WinStar Farm’s homebred RULE (Roman Ruler) took command of the $750,000
Delta Jackpot S. (G3) soon after the start, saved ground while setting
splits of :23 1/5, :46 3/5, 1:12 and 1:38 3/5, then just had enough left to
record the neck victory over Uh Oh Bango (Top Hit). Trained by Todd Pletcher and
ridden by John Velazquez, the dark bay finished up 1 1/16 miles on Delta Downs’
sloppy, sealed, track in 1:45 3/5 to add a second straight stakes win to his
record.
Sent off the even-money favorite in the eight-horse field, Rule paid $4, $3
and $2.60, while starting the $22.60 exacta, $153.80 trifecta and $976.20
superfecta (3-2-8-5). Uh Oh Bango tracked the pace early, then dueled with Rule
in the stretch run, just falling short at 6-1 to return $5.40 and $4.20. Oak
Motte (Valid Expectations) put in a sustained rally to easily be best of the
rest, 2 3/4 lengths back of Uh Oh Bango and 10 3/4 lengths in front of
fourth-placer Litigation Risk (Closing Argument). Show was worth $4.20 at 18-1.
Grand Slam Andre (Grand Slam), My Time to Star (Five Star Day), Gallant Gent
(Yankee Gentleman) and Bench the Judge (Benchmark) followed the top four under
the line.
Rule took three tries to break his maiden, doing so at Belmont Park on
October 8 by 1 1/4 lengths. He tested Delta Downs’ track last out on November 6,
recording a dominating nine-length victory in the Jean Lafitte S. while setting
a new track record of 1:37.45 for eight furlongs in that contest. His resume now
reads 5-3-1-1, and he’s banked $596,700 in lifetime earnings.
The first registered foal out of Rockcide (Personal Flag), Rule has a pair of
Distorted Humor half-siblings, the yearling filly Afaaf and an unnamed weanling
filly. The Distorted Humor cross has worked in the past for this female line as
Rule’s second dam, Belle’s Good Cide (Slewacide), produced a Distorted Humor
foal named Funny Cide. That gelding would go on to capture the Kentucky Derby
(G1) and Preakness S. (G1) and be named champion three-year-old in 2003, and at
four, he captured the Jockey Club Gold Cup S. (G1). Also in the family is multiple Grade 3 winner
Belle of Cozzene (Cozzene).