Timely move propels Runaway Rumour to Hettinger victory
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Runaway Rumour overcame a slow pace and a jockey’s objection to win Friday’s $125,000 John Hettinger Stakes for New York-bred fillies and mares at Aqueduct.
Moved from fourth into second by jockey Jose Lezcano after the early pace was extremely slow, Runaway Rumour overtook the pacesetting Whatlovelookslike turning for home while in the three path. Runaway Rumour came into Spungie’s path along the inside for a stride or two but was quickly straightened out by Lezcano. Runway Rumour finished a neck in front of Spungie at the wire.
Joel Rosario, the rider of Spungie, claimed foul against Lezcano and the stewards posted the inquiry sign. Following a review, the stewards opted to leave the result alone.
“I never caught his line, I was keeping my horse on my line,” Lezcano told the New York Racing Association publicity department.
Rosario felt his momentum on Spungie was stopped, albeit briefly, and that may have cost him the race.
“Yes. That’s what it looked like,” Rosario said.
Spungie finished second by three-quarters of a length over Whatlovelookslike. New Ginya, the impressive Yaddo winner, finished fourth as the Hettinger favorite. Out of Sight and Saratoga Chrome completed the order of finish. Sweetie was scratched.
Runaway Rumour, a 5-year-old daughter of Flintshire won for the fifth time in 21 starts for owner/breeder Lawrence Goichman. Runaway Rumour was making her first start for Linda Rice, who only got the horse a few weeks ago, following her third-place finish in the Yaddo Stakes on Aug. 27. Runaway Rumour was trained by Horacio De Paz for her last four starts after making her first 16 starts for trainer Jorge Abreu.
Runaway Rumour was also entered for Saturday’s Grade 3 Noble Damsel Stakes, but the threat of inclement weather perhaps moving that race to the dirt, prompted Goichman and Rice to keep Runaway Rumour in the Hettinger. Ultimately, the Noble Damsel was postponed to next Friday after Saturday’s card was canceled due to a forecast calling for heavy rain and high winds.
Rice, who won three races on Friday’s card, praised Lezcano for advancing the horse earlier than he may have had there been a legitimate pace to take on Whatlovelookslike, who had gotten loose on the lead through a half-mile in 52.39 seconds and six furlongs in 1:17.62.
“Jose could tell the pace was pretty tepid, I was very happy to see him make an aggressive move to overcome that,” said Rice. “I thought it was a great. Jose is a terrific rider in general, but particularly on the turf.”
Runaway Rumour covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:51.79 over firm ground and returned $15.20 to win.
Goichman said Runaway Rumour would have one more start, presumably the $200,000 Ticonderoga on Oct. 29 - Runaway Rumour won that race last year - before being sold at the Fasig-Tipton November sale on Nov. 7.
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