Masochistic passes steroid test, could resume racing this winter

ARCADIA, Calif. – Masochistic, who was disqualified from a second-place finish in the 2016 Breeders’ Cup Sprint after testing positive for steroids, recently tested negative for steroids and could be allowed to resume racing this winter.

Trainer Ron Ellis said Sunday he was recently informed that Masochistic passed an out-of-competition test for stanozolol, a banned race-day medication that was present in a test taken from the gelding after the $1,365,000 BC Sprint at Santa Anita on Nov. 5. Masochistic was disqualified from the purse of the BC Sprint in late December for stanozolol.

“He’s clean,” Ellis said.

The incident has already cost Masochistic a start at this meeting. Ellis had hoped to run Masochistic in the $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes on Dec. 31 but was informed two days before the race that he could not enter the gelding until a test showed no presence of steroids.

Ellis said he does not have a race planned for Masochistic. The next graded stakes in the sprint division is the $200,000 Palos Verdes Stakes at six furlongs Feb. 4. To be allowed to run in that race, Masochistic must be removed from a veterinarian’s list by undergoing a workout and passing a routine medical test following the exercise.

Masochistic was previously on the stewards’ list for the steroid positive and was transferred to the veterinarian’s list after the recent negative test, according to California equine medical director Rick Arthur.

Ellis said wet conditions at Santa Anita in recent days have kept him from planning a workout.

“We’re waiting to get a break in the weather and work him when it’s safe,” Ellis said.

Masochistic earned $255,000 in the BC Sprint, which was forfeited. The purse was redistributed to the original third- through seventh-place finishers.

Owned by Samantha Siegel and Will Shamlian, the 7-year-old Masochistic has won 8 of 14 starts and earned $772,550. He has won three stakes, including the Grade 2 Pat O’Brien Stakes at Del Mar on Aug. 27.

Masochistic was administered stanozolol after the Pat O’Brien in an effort to add weight, with the expectation that the medication would not be in the horse’s system Nov. 5. Steroids are not allowed to appear at any level in post-race tests. Pre-race tests showed the presence of the steroid at a trace level, and the medication was still present in a post-race tests, resulting in a violation.