Ocho Ocho Ocho Cashes Jackpot, Now 3-for-3

Undefeated Ocho Ocho Ocho, one of several Southern California shippers in the field, outfought Mr. Z through the drive to capture the $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot (gr. III) by a nose at Delta Downs Racetrack, Casino, and Hotel Nov. 22 .



A stewards' inquiry and jockey objection from Corey Lanerie aboard third-place finisher Far Right against the winner for an incident on the final turn was disallowed. The ruling secured Ocho Ocho Ocho's third victory in as many starts for trainer Jim Cassidy and owner D P Racing in the colt's first try over a route of ground.

''I felt we could win it; he'd never been this trip, we're always concerned about that, however he's bred for that (distance),'' Cassidy said. ''The other side was how he'd handle this race track.''



The answer, it turned out, was just fine, thank you. The 5-2 favorite in the field of 10 2-year-olds, Ocho Ocho Ocho was ridden to victory by Mike Smith in a time of 1:45.47 for the 1 1/16-mile distance over a fast track.



A son of Darley stallion Street Sense   out of the winning Horse Chestnut mare Winner, Ocho Ocho Ocho was bred in Kentucky by Siena Farms.

Though breaking from the far outside, Ocho Ocho Ocho was deftly maneuvered to the inside by Smith approaching the first turn while positioned in fourth as Conquest Tsunami fought for the early lead with Prime Engine, with Mr. Z settled in third. Conquest Tsunami posted swift fractions of :22.27 and :45.74 but dropped out quickly as Ocho Ocho Ocho poked his head in front of Prime Engine and Mr. Z after completing six furlongs in 1:12.48.

''I knew that (Ocho Ocho Ocho) was a bit green and that I had to keep him inside and not let him get out,'' the Hall of Fame jockey said. ''Once I did that I knew that we would be fine.''



In the stretch it came down to a two-horse race as Ocho Ocho Ocho, along the inside, inched away to a half-length advantage. But Mr. Z, ridden by Paco Lopez, kept battling all the way to the wire as the determined Ocho Ocho Ocho managed to just outlast his challenger.



It was four lengths back to Far Right, who was advancing at the rail rounding the final turn when forced to check while in tight. Far Right, who trailed the field through the first half-mile, fell back briefly but was gaining again in the lane while finishing behind the first two.

Lanerie said he was attempting to follow Ocho Ocho Ocho, when he thought the favorite might drift on the turn.



''I reacted to go ahead and get up in there and go about my business,'' Lanerie said. ''As I made that decision, Mike got him back under control and back down on top of me. I was trying to go inside and he dropped back inside and pushed me into the fence.



''My horse was a little bit intimidated being he was young, which didn't help,'' Lanerie said, adding that without the trouble, he believed Far Right might have won.



Then came Saratoga Heater, Dekabrist, Wake Up Nick, Red Button, Prime Engine, Golden Actor, and Conquest Tsunami. Scratched from the also-eligible list were Unblunted and Two Six Wins.



Ocho Ocho Ocho began his career Oct. 11 with a one-length win over maiden special weight rivals at Santa Anita Park going 5 1/2 furlongs. In his next start, he was a convincing 5 3/4-length winner in the listed off-the-turf Juvenile Turf Sprint on the Breeders' Cup undercard Nov. 1. Ocho Ocho Ocho was ridden to victory in those races by Joe Talamo.



Carrying 119 pounds, Ocho Ocho Ocho paid $7.20, $4.40, and $3. Mr. Z, the 3-1 second choice who was coming off a fifth-place finish in the Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) for Hall of Fame trainer D. Wayne Lukas, returned $4.20 and $3.20, completing a $30.20 exacta. Far Right, off at 23-1 odds, paid $9.20 to show.

Lukas was oh-so-close to sweeping the graded stakes at Delta Saturday after his Take Charge Brandi took the preceding race, the $400,000 Delta Princess (gr. III).



Saturday's victory was worth $600,000 for Ocho Ocho Ocho's connections, and boosts his career earnings to $693,600.

Cassidy said he plans give his horse a month off before running him in a prep race at Santa Anita, then the Santa Anita Derby (gr. I).



''I'll back off him now, he's pretty tired today,'' Cassidy said. ''I'll probably give him at least a month and then I'll bring him back up probably late January.''

Though it is still more than five months away, Ocho Ocho Ocho earned 10 points toward a possible start in the 2015 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I). Mr. Z got four points, Far Right two points, and Saratoga Heater one point.



Ocho Ocho Ocho was a $200,000 purchase in April by D P Racing from Grassroots Training & Sales at the Ocala Breeders' Sale Co.'s  spring sale of 2-year-olds in training. Grassroots Training & Sales acquired the dark bay colt as a Keeneland September yearling last year for $50,000 out of the Taylor Made Sales Agency consignment on behalf of breeder Siena Farms.

Winner, his dam, sold in foal for $700,000 to Royal Oak Farm's agency at the recent Keeneland November breeding stock sale when consigned by Taylor Made Sales Agency. She is in foal to Bernardini  .

A record total of $5.2 million was bet on the 11-race program at Delta Downs, which includes wagers from simulcast locations across North America, track spokesman Don Stevens said.