Masochistic registers first stakes victory in Kona Gold

"This was just basically, don't change anything that ain't broken," said Baze,

who replaced an out-of-town Victor Espinoza in the saddle. "I talked to Victor

(Friday) before he left for Arkansas and he said to get him out of the gate and

keep him going.

"We weren't going fast down the backside, like 22 and change and 44 and

change, but we picked it up around the turn. When I asked him turning for home,

he pinned his ears and took off."

"He had a perfect trip. Tyler did a great job," Ellis added.

San Onofre saved runner-up honors by a neck over the late-running Sahara Sky

(Pleasant Tap).

Off as the 4-5 favorite among six rivals, Masochistic returned a $3.80 win

mutuel.

After dropping his debut, Masochistic reeled off three straight convincing

wins over maiden and allowance/optional claiming opponents. He's now earned

$343,850 from a 7-5-1-0 career line.

"I think he could go a mile," Ellis said of future plans. "The Breeders' Cup

Mile (G1) would be something we'd consider, but we'll see how he comes out of

this race and go from there."

Bred by Francois Dupuis and Louise Julian, Masochistic is out of the unraced

Unusual Heat mare Trotinette. He's the only stakes winner in the first three

generations of his female family.

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