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.