Distance no problem for Tates Creek

ARCADIA, Calif. - Tates Creek on Sunday showed that she is as comfortable over 1 1/4 miles as she is over shorter distances.

A winner of seven stakes from a mile to 1 1/8 miles on turf, Tates Creek won the longest race of her career in the $500,000 at Santa Anita. Sent off as a strong favorite, Tates Creek, 5, held off a late challenge from French invader Musical Chimes to win by three-quarters of a length.

Tates Creek and Musical Chimes used the Yellow Ribbon as a prep race for the $1 million Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf over 1 1/4 miles at Santa Anita on Oct. 25.

The victory gave trainer Bobby Frankel his 22nd Grade 1 win of the year, tying the record set in 1987 by D. Wayne Lukas.

Tates Creek needed a dose of racing luck to win the Grade 1 Yellow Ribbon. Fourth early, Tates Creek was forced to wait on the final turn and into early stretch before taking the lead in the final furlong. Ridden by Patrick Valenzuela, Tates Creek led by a length in the final furlong and was extended at the finish to hold off Musical Chimes by three-quarters of a length. Crazy Ensign finished third in the field of eight.

To keep the win, Tates Creek was the subject of a steward's inquiry involving the stretch run. The inquiry reviewed whether Tates Creek bothered Cassis in midstretch, but the order of finish was not changed.

Owned by Juddmonte Farm, Tates Creek ($3.80) was timed in 2:00.77. She has won 11 of 16 starts and $1,471,674.