But despite his lofty odds, the son of Awesome Again made it look easy in the Kentucky Cup Turf, as he led big early and then responded willingly in the stretch after being mildly threatened, romping to a 3 3/4-length victory on opening day at Kentucky Downs.
Ridden by Eduardo Perez, Rumor Has It was never really challenged in the stretch. He took a 1 1/2 length advantage into the straightaway while being stalked by My Happiness, Borobudur and Stream of Gold. But he extended his lead in the final furlong, making the shocking upset look like a stroll in the park.
The final time on a ‘firm’ turf course was 2:28.27.
Stream of Gold finished second under Victor Lebron, while My Happiness was third. Silverfoot, the favorite, fourth in the field of nine older horses.
Rumor Has It was 0-for-8 this season and was off the board in his last three defeats. His most recent effort was a sixth-place finish in optional claiming company Sept. 1 at Arlington Park. But despite his lackluster performances the past two months, Rumor Has It turned in a pair of good efforts earlier this summer in Illinois, including a half-length loss in the Rossi Gold Stakes June 7.
Trained by David Hinsley, Rumor Has It’s last victory was in the John Henry Stakes at Meadowlands – his one and only previous blacktype win.
A Kentucky homebred owned by James Glenn and William Patterson, Rumor Has It is out of the Time for a Change mare Garden Secrets. He is now 4-5-0 from 23 lifetime starts and has earned $225,933.
In the Kentucky Turf Cup, Rumor Has It broke from post 1 and went straight to the front. He led by nearly nine lengths after a half-mile in :49.51. Although Stream of Gold and My Happiness eventually closed the gap and were in striking position, Rumor Has It was never seriously challenged on the lead while setting splits of 1:16.45, 1:40.44 and 2:04.48.
The longest shot on the board, Rumor Has It paid $121.20, $38 and $15.40. The exacta (1-6) with 9-5 Stream of Gold returned $439.40, while the trifecta (1-6-10) was worth a whopping $5,605.60