Richard Mandella revealed that Rumor bled on the track in the Santa Monica Stakes
Claiborne Farm’s 4-year-old filly, Rumor, was looking to post her third consecutive victory in the Grade 1 Santa Monica Stakes at Santa Anita Park, over a distance of seven furlongs on poly track on 28 January, 2012, against 6 other 4-year-old and above fillies and mares, but she wilted to finish sixth on the day, under jockey Mike Smith.
According to trainer, Richard E. Mandella, Rumor had a pretty good reason for her poor showing to finish sixth on the day because she bled in the race.
The incident might have happened, according to the Hall of Fame trainer, Richard Mandella, when Rumor dueled with horse to get a clear run on the track and better grip of the race, and while doing so, she must have clipped it with some other horse.
Daily Racing Form’s chart comments read:
“Rumor dueled between horses outside the winner (Home Sweet Aspen), dropped back between foes into the stretch and weakened.”
In the end, the Kentucky bred daughter of Indian Charlie, out of mare Mini Chat by Deputy Minister, Rumor finished some eight lengths behind the winner, Home Sweet Aspen, and the loss was a little more painful because she was running for her hat-trick in the Santa Monica Stakes, while sent as the 2 to 1 favourite.
The 4-year-old filly, Rumor, was coming off a win in the Kalookan Queen Stakes, where she downed the likes of Saint Isabelle in second, and Big Tiz in third, while covering the six and a half furlong distance in 1 minute and 14.95 seconds at Santa Anita Park’s dirt course, under jockey Garrett Gomez, on 1 January, 2012.
She started her back to back wins in the C. E. R. F. S. Stakes at Del Mar on 7 September, 2011, going over a distance of 6 furlongs on the synthetic surface, ridden by Garrett Gomez.
Rumor clocked 6 furlongs in 1 minute and 9.45 seconds, and downed Salty Sarah and Givine in the stretch, who finished second and third, respectively.
Finishing sixth in the Santa Monica Stakes was an exception, because Rumor has never finished worse than second in her entire 8 career starts, with 4 wins and 3 second place finishes.
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