Temple City Terror Clinches Second Keertana Victory

It was a nail-biting finish as last year's victor Temple City Terror  blitzed from the back of the pack to hold on to her title in the $153,500 Keertana Overnight Stakes May 28 at Churchill Downs. 

Trained by Brendan Walsh for Pocket Aces Racing, the 6-year-old Temple City   mare trailed the field well off the pace set by Undisturbed , who showed the way through early fractions of :23.83, :50.99, and 1:17.14 with Stand Tall  pressing the pace.

Making her move under Adam Beschizza as the mile went in 1:42.30, Temple City Terror shifted quickly into striking position and charged home under a long drive, putting away Stand Tall to win the 1 1/2-mile turf event by a half-length in a final time of 2:31.76 on a turf course rated firm.

New turf course, same results for TEMPLE CITY TERROR wins the Keertana Stakes for the 2nd year in a row for @ABeschizza and @brenpwalsh! pic.twitter.com/a0x0y3GzFq

— Churchill Downs (@ChurchillDowns) May 28, 2022

"She's a great filly, she's a pleasure to have," Walsh said. "She's all heart."

La Lune  moved up from fifth to finish third.

After winning the Keertana last year, Temple City Terror went on to run third in both the Robert G. Dick Memorial Stakes (G3T) at Delaware Park and the Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Saratoga Race Course to complete her 2021 season. Her Saturday start was her second this year, off a fifth in an April 14 allowance at Keeneland. She improved her record to 5-4-5 from 24 starts, with earnings of $435,718.

Temple City Terror is out of the More Than Ready  mare It Takes Two, who also produced R Calli Kim, an allowance winner with $134,660 in earnings. The mare was last reported barren for 2021.