Masochistic to be disqualified from Breeders’ Cup Sprint
MASOCHISTIC is expected to be stripped of its second placing in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint after failing to return a clean post-race drug test.
A routine sample taken from the horse following the group 1 event on November 5 was tested and found to contain the prohibited substance stanozolol, an anabolic steroid.
The six-year-old gelding produced a solid performance when finishing runner-up behind Drefong in the US$1.5 million feature at Santa Anita Park.
However, the California Horse Racing Board has now advised Santa Anita stewards to disqualify Masochistic, which will result in a $255,000 loss for owners Los Pollos Hermanos Racing and Jay Em Ess Stables.
“It is extremely disappointing to hear of the confirmation of a medication positive and filing of a complaint by the California Horse Racing Board asking the Santa Anita stewards to disqualify Masochistic from a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Sprint,” Breeders’ Cup said in a statement.
“Whatever the outcome, we have undertaken a review of out-of-competition protocols and rules in jurisdictions where our event is conducted and will seek the elimination of the use of any anabolic steroid in horses in active training toward the Breeders’ Cup.”
The positive swab is likely to result in sanctions for the horse’s trainer, Ron Ellis, who has publicly apologised for the indiscretion.
“I apologise to the Breeders Cup and the racing industry for this unfortunate event,” Ellis said.
“I understand and respect the ramifications of CHRB regulations and trust I will be treated fairly under the circumstances.
“I acknowledge that Masochistic tested positive for very low picogram levels of stanozolol after the Breeders’ Cup Sprint.
“The medication was administered on the recommendation of my veterinarian for the therapeutic purposes of recovering from bleeding and weight loss stemming from his Aug. 27 race at Del Mar.
“Unfortunately, the medication that was given intramuscular 68 days before the Breeders Cup lingered in his system.”
It is unknown how harsh regulators will come down on Ellis, who says they were aware of the situation prior to the event.
“No sinister purpose was involved as the injection was given outside of the recommended 60-day guidelines and registered with the state as required,” he said.
“The dissipation of the drug was abnormally slow and monitored by the Equine Medical Director in three ‘out of competition’ tests leading up the race.
“The last of those tests, taken eight days prior to the race, showed there were still some picogram amounts of the drug in his system.
“I was informed by the Equine Medical Director three days before the race that he was concerned there was a chance of a positive test on race day.
“We tried to run another test on him but couldn’t find a lab that could test to such low levels in time.
“So after conferring with top veterinarians and considering picograms are a trillionth of a gram and that he had eight days to clear such a small amount, it was decided Masochistic would ‘most likely’ come out with a clear test.”
Masochistic’s disqualification will be the first failed drug test since Wait A While was relegated from third to last in the 2008 Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf.
Masochistic is expected to line up in the Group 3 Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita Park on New Years Eve.