Crosby on July 26.
“He didn’t like Del Mar,” Ellis said. “He’s training great since he got back up here.”
Wild Dude (Last 3 Beyers: 98-106-95)
◗ Wild Dude earned a fees-paid berth in the BC Sprint with his win in the Bing Crosby but must be nominated to the Breeders’ Cup program for $100,000.
◗ In his last start, Wild Dude finished a half-length behind Appealing Tale in the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at seven furlongs at Del Mar on Aug. 22. Wild Dude was always within a half-length of the lead.
“Last time, he had to press the pace,” said Dan Ward, trainer Jerry Hollendorfer’s assistant. “For him to run to win at seven, he’s got to move at the right time. At six, he might be better.”
Gimme Da Lute (Last 3 Beyers: 99-107-102)
◗ This will be Gimme Da Lute’s first start against older horses, if he runs.
“I want to take a look,” trainer Bob Baffert said.
Baffert said Gimme Da Lute missed a scheduled start in the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing on Sept. 19 because of an abscess. Baffert expressed some reservation about running Gimme Da Lute but said the outside draw is favorable.