Masochistic will target Triple Bend

Msochistic may leave Santa Anita in late June as a Grade 1 stakes winner.

Saturday, the exciting sprinter won his first stakes in the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes at 6 1/2 furlongs in his first start for trainer Ron Ellis. Sunday, Ellis said the $300,000 Triple Bend Stakes, a Grade 1 at seven furlongs on June 27, is a long-term goal.

The Triple Bend is the final sprint race of the spring-summer meeting at Santa Anita before racing shifts to Los Alamitos and Del Mar for the rest of the summer.

“The Triple Bend is interesting,” he said. “It’s seven-eighths and that might be a good race to shoot for.”

Masochistic won the $200,250 Kona Gold by three-quarters of a length over pacesetter San Onofre, who ran well in defeat. Masochistic was always near the front and was ridden confidently by Tyler Baze.

The Kona Gold was Masochistic’s fifth win in seven starts, and first race since a half-interest in the gelding was acquired privately by Samantha Siegel from trainer A.C. Avila. Last month, Avila was suspended 60 days by the Santa Anita stewards, through mid-May, for a medication violation involving Masochistic in 2014. Masochistic tested in excess of the permitted level of the tranquilizer acepromazine when fifth in his debut in March 2014.

After the suspension was announced, Avila sold his share of Masochistic. A 50-percent share of Masochistic is held by Los Hermanos Racing Stable. The gelding went to Ellis when Avila’s suspension began.

Masochistic won over seven furlongs at Del Mar last August. In his only stakes appearance prior to the Kona Gold, Masochistic was second in the Los Alamitos Mile last September.

“I would think the seven-eighths would be right up his alley,” Ellis said. “He’s got a lot of talent and he does it so easy.”