Tates Creek rallies to win Las Palmas

ARCADIA, Calif. - Even when Voodoo Dancer scooted off to a seemingly insurmountable lead in early stretch of Sunday's at Santa Anita, jockey Jerry Bailey did not give up hope aboard Tates Creek.

"I thought if she had the same kick going a mile and an eighth that she did at a mile, I'd be all right," Bailey said.

Waiting until the final furlong to make a serious move, Bailey urged Tates Creek to the inside of Voodoo Dancer and made up two lengths to win by a neck.

"She never gives up," Bailey said. "Even though you think she might be in trouble She keeps trying."

Voodoo Dancer, the even-money favorite, was ridden by Corey Nakatani and finished 1 1/2 lengths in front of Magic Mission in the field of eight fillies and mares. Based in New York with Christophe Clement, the Las Palmas was Voodoo Dancer's third trip to California in the last two months. She won the Grade 2 Palomar Handicap at Del Mar in early September and finished second in the Yellow Ribbon Stakes last month.

The Grade 2 Las Palmas marked the third time that Bailey and Tates Creek have teamed to win a stakes this year. Earlier this season, Bailey rode Tates Creek to victories in the Diana Handicap at Saratoga, beating Voodoo Dancer by a nose, and in the Grade 3 Noble Damsel Handicap at Belmont Park in September.

A 4-year-old, Tates Creek has won 8 of 12 starts and $767,607 for Juddmonte Farms and trainer Bobby Frankel.

* In the , Master Belt, the longest shot in the field, rallied through the stretch to pull an upset in his U.S. debut.

Ridden by Tyler Baze, Master Belt ($138.40) closed from sixth on the outside to finish a neck in front of an unlucky I Love Silver, who was blocked in mid-stretch. Kachamandi finished third in the field of 10. There were seven runners within three lengths at the finish, including El Cielo, the two-time defending champion and 5-2 favorite who finished fifth.

Master Belt finished about 6 1/2 furlongs on the hillside turf course in 1:12.26.

A New Zealand-bred, the 4-year-old Master Belt races for Tom Hamilton and trainer Simon Bray. He won the New Zealand 2000 Guineas in 2001.