By Bloodhorse.com
DEL MAR, Calif. (Aug. 9, 2018) — Grade 1 winner Masochistic, the gelding who was at the center of multiple controversies during his five seasons of racing and was retired in March, has returned to light training at Del Mar for a simple reason.
He can’t stand being turned out, and when they tried to make him a trail horse—look out.
“He’s gained a ton of weight. He’s like a pony right now,” said new trainer Kristin Mulhall, who has cared for Masochistic since his retirement. “When you get on his back, it’s a different story. He does not enjoy just being turned out. He does not enjoy being a pet. He did not enjoy not doing anything, basically. He’s not going to be a trail horse unless you plan on match racing.”
So with limited options for his post-racing career because of his attitude, owner Will Shamlian and Mulhall sent Masochistic back to the racetrack. First they attempted to make him a stable pony, but he wasn’t having that, either.
“He just wants to go,” Mulhall said. “And I’ve worked with a lot of off-track Thoroughbreds, and I’ve never experienced one quite like him.”
With added weight—for a horse who has always had issues eating and keeping weight on—he’s gotten a few spins on the track at Del Mar with a rider (once a week), but he’s mostly jogging with a pony and without a rider. If all goes well, a breeze in September could be a possibility but not a guarantee. If he takes to the step-up in training, a start in November—at the earliest—is possible.
“We’re not even 100% sure if he’s going to be in full training or not,” Mulhall said. “Am I going to say he’s going to come back to the races? No, not yet. But I’m not going to say he’s not.”
Shamlian and Mulhall both emphasized the soundness of the bay gelding. The fact he didn’t race until he was 4 and only raced 18 times likely plays a part in that, but both also maintain Masochistic’s happiness is their only focus.
“The one thing the horse has going for him is that I haven’t seen a 4-year-old as sound as he is,” said Mulhall, who indicated races around two turns and on grass (he’s out of an Unusual Heat mare) could be potential targets.
“We couldn’t make him do something he doesn’t want to do if we tried,” Shamlian added. “So if he wants to do it, great. If he doesn’t, that’s fine. All I care about is the horse. If he’s happy, that’s all I want.”
Shamlian of Los Pollos Hermanos Racing and co-owner Samantha Siegel of Jay Em Ess Stables decided to retire the 8-year-old California-bred March 11, after he finished eighth in the Sensational Star Stakes at Santa Anita Park.
BALAN: Grade 1 Winner Masochistic Retired From Racing
Shamlian said Aug. 8, “Samantha does not have anything to do with this. It’s my idea.” Siegel joined the ownership partnership on Masochistic in 2015. He was previously owned by Los Pollos Hermanos and Santa Ines Stable.
Masochistic’s last victory came in the 2016 Pat O’Brien Stakes (G2) at Del Mar for trainer Ron Ellis, but he was moved to Bob Baffert for his 2018 campaign following a drug positive in the 2016 TwinSpires Breeders’ Cup Sprint (G1) at Santa Anita, where he finished second for Ellis but was disqualified to seventh.
Baffert was unable to recapture graded glory with Masochistic, who won the Kona Gold Stakes (G2) and Triple Bend Stakes (G1) in 2015 and was runner-up in two other top-level events—the 2015 Bing Crosby Stakes (G1) and the 2017 Triple Bend.
Before he became a top-level sprinter in California, however, the son of Sought After was first embroiled in controversy with trainer A.C. Avila in 2014.
On debut in March, Masochistic finished fifth in a state-bred maiden race at Santa Anita, but he was eventually DQ’d to eighth after he tested positive for elevated levels of the tranquilizer acepromazine. Racing officials also questioned the ride of jockey Omar Berrio.
In Masochistic’s next race, on the Kentucky Derby (G1) undercard in 2014, the Cal-bred won an open maiden special weight race at odds of 2-1. Kentucky Horse Racing Commissioner Ned Bonnie called for the wagering on the race to be investigated, because he felt Churchill Downs may have been used to carry out a betting coup.
ANGST: Bonnie Wants Investigation of Derby Day Race
Masochistic was retired with an 8-3-0 record and $860,895 in earnings.