Will Ocho Ocho Ocho need a Witch Doctor?

The 2014 edition of the Grade 3 Delta Downs Jackpot gives the winner Ocho Ocho Ocho (Street Sense-Winner, by Horse Chestnut) three wins now in as many starts, having won the Juvenile Turf Sprint on the 2014 Breeders’ Cup undercard in his last start. The dark bay son of Street Sense was sent off as the lukewarm 5-2 favorite from the field of ten two-year-olds that lined up for the $600,000 winner’s share.

Ocho Ocho Ocho showed us that he could prevail in a dogfight and after assuming the lead around the 3/8’s pole was headed, then came back to regain the lead and hold off a stretch long challenge by Zayat Stables LLC’s, Mr. Z to prevail by a neck.

The time for the 1 1/16 mile race was a respectable 1:45.47 over a fast track.

So, what can we expect from Ocho Ocho Ocho as he moves forward?

Let me begin by saying, that when I think about racing in Louisiana’s Delta Downs Jackpot, I recall the images that were provided us this year courtesy of Moreno’s trainer, Eric J. Guillot, and his voodoo dolls hanging from the trees on the Saratoga backside.

Historically, the Delta Downs Jackpot, has not always  transferred into a productive racing career for winners, as they embarked upon their three and four-year-old seasons. In fact, no winner of the race has gone on to have a significant impact on the Triple Crown Series.

Moreover, Big Drama (2010 Breeders’ Cup Sprint) and Goldencents (2013-2014 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile) are the only two horses from 11 previous winners to add victories in a Grade 1 to their resume since Outta Here (Dehere-Just Out, by Forty Niner), won the inaugural edition.

In fact, of the past horses to win the race, Woodford Racing, LLC, Farish, Jr, W.S. and George Bolton's Georges Turf War was winless in six tries following the Jackpot.

Another, Sabercat (2011) went winless in seventeen subsequent starts.  

The previously mentioned Outta Here (2002) along with Mr. Jester (2003), and Birdbirdistheword (2006) found their way back to the winner circle once each, and all in optional claiming races.

Z Humor (2007) went winless in fifteen starts before he won an allowance race at Hoosier Park and later stakes scores in the Delta Mile and the Maxxam Gold Cup at Sam Houston. Additionally, Rule (2009) managed to add three more stakes wins to his record following his win in the Jackpot. Last year’s winner, Rise Up, was well short of the public’s expectations and only had one win this year in the Robert Hilton Memorial Stakes at Charles Town.

So, what should we take away from all this, you might say. Well, I don’t know about anybody else, but if I had a personal interest in a nice colt like Ocho Ocho Ocho and he had just won the Delta Downs Jackpot, before leaving town, “I might look for a Witch Doctor”, and pay the fee for a spell to remove any negative ‘Mojo’ from Ocho Ocho Ocho that may or may not come from winning the Delta Downs Jackpot. Then would I celebrate!!!

~Written by Fred Tunks