Delta Jackpot J

AMERICAN

GRADED STAKES PREVIEWS

Eight juveniles will contest Friday night's lucrative $750,000 Delta Jackpot

S. (G3) in Vinton, Louisiana, and RULE (Roman Ruler) is the one to beat. A smart

1 1/4-length maiden special weight winner at Belmont Park two starts back, the

Todd Pletcher-trained colt shipped into Delta Downs and registered an impressive

nine-length score in the one-mile Jean Lafitte S., negotiating the tight turns

at the track with ease. His 101 BRIS Speed rating towers over every rival

except UH OH BANGO (Top Hit), who will stretch out to two turns for the first

time, and Rule will have John Velazquez in to ride. We like him wire to wire.

LITIGATION RISK (Closing Argument) rolled to a good-looking win in his second

career start last out, defeating maiden special weight rivals in wire-to-wire

fashion at Belmont Park, and netted solid Speed (95) and Late Pace (98) ratings

for the 2 3/4-length decision. The Richard Violette trainee will likely revert

to rating tactics here, stalking in the first flight of runners beneath Javier

Castellano, and the chestnut is eligible to challenge with a strong rally. We

considered tabbing him for an upset (12-1 morning line), but we'll still get

some value in the exacta.

Uh Oh Bango threatened to win the Iroquois S. (G3) last time out at Churchill

Downs before grudgingly giving way to finish a clear second, and the Kory Owens

pupil thrashed stakes rivals at Prairie Meadows two starts back, garnering the

Prairie Meadows Freshman S. by 10 1/2 lengths. With BRIS Speed ratings of 102

and 95, the dark bay ridgling merits respect in this spot, but we are a little

concerned about his first trip at 8 1/2 furlongs. He did handle a mile last

time, so we'll include the Arizona-bred in our top three.

The Steve Asmussen-conditioned GRAND SLAM ANDRE (Grand Slam) looms as a

possible contender with Shane Sellers in the irons. Second as the favorite in

the Jean Lafitte, the chestnut colt broke his maiden at Churchill and won stakes

at Lone Star Park and Remington Park prior to a sixth in the Hopeful S. (G1) at

Saratoga. The well-traveled youngster doesn't own the best BRIS numbers, but

he's got plenty of stakes experience and the pedigree to handle the added

ground. We recommend his inclusion on the bottom of the exotics.

Jean Lafitte third-placer OAK MOTTE (Valid Expectations) is another one to

consider for the gimmicks. Trained by Tom Amoss, the bay colt broke his maiden

on Polytrack and finished fourth in the Arlington-Washington Futurity (G3), but

he proved adaptable when capturing a division of the Texas Stallion S. at Retama

Park two back, registering a respectable 93 Speed rating. We like the addition

of the hood, as BRIS Ultimate PP stats show Amoss winning at a 30-percent clip with

first-time blinkers, but the stalker will have to overcome the far outside

post.

Norfolk S. (G1) third-placer GALLANT GENT (Yankee Gentleman) has been installed

as the 2-1 favorite on the morning line, but he'll be the second choice at best.

Seventh in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Turf (G2) last out, the Craig Lewis runner does

show solid form on a bullring dirt track, winning the C. B. Afflerbaugh S. three

starts back, but that was over a small group of questionable opponents. He'll

face more formidable company in his second dirt start, and we'll let the former

maiden claimer beat us. MY TIME TO STAR (Five Star Day) has posted a pair of an

easy wins at Hawthorne, winning the Sun Power S. by seven lengths last time, and we

have plenty of respect for trainer Dale Romans with two-year-olds. However, the

Illinois-bred colt will be making his initial start against open company while

stretching out past six furlongs for the first time, and we'll just watch for

now. BENCH THE JUDGE (Benchmark) didn't run poorly when fourth in the Jean

Lafitte, just a half-length back of second, but he could have class concerns in

this spot.