In the horse race that is "America's Got Talent," consider Pittsburgh's Jackie Evancho, at 10, a front-running filly.

While most of her classmates at Eden Hall Upper Elementary started school last week, Richland's tiny classical crossover singer is in Hollywood for the penultimate round of the popular NBC competitive variety show.

Audience vote determines the $1 million winner on Sept 15.

"Jackie is probably the favorite right now, but then, so was Susan Boyle," said judge Piers Morgan during a news conference Tuesday morning, in reference to the phenomenal rise of the Plain Jane singer on "Britain's Got Talent."

"When Jackie Evancho sang, they thought, 'Oh, she's got it in the bag,' but that's what they thought about Susan Boyle," added judge Howie Mandel.

Miss Boyle placed second to a street dance group called Diversity.

Still, it's clear the judges are smitten with Jackie, who sang on Tuesday night's show. Tonight's broadcast at 9 will reveal if she is among the four chosen by viewers to compete next week in the finale.

On the Aug. 31 show, she literally was put on a pedestal to sing "Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye)," after which she received two standing ovations from the studio audience and praise from the three judges -- Mr. Morgan called her a "superstar."

Fellow judges Sharon Osbourne and Mr. Mandel were equally effusive in their praise. "I hope you realize your life will never be the same again," Ms. Osbourne told her.

At the news conference with Mr. Morgan and Mr. Mandel, one of the topics of discussion was the pressure of show business on children.

"I think [Jackie] seems to be handling it pretty well. ... I think she is so young, it sort of just washes over her. It doesn't seem to be crippling her," Mr. Mogan said. "I think Jackie, at the moment, thinks it's all fun, and she's loving it."

"The thing about children is, it depends on the child," Mr. Morgan added. "I've got three sons, and two of them would absolutely hate being on the stage. ... I look at Jackie Evancho, and I see a child of extraordinary self-confidence who enjoys performing on stage. It has nothing to do with age."

Indeed, young performers are nothing new on "AGT." Also in the top 10 this week are New York ballroom dancers Anna Kaczmarski and Patryk Ploszay, both 12, as well as Louisiana native Taylor Mathews, 18, described by Mr. Morgan as a "sweet, sort of Justin Bieber character."

"[Mr. Mathews'] problem is, until Jackie Evancho came along, he was probably the singing favorite," Mr. Morgan said, dropping back into horse-racing parlance. "Now he's got this wunderkind [challenging] and Prince Poppycock is coming up the rails."

The Prince, aka John Quale of Los Angeles, is an opera singer who performs in the elaborate dress of a baroque dandy. He's also big on powdered wigs.

The Internet controversy of Jackie's first appearance seems to have faded with the realization that she is not lip-synching. Mr. Mandel said he's told Jackie not to let it bother her, saying, "You are so perfect and so wonderful, people have not heard a talent like this if it isn't mechanically produced.

"Even if you don't love that music, you cannot deny: it's perfection."

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