$150,000 John Deere Cal Cup Distaff
TEMPTING DATE

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2005) – Let loose on the lead down the hill, Tempting Date kept going and held on for a half-length win in Sunday’s $150,000 John Deere California Cup Distaff at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Tempting Date is by Perfect Mandate, out of the Something Lucky mare Contemptible, was bred by Old English Rancho, is owned by Adam and Paul Lewis, trained by Jeff Mullins and was ridden by Victor Espinoza. A 3-year-old, she won for the fourth time in five starts, raising her earnings to $199,680.

“She’s so fast,” said Espinoza. “There were a lot of older horses with speed in there, but not like her. They can’t keep up with her. She actually could have opened up even more out front. She’s just a little tiny strong filly and she loves to run.”

Sent off the 7-2 second choice, Tempting Date ran the 6 ½ furlongs down the hillside turf course in 1:12.40, the second-fastest time in the race’s 16-year history.

A fast-closing Beneficial Bartok was second and longshot Resident Alien (another Mullins trainee) was third. Millionaire Valentine Dancer weakened to finish 11th in the 13-horse field.

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