Midnight Lute Stakes G3 Sat Dec 30th Santa Anita

[Point Given]

Masochistic to Make Return in Midnight Lute Stakes

Masochistic, the horse who has been embroiled in so much controversy since his racing career began in 2014, is closing in on the age of 8 and will make his return to racing off a nearly eight-month layoff with a new trainer Dec. 30 in the $100,000 Midnight Lute Stakes (G3) at Santa Anita Park.

https://www.bloodhorse.com/horse-racing/articles/225332/masochistic-to-make-return-in-midnight-lute-stakes

MIDNIGHT LUTE S. (G3)
Santa Anita Park, Saturday, December 30, 2017, Race 8
Grade III 6 1/2f Dirt $100,0003 yo's & up 4:00 PM (local)
PP Horse Jockey Wgt Trainer
1. Silent Bird (KY) Kent J. Desormeaux 120 Mark Glatt
2. Ohio (BRZ) Brice Blanc 120 Paulo H. Lobo
3. Ike Walker (KY) Irad Ortiz, Jr. 120 Jerry Hollendorfer
4. Masochistic (CA) Drayden Van Dyke 120 Bob Baffert
5. Americanize (KY) Rafael Bejarano 122 Simon Callaghan
6. Solid Wager (CA) Victor Espinoza 122 Peter Miller
7. Tough Sunday (CA) Tyler Baze 120 Steven Miyadi
8. Calculator (FL) Javier Castellano 120 Peter Miller
9. Smokey Image (CA) Gary L. Stevens 120 Carla Gaines

[BaroqueAgain1]

That's a pretty decent field for an end-of-the-year race. I'd like to see Masochistic do well (it's not his fault that there has been 'controversy' in his long career), but my sentimental choice is the grey-tailed survivor, Tough Sunday.

[Point Given]

Masochistic scratched

[stark]

Not at all interested in Shah's Americanize at a very short price.
Either Silent Bird or Calculator are logical win candidates.

The recently gelded OHIO is the interesting play at 20-1. Looking brilliant in the mornings on the comeback trail (but he's done that before) just maybe the equipment change will make the difference today.

[stark]

That's a pretty decent field for an end-of-the-year race. I'd like to see Masochistic do well (it's not his fault that there has been 'controversy' in his long career), but my sentimental choice is the grey-tailed survivor, Tough Sunday.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Thanks for the nice photo of 'Sunday and his tail.

[Curtis]

I just made online what I hope will be a Solid Wager.

[Sparrow Castle]

Santa Anita: Masochistic is out of Midnight Lute

Masochistic, who has not raced since May, was withdrawn from Saturday's Grade 3 Midnight Lute Stakes at Santa Anita in favor of the $150,000 California Cup Sprint for state-breds on Jan. 27, trainer Bob Baffert said on Saturday morning.

"There's a race at the end of the January," he said. "We'll aim for that. I don't think he's quite ready.

"The track is quite demanding. It takes a little longer to get them ready."

http://live.drf.com/nuggets/39874-santa-anita-masochistic-is-out-of-midnight-lute

[stark]

I just made online what I hope will be a Solid Wager.

[BaroqueAgain1]

Tough Sunday finished 2nd to Silent Bird, but I wonder if my sentimental choice is going to be moved up, because Silent Bird was all over the place in the stretch. Pretty sure Calculator was not happy with that.