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Rule to have strong support in Delta Jackpot It takes a stellar effort on the part of a juvenile to break a track record, particularly one over a distance of ground. But that's exactly what the Todd Pletcher-trained RULE (Roman Ruler) did when crushing his opposition by nine lengths in the Jean Lafitte S. at Delta Downs on November 6, completing a mile in 1:37.45. That local prep over the six-furlong Vinton, Louisiana, bullring should serve him well when he leads a field of eight Friday night in the $750,000 Delta Jackpot S. (G3), which shares a program with the $500,000 Delta Princess S. (G3) for two-year-old fillies. The 1 1/16-mile Delta Jackpot could conceivably give its winner enough in graded earnings to be guaranteed a slot in next year's Kentucky Derby (G1) provided his form holds up for the next five months. Rule, who preceded his Jean Lafitte score with a wire-to-wire maiden victory at Belmont Park, is only one of several good-looking possibilities in the group. UH OH BANGO (Top Hit) has been first or second in all four starts, including a 10 1/2-length romp in the Prairie Meadows Freshman S. two back and a solid second in the Iroquois S. (G3) last time. Meanwhile, LITIGATION RISK (Closing Argument) will try and pull a Rule by winning his stakes debut at Delta off a gate-to-wire Belmont graduation. California will be represented in the Delta Jackpot by GALLANT GENT (Yankee Gentleman), who gained valuable dirt and bullring experience winning the C.B. Afflerbaugh S. at Fairplex Park by 2 1/2 lengths in September. He followed up that win with a strong third behind Lookin at Lucky (Smart Strike) in the Norfolk S. (G1), but suffered a setback when only seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) in his grass debut. MY TIME TO STAR (Five Star Day) is the best Illinois-bred juvenile going following a seven-length tour de force in Hawthorne's Sun Power S., but it remains to be seen whether the Dale Romans pupil can maintain his undefeated record versus open company. The remainder of the field -- GRAND SLAM ANDRE (Grand Slam), OAK MOTTE (Valid Expectations) and BENCH THE JUDGE (Benchmark) -- were all left in Rule's wake in the Jean Lafitte, finishing within a half-length of each other when occupying the second, third and fourth slots, respectively. The possibility of the Delta Princess attracting its first Breeders' Cup winner ended earlier this week when trainer Wayne Catalano decided against sending Juvenile Fillies (G1) heroine She Be Wild (Offlee Wild) to Louisiana, leaving the one-mile heat with a field of nine. All but two made their latest starts at Delta, and the contingent with local experience is headed by TRUTH AND JUSTICE (Yes It's True), who added to prior wins in the Sorority S. and Presque Isle Downs Debutante by taking the My Trusty Cat S. by a diminishing three parts of a length. The speedball could be in danger stretching out this time as BELLA DIAMANTE (Lost Soldier) was a fast-closing second in the My Trusty Cat and will certainly appreciate the added ground. Another closer, THE RUMOR'S TRUE (Kafwain), won the 1 1/16-mile Happy Ticket S. at Louisiana Downs two back. The long-distance ship-ins are JOANIE'S CATCH (First Tour), an 11-race veteran who captured the Brave Raj S. at Calder in September before settling for second in two Florida-bred/sired stakes, and QUIET TEMPER (Quiet American), a maiden who was withdrawn from the Golden Rod S. (G2) last Saturday in favor of this race. The Dale Romans trainee hails from a strong female family and was most recently second to subsequent Tempted S. (G3) winner Ailalea (Pulpit) at Belmont. Four stakes populate the undercard. The $125,000 Delta Mile S. has attracted regional stalwarts JONESBORO (Sefapiano), SPOTSGONE (Bright Launch), EZ DREAMER (In Excess [Ire]) and STONEHOUSE (Chester House). Making a return to Delta for the Mile is 2007 Delta Jackpot victor Z HUMOR (Distorted Humor), who has been competing in California and Washington for much of the year. The equally endowed Treasure Chest S. has attracted eight fillies and mares to go a mile, including the multiple Grade 2-placed UNFORGOTTEN (Northern Afleet), who last year won the Goddess S. and missed by a head in the Treasure Chest. Two events restricted to non-stakes winners, the Sam's Town S. and Orleans S., will also be offered at $60,000 apiece.
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