Beaten Favorite Rumor Bled in Santa Monica

Rumor, fresh off a rousing win in the Jan. 1 Kalookan Queen Handicap at 6 ½ furlongs, finished a non-threatening sixth with Mike Smith as the 2-1 favorite in Saturday’s Grade I Santa Monica Stakes and may well have had a tangible excuse for the poor showing, as she bled in the race according to Hall of Fame trainer Richard Mandella. 

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.” Rumor, who was in search of her third consecutive win, finished some eight lengths behind the winner.

“She bled a little bit on me and that’s the first time she’s done that,” Mandella said Sunday morning of Rumor, a 4-year-old daughter of Indian Charlie. “We’ll give her some time.”