Tates Creek won for the fourth time in seven starts this year, and for the seventh time in 11 career starts. The $60,000 purse boosted her career earnings to about $640,000.The 4-5 favorite in the field of eight paid $3.90, $2.50 and $2.20. Amonita returned $3.30 and $2.60. Dat You Miz Blue paid $3.40 for the show. The $2 exacta was $12.Chart, Equibase)
Juddmonte Farm's Tates Creek, under a patient ride by Jerry Bailey, ran down Amonita in deep stretch to record a one-length victory in the $100,000 Noble Damsel Handicap (gr. IIIT) at Belmont Park Saturday.The Bobby Frankel-trained 4-year-old daughter of Rahy covered the one mile event on a firm Widener Turf Course in 1:32 3/5, one second off the course record.Bailey positioned Tates Creek for her stretch run from well back in the pack by making a big move from the outside on the turn. She followed Amonita by a length as Amonita wore down front-running Quick Blue and Dat You Miz Blue. At the half-mile, which went in :45, Tates Creek was in sixth place, eight lengths behind Quick Blue, who covered the opening six furlongs in a swift 1:08 4/5. "I was wondering what Jerry (Bailey) was doing, but I guess he didn't want to run up in there and get stopped and shut off," said Frankel. "He just let the horses out-run her, and came around. I think she runs her best races from out of it rather than being up close." Tates Creek gave Bailey back-to-back wins in the Noble Damsel. He won this race last year with Tugger, and also won this race in 1997 with Colcon"Rather than get involved in a hot pace, I took her back,"Bailey said. "She's got a big kick, and I figured it wouldn't be a problem to get her settled. A mile and an eighth is probably pushing her, but she loves a mile."Frankel said he would probably return Tates Creek to California.