Runaway Rumour should move early in Port Washington

ELMONT, N.Y. – Runaway Rumour did everything but win the Mount Vernon Stakes five weeks ago, getting run down late by favored Marvelous Maude and losing by a nose in the stakes for New York-bred females at Belmont Park.

Tuesday, with Marvelous Maude sitting this one out, Runaway Rumour figures to inherit the favorite’s role in the inaugural running of the $125,000 Port Washington Stakes at Belmont. The 1 1/16-mile turf race drew a field of six, including one entrant for the main track.

In the Mount Vernon, Runaway Rumour was making her first start for trainer Horacio De Paz after having made her first 16 for Jorge Abreu. She also was being ridden for the first time by Manny Franco, who may have learned something from that ride that could be useful Tuesday.

“He thought she’d have a little bit more of a kick; now he knows her, he probably needs to move a little sooner with her because she’s more of a steady grinder,” De Paz said.

The Port Washington will be the 16th consecutive stakes appearance for Runaway Rumour, who at age 3 won the Wild Applause here and at 4 won the Ticonderoga at Aqueduct.

Minus Marvelous Maude, the Port Washington will look very similar to the Mount Vernon. Freddymo Factor, the 7-year-old mare who ran off to set a fast pace in the Mount Vernon, was supplemented to this race by trainer Eduardo Jones.

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Before that happened, Sanura looked as though she could be the controlling speed under Javier Castellano for Barclay Tagg. In the Mount Vernon, Sanura chased Freddymo Factor, taking the lead in upper stretch and fighting with Runaway Rumour until deep stretch. She finished third, beaten 1 3/4 lengths.

Prior to that, Sanura had won an open allowance race over Gulfstream Park’s synthetic surface and a second-level statebred allowance on turf at Aqueduct. In the Aqueduct race, Sanura defeated three next-out winners, including Whatlovelookslike, who is back in this field.

Though her two previous victories came in front-running fashion, Sanura is not viewed by her connections as a need-the-lead type.

“She’s fine racing off the pace, she can come from further back if she needs to,” said Robin Smullen, assistant to Tagg.

After the Mount Vernon, Castellano told Smullen he had to move Sanura earlier than he wanted because Runaway Rumour, to the outside, was making her move while Freddymo Factor was stopping in front.

“He was a bit upset that he moved when he did,” Smullen said. “She’s not pace dependent. If there’s no speed, she’ll go the lead, if there is speed she can sit off of it.”

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Whatlovelookslike has been consistent in her career, she just hasn’t run very fast figures. This will be her stakes debut for trainer Todd Pletcher.

Golden Rocket, based at Parx Racing, returns to turf for the first time since she finished third, beaten a head, in a New York-bred allowance on Oct. 20 at Aqueduct.

Sunset Louise is entered to run only if the race is transferred to the main track.

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