Steve Bailey,
Thoroughbred Times
WinStar Farms’homebred Rule battled down the lane with Uh Oh Bango before inching away late to win the $750,000 Boyd Gaming’s Delta Jackpot Stakes (G3) at Delta Downs on Friday night.
The 2-year-old Roman Ruler colt won by a neck, earning $450,000 and virtually cementing a spot in the 2010 Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (G1), which is limited to 20 starters with preference is given to the horses with the highest graded stakes earnings.
In the $500,000 Boyd Gaming’s Delta Princess Stakes Powered by Youbet.com (G3), the 1-mile companion race to the Jackpot for 2-year-old fillies, maiden Quiet Temper scored her first career victory in style as she took command on the turn and drew off impressively to a 7 3/4-length victory.
Rule burst onto the scene in his previous start, leading at every point of call in the Jean Lafitte Stakes on Nov. 6 at Delta. He powered to a nine-length victory and completed one mile in a track record of 1:37.45.
In the Jackpot, Rule again jumped in front early under jockey John Velazquez and took the eight-horse field through a half-mile in ::46.75 and six furlongs in 1:12.12 as Uh Oh Bango chased a close second, never more than a length back through the entire one-mile trip.
Racing neck and neck at the top of the stretch, Rule on the inside and Uh Oh Bango on the outside dueled determinedly with every stride before Rule was able to surge forward in the final strides to secure the victory as the even-money favorite, covering 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.63 on a track rated as sloppy after a rare burst of snow covered the area earlier in the evening.
Oak Motte made a late bid to finish third, 2¾ lengths behind Uh Oh Bango.
Trained by Todd Pletcher, Rule is the first starter out of the Personal Flag mare Rockcide, a half sister to 2003 champion 3-year-old male Funny Cide. WinStar bred Funny Cide, winner of the 2003 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes (G1).
Earlier on the card in the Delta Princess, Truth and Justice went immediately to the front and took the field through a half-mile in :47.40 and six furlongs in 1:13.35 while Quiet Temper rated in third, then second, under jockey Robby Albarado.
The bay Quiet American filly, who is trained by Dale Romans for owner Mark Stanley, then took command on the turn and pulled away with every stride in the stretch, covering one mile in 1:40.05.
Lone Star Stables’ Bella Diamante finished a well-beaten second, a nose in front of Joanie’s Catch. Pace-setter Truth and Justice, under jockey Joe Bravo, took a bad step exiting the turn, was pulled up and did not finish.
The victory was the first for Quiet Temper after three consecutive runner-up finishes to start her career, the most recent coming in a one-mile maiden special weight race at Belmont Park on Oct. 4.
Quiet Temper is out of the unraced Silver Deputy mare Dead Aim. Her second dam, Loping, is a half sister to Grade 1 winners Furlough, Dancing Spree, and Fantastic Find.
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