Masochistic (Sought After), winner of the GI Triple Bend in 2015, had a limited campaign in 2016, but appeared to make the most of it. Victorious going 6 1/2-panels in a $75,000 optional claimer at Santa Anita in July, the gelding added a comfortable victory in the GII Pat O'Brien at Del Mar in August. Sent off at 13-1 in his season finale in the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint Nov. 5, the bay crossed the wire in second behind Drefong (Gio Ponti) but was later demoted to seventh, forfeiting all purse money for failing a post-race drug test. In his return to the races this season, the seven-year-old came up a length short in the Mar. 11 installment of the Triple Bend.
Awesome Slew (Awesome Again), a romping winner of the GIII Smarty Jones S. at Parx last September for conditioner Eddie Plesa, was transferred to Mark Casse after a close-up third in the Sunshine Millions Classic Jan. 21. Runner-up to Sharp Azteca (Freud) in the GII Gulfstream Park H. Feb. 11, he flew home over the top to annex Keeneland's GIII Commonwealth S. going this distance Apr. 8. Limousine Liberal (Successful Appeal) was second that. day.
An interesting option outside of the top two is Clearly Now (Horse Greeley), who sports an impressive record at the distance and comes into this off a good-looking win in a $62,500 optional claiming event at Gulfstream Park Apr. 1. Trained by Ron Faucheux, the seven-year-old will be accompanied by Churchill specialist Corey Lanerie, who was also aboard for his latest victory.
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