Miss Temple City Returns to Work Tab

Having proven once again she could hold her own against some of the best in her division overseas, grade I winner Miss Temple City got back to business stateside July 8 when she turned in her first timed move since finishing fourth in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes (Eng-II) at Royal Ascot June 15.

According to trainer Graham Motion, Miss Temple City worked five furlongs in 1:02 3/5 at Fair Hill in what he termed a 'leg stretcher.' Her easy-going move further signaled the 4-year-old daughter of Temple City   bounced out of her trip to England in good order and gave Motion the green light to pencil in the July 23 Diana Stakes (gr. IT) at Saratoga Race Course for the filly's next start.

"She did run great (at Ascot)," Motion said. "If everything goes well, we're pointing to the Diana as long as she works well next weekend. And she's done great since she got home, so I see no reason (not to) right now."

Owned by Sagamore Farm, The Club Racing, and Allen Rosenblum, Miss Temple City carried the  topweight of 131 pounds in the Duke of Cambridge Stakes and battled to find room throughout the straight mile test before putting in a game rally. It was her second venture to the prestigious meet, having run fourth in the 2015 Coronation Stakes (Eng-I), and Motion felt the heavy burden the dark bay filly was shouldered with in her latest try may have been too much to overcome against such competition.

"I think the frustration for me is I wish she could have gotten a piece of it for the owners," Motion said. "To get black-type at Royal Ascot would have been brilliant. But when she won her grade I (Maker's 46 Mile at Keeneland April 15) she carried five fewer pounds and it makes a big difference over there. I think she went from carrying 113 at Keeneland to over 130 over there. So that is a big swing."

Miss Temple City shipped to Ascot along with reigning champion turf female Tepin, who opened the meeting by becoming the first U.S.-based horse to win the Queen Anne Stakes (Eng-I). Motion has made no secret about wanting to avoid facing Tepin if possible and stated that, given what Miss Temple City might have to face in the Breeders' Cup, he is unsure if there is race that would suit his charge on the two-day World Championships card.

"I think the Breeders' Cup is going to be difficult for her because in the Mile, you'd have to run against Tepin and I don't know that she wants to go a 1 1/4 miles in the Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT)," Motion said. "I think right now it would be a stretch to think she would run in the Breeders' Cup because it doesn't really suit her. But if we get an opportunity to run her a little further this year and we find out she handles it, maybe that will change. But right now we're thinking it might be difficult to place her in the Breeders' Cup."

Miss Temple City has just one U.S. start under her belt in 2016; Motion bravely opened her campaign this season in the Maker's 46 Mile, with a victory against males as the result, before sending her to Royal Ascot. The Maker's 46 Mile was her first start since placing second in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland last October. Bred by Bobfeld Bloodstock, she has four wins from 11 career starts and earnings of $576,038.