Tates Creek wins San Gorgonio

INGLEWOOD, Calif. - Tates Creek earned a winter vacation after extending her stakes winning streak to three in Saturday's $150,000, Grade 2 at Santa Anita.

Trainer Bobby Frankel said the 5-year-old Tates Creek will be pointed to the major stakes of the Hollywood Park spring-summer meeting, which begins April 23. "I'll back off a little and get her ready for Hollywood," Frankel said. "I want to try to give her a Grade 1 win."

Tates Creek benefited from a perfect trip under jockey Patrick Valenzuela to win the sixth stakes of her career in the San Gorgonio. Owned and bred by Juddmonte Farms, Tates Creek has won 9 of 13 starts and $857,607.

Carrying topweight of 121 pounds, Tates Creek ($3.80) ran 1 1/8 miles over firm turf in 1:46.91, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of Megahertz, who is also trained by Frankel.

Valenzuela kept Tates Creek in second for most of the race chasing Double Cat, who set early fractions of 24.79 and 49.01 seconds.

"I was glad Pat was up there because the pace was slow and she has a good turn of foot," Frankel said.

Tates Creek went by Double Cat before the eighth pole, and was ridden to the finish to beat Megahertz.

A 4-year-old, Megahertz was making her first start against older fillies and mares. Last year, she was placed first, via disqualification, in the American Oaks and finished second in the Del Mar Oaks.

Double Cat was third, followed by Crazy Ensign, Alozaina, Magic Mission, and Miss Gazon.

Tates Creek gave Frankel a record sixth win in the San Gorgonio.

* In the race following the San Gorgonio, Ministers Wild Cat, a 3-year-old full-brother to Double Cat, won a seven-furlong maiden race by 7 1/2 lengths in 1:22.57.