TDN RISING STARS

November 1, 2014 - Santa Anita, Race 1, Stk, USD $100,000, 6 1/2f

Ocho Ocho Ocho, c, 2, 2012 by Street Sense

1st Dam: Winner, by Horse Chestnut (SAf)
2nd Dam: Pennant Champion, by Mr. Prospector
3rd Dam: Personal Ensign, by Private Account

Owner: DP Racing LLC
Breeder: Siena Farms LLC
Trainer: James M Cassidy

Ocho Ocho Ocho, a good-looking one-length winner going 5 1/2 panels on the main track here Oct. 11, had worked well on the turf for this Oct. 25, and was heavily backed despite not getting the surface his connections had intended. The dark bay dueled Tizcano from the inside through seemingly suicidal fractions of :21.46 and :43.96, but shook free from that foe in upper stretch and galloped home while seeming to be at his strongest at the line. "I didn't ride him any differently even though it came off the turf," noting winning pilot Joe Talamo. "He broke so sharp, I didn't want to take it away from him. He was going easy. His ears were up and down through the lane and I still had a lot of horse that last part." Added trainer Jim Cassidy, "We were looking forward to running on the turf. He worked sensational on the grass here with Joe and his bottom side [pedigree] is all turf. When we heard yesterday that it was pretty sure it was going to rain, I called my blacksmith and he came over this morning and put a couple of toe grab [shoes] on him behind." The winner, who worked in :10 1/5 at OBSAPR, was named for his hip number at that sale. His dam is a half to Animal Spirits (Arch), winner of the grassy 2011 GIII Bourbon S. as a juvenile; as well as the dams of MGSW turfers Divine Oath (Broken Vow) and Interactif (Broken Vow). Ocho Ocho Ocho's third dam is Hall of Famer and champion broodmare Personal Ensign.