Masochistic dominates the Grade 1 Triple Bend
In a performance that made even money look like a gift, Masochistic dueled for the lead throughout the Grade 1 Triple Bend Handicap before opening up at the top of the stretch to easily run away with the victory.
Under the expert guidance of Tyler Baze, Masochistic bounced out of the gate in good order and went straight to the lead. He was quickly joined by San Onofre to his inside and Holy Lute to his outside. They were followed by Appealing Tale, Wild Dude, and Blue Tone, and Sahara Sky was the early trailer.
Racing nearly in tandem, San Onofre and Masochistic zipped through the opening splits in :22.85 and :45.16. At the half-mile call, the running positions had not changed aside from San Onofre briefly poking his head in front, but by the top of the stretch, San Onofre was left spinning his wheels as Appealing Tale launched his bid for the lead and moved into second.
While the rest of the field was jockeying for the minor awards, there was no doubt as to who the winner would be once the field spun for home. Tipping his ears back and forth, Masochistic easily opened up on the field to cross the wire the winner by 3 ½ lengths in a final time of 1:20.25 for 7 panels, just :00.55 off the track record set by Twirling Candy back in 2010.
Winning rider Tyler Baze said afterwards, "I didn't ask him for much. All I can say is, 'awesome.' He was unbelievable!"
Appealing Tale finished the best of the rest, 2 ¾ lengths ahead of third place runner Wild Dude. San Onofre rounded out the superfecta, and the order of finish was completed by Sahara Sky, Blue Tone and Holy Lute.
As the even money favorite, Masochistic paid $4.20/$3.20/$2.80 for the win. Off 13-1 odds, Appealing Tale returned $9.60/$7.00, and 9-1 fourth betting choice returned $5.60 for the show. The $1 exacta paid $21.00, the $1 trifecta returned $102.40 and the $1 superfecta was worth $366.50.
By Sought After and out of the Unusual Heat mare Trotinette, Masochistic was bred by Francoise Dupuis and Louise Julian. He is owned by Los Pollos Hermanos Racing or Jay Em Ess Stable and trained by Ron Ellis. Now a 5-year old, the Triple Bend is the biggest score of the gelding’s thus far brief career, which did not begin until March of last year. Today’s win improved his career record to 8: 6-1-0 and kept him perfect in graded stakes company. His previous graded win came in his last start, the Grade 2 Kona Gold Stakes.
Samantha Siegel, of Jay Em Ess Stables, enthused, "We're thrilled to death. Ron's done a wonderful job with him." No indication was given as to which race would be up next for the newly minted grade 1 winner, however.