Masochistic most impressive in Triple Bend

ARCADIA, Calif. – Masochistic is winning major sprint stakes in California without really trying.

After the 5-year-old gelding won the $300,500 Triple Bend Stakes at Santa Anita on Saturday for his third consecutive victory, jockey Tyler Baze insisted that Masochistic was far from extended in his effort.

“All I can say is awesome,” Baze said. “I rode him in a workout last week, and he was very quiet and very patient. I didn’t let him run at all in the workout, and I let him run a sixteenth today.”

Masochistic ($4.20) ran seven furlongs in 1:20.25, finishing 3 1/2 lengths in front of 12-1 Appealing Tale. Wild Dude, a 9-1 shot, finished third in the field of seven.

Baze had Masochistic disputing the pace from the start with San Onofre through moderate fractions of 22.85 seconds for the opening quarter-mile and 45.16 for the first half-mile. Masochistic took a clear lead on the turn and was not challenged in the stretch, leading by 2 1/2 lengths with a furlong remaining.

“He did it nicely and very relaxed,” trainer Ron Ellis said. “That’s the key with him.”

San Onofre finished fourth, followed by Sahara Sky, Blue Tone, and Holy Lute.

Appealing Tale ran in the first Grade 1 race of his career in the Triple Bend in his 22nd start, leaving trainer Peter Miller pleased with the performance.

“He ran awesome,” Miller said. “There was no pace, so for him to run into those slow fractions, I’m happy with him.”

Masochistic, a California-bred gelding by the Seeking the Gold stallion Sought After, races for Samantha Siegel’s Jay Em Ess Stable and Los Pollos Hermanos Racing. Masochistic has won 6 of 8 starts and earned $523,850. He joined Ellis’s stable in March from trainer A.C. Avila after Siegel purchased an interest in the gelding.

The Triple Bend was Masochistic’s first start since a win in the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs on April 11. Baze rode Masochistic for the first time in the Kona Gold.

“Ron gave him the time between races, and the horse has changed so much,” Baze said. “Mentally, he’s slowed down a little bit. He was more aggressive before.”