Santa Anita Derby early 2015 goal for Ocho Ocho Ocho

VINTON, La. – Ocho Ocho Ocho will be put on the Santa Anita Derby trail next year, trainer Jim Cassidy said on Sunday, a day after the horse won his two-turn debut in the Grade 3, $1 million Delta Downs Jackpot. Ocho Ocho Ocho fought for a nose win over Mr. Z to remain undefeated in three starts. He left the Delta Downs stable area Sunday morning to return home to Santa Anita.

Cassidy said Ocho Ocho Ocho has wrapped up his 2-year-old season and will likely return to action in February. He said the horse’s next start could come in the Grade 2, $200,000 Robert B. Lewis at Santa Anita on Feb. 7. The 1 1/16-mile race is one of the stepping-stones to the Santa Anita Derby on April 4. Other races for his division include the Grade 2 San Vicente at seven furlongs at Santa Anita on Feb. 1.

“We’ll come back in one of those prep races,” Cassidy said. “That’s what I’m thinking. One is seven-eighths and one a mile and a sixteenth, and I would prefer the mile and a sixteenth. That’s where I would point.”

:: ROAD TO THE KENTUCKY DERBY: Prep races, point standings, replays

Ocho Ocho Ocho was the favorite in the Jackpot on the strength of a pair of quick sprint wins at Santa Anita. He stalked the pace in fourth Saturday, moved to the fore under Mike Smith, and then withstood the bid from Mr. Z. Ocho Ocho Ocho covered the 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.47 and was awarded a 90 Beyer Speed Figure.

Following the race, the photo-finish sign was lit and after Ocho Ocho Ocho got the nod it was announced there was both a stewards’ inquiry and jockey’s objection, with Corey Lanerie on Far Right claiming interference by Ocho Ocho Ocho. After a short period, Ocho Ocho Ocho was made the official winner of the Jackpot.

“I feel like I won three races yesterday,” Cassidy said of the chain of events following the Jackpot.

Ocho Ocho Ocho also won on what can be a laboring track, and his performance impressed Cassidy.

“Yesterday, I know he was tired at the top of the stretch,” Cassidy said. “What a gutty performance. I was so impressed with him laying his body down like he did. He just refused to get beat yesterday. I know he was probably the favorite, but it was first time two turns on sand I don’t think he was too happy with – I’m not saying it was bad. It was just a different surface than what he’s used to.”

Cassidy trains Ocho Ocho Ocho for the DP Racing operation of Deron Pearson. Pearson purchased the horse at the OBS auction of 2-year-olds in April for $200,000. Ocho Ocho Ocho’s name, which is Spanish, reflects his hip number in that sale, 888, said Cassidy. Ocho Ocho Ocho is a son of Street Sense and the Horse Chestnut mare Winner. Cassidy said pedigree is one of a couple of reasons he looks for the horse to continue to do well routing next year at 3.

“He’s bred to go two turns, so you always look at that,” he said, “and the fact that you can put him anywhere in the race you want. He relaxes. Even after two sprints, you’d expect him to be pretty keen leaving [Saturday] and he wasn’t. He stumbled a little when he left the gate, so it cost him position, then mike got him settled in. He was perfect.”

Ocho Ocho Ocho earned 10 preference points for the Kentucky Derby for his Jackpot win as part of a system administered by Churchill Downs. Cassidy, a 69-year-old native of New York who lives just a few miles from Santa Anita, would love to see the horse advance to the big dance. The last runner he had on the Triple Crown trail was Jamaican Rum, who ran sixth in the Kentucky Derby in 2001.

Mr. Z emerged from the Jackpot in good order and is to return home to Churchill Downs on Monday, said his trainer, D. Wayne Lukas. He will be considered for the Grade 1, $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity at 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 20.

“That’s a possibility,” said Lukas.

Lukas said a win in such a race could start some Eclipse Award talk about Mr. Z, who races for Zayat Stables.

“He’s got some credentials that you would have to look at,” Lukas said. “He was second in two stakes in Saratoga, second in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, second here, and fifth in the Breeders’ Cup with a troubled trip. If he were to come back and win the Grade 1 there, you’d have to look at him a little bit. That’s a body of work. He’s going to have a nice resume if he were to win the Grade 1.”

Mr. Z earned four points towards Kentucky Derby eligibility Saturday.