House’ Looks to ‘Rule’ Royal Delta

Previously trained by the late H. Allen Jerkens, House Rules (Distorted Humor) looks to honor the recently deceased Hall of Famer with a victory in Gulfstream’s GII Royal Delta S. Transferred to Jerkens’s son Jimmy last summer, the Joseph Shields Jr. colorbearer romped in her debut for the younger Jerkens at Saratoga last August, but failed to fire next out when eighth behind champion Untapable (Tapit) in the GI Cotillion S. at Parx Sept. 20. A dominant optional claimer win in the slop at Aqueduct, the dark bay came up empty when seventh next out in that venue’s GIII Comely S. Nov. 29. Undefeated so far this season, House Rules dominated with a 9 1/4-length success in the one-mile Bal Harbour H. here Jan. 2 and scored again last time in the GIII Rampart S. at the same track-and-trip Feb. 21. 

The 4-year-old’s biggest threat is likely to come from W D Cubbedge’s Molly Morgan (Ghostzapper), who has the outside post in this seven-horse affair. Winner of the GIII Gardenia S. last August, the Dale Romans pupil finished second to Don’t Tell Sophia (Congaree) in the Locust Grove S. at Churchill Downs Sept. 6 and was third to that rival next out in Keeneland’s GI Spinster S. Oct. 5. Victorious once again back at Churchill in the GII Chilukki S. Nov. 1, the consistent bay was third by just three-quarters of a length last time in that venue’s 1 1/8-mile GII Fall City H. Nov. 27 and makes her seasonal bow here. 

Also making her 2015 debut here off a fifth-place effort in the Fall City is Jim Tafel homebred Tiz Windy (Tiznow). Fourth in the GIII Iowa Oaks, the dark bay scored consecutive victories at 1 1/16 miles in a Churchill allowance Sept.13 and the GII Indiana Oaks Oct. 4.