ARCADIA, Calif. (AP) — Rumor defeated 4-5 favorite Teddy’s Promise by a half-length to win the $100,000 Las Flores Stakes at Santa Anita on Sunday.
Ridden by Hall of Famer Mike Smith, Rumor ran 612 furlongs in 1:15.44 and paid $15, $5 and $3.
Smith had trouble getting home from Oaklawn Park in Arkansas because of a cancelled flight.
“I had a terrible morning. You don’t know how hard it was for me to get here,” he said. “I’ve been on standbys since four this morning. I’ve never been so happy to catch a standby (flight) in my life.”
Teddy’s Promise returned $2.60 and $2.10, while Shumoos was another 612 lengths back in third and paid $2.60 to show.
The victory, worth $60,000, increased Rumor’s career earnings to $384,438, with six wins in 14 starts.
