Rumor opts to face fillies in allowance at Santa Anita

ARCADIA, Calif. – Rumor was withdrawn from an allowance race against males on Friday to start in a one-mile allowance race against 3-year-old fillies on Sunday. The Sunday race could lead to a start in the $250,000 Santa Anita Oaks on March 5, trainer Richard Mandella said.

“We’ll see how she does” on Sunday, Mandella said. “The Santa Anita Oaks would be moving pretty fast. If she runs anything like she did the other day, I’d have to think about it.”

Rumor will be favored in the allowance race, Sunday’s second race, against four rivals. Rumor won her debut in a maiden race over six furlongs by 6 3/4 lengths on Dec. 31.

Scott gets back to winner’s circle

Jockey Joy Scott won her first race in nearly a year when Leyva Man ($13) won a maiden claimer over seven furlongs in Thursday’s eighth race.

Scott, 52, had not won since Feb. 20 at Santa Anita. During the interim, she underwent shoulder surgery, which led to a four-month layoff from March to July.

“It’s gratifying because it’s so hard to get going after an injury and being a girl here,” she said.

Scott is one of the few female riders based in Southern California on a year-round basis. Thursday’s win was her first from 10 mounts at this meeting.

Leyva Man is trained by Dererk Meredith and was his first winner since December and third since October 2006. Meredith, who turns 61 on Monday, is best known as the trainer of Cardmania, winner of the Eclipse Award as the outstanding sprinter of 1993.