GRADE 3 DELTA JACKPOT

UNDEFEATED Ocho Ocho Ocho, one of several Southern California shippers in the field, outfought Mr. Z through the drive to capture the $1 million Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot by a nose on November 22nd at Delta Downs Racetrack. The win secured Ocho Ocho Ocho’s third victory in as many starts for trainer Jim Cassidy and owner DP Racing in the two-year-old colt’s first try at the distance.

“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 favourite in the field of 10 two-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 manoeuvered 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 but dropped out quickly as Ocho Ocho Ocho poked his head in front of Prime Engine and Mr. Z after the first six furlongs.

“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 in third.

Ocho Ocho Ocho began his career on October 11th with a one-length win over maiden special weight rivals at Santa Anita Park going five and a half furlongs. In his next start, he was a convincing five and three-quarter length winner in the listed off-the-turf Juvenile Turf Sprint on the Breeders’ Cup undercard on November 1st.

Cassidy said he plans give his horse a month off before running him in a prep race at Santa Anita, before the Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. “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 Grade 1 Kentucky Derby. Mr. Z got four points, Far Right two points, and Saratoga Heater, who finished fourth, one point.

Honor Code bounces back

HONOR Code returned from an eight-month injury lay-off to win Saturday’s sixth race at Aqueduct in style. Under supremely confident handling by Javier Castellano, the 9/5 favourite bided his time far off the early pace in the six and a half-furlong dash, closed the gap easily entering the stretch, and coasted past Maleeh to get up cozily in the final strides.

Trained by Hall of Famer Shug McGaughey for Lane’s End Racing and breeder Dell Ridge Farm, the son of AP Indy was sidelined by a suspensory injury in March.