Trainer Graham Motion was all smiles April 16, as he reflected on the April 15 victory of Miss Temple City over males in the $300,000 Maker's 46 Mile Stakes (gr. IT) at Keeneland.
"It was very satisfying—one of the most satisfying things that I have done," Motion said. "She is super this morning and I am not in a hurry to run back."
Owned by Sagamore Farm, Allen Rosenblum, and The Club Racing, the 4-year-old daughter of Temple City became the first filly to win the Maker's 46 Mile and may have been the first to try.
"I always thought she was special," Motion said. "She reminds me a lot of Film Maker."
Motion trained Film Maker, who won the 2003 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup (gr. IT) at Keeneland, compiled a record of 8-8-7 from 27 starts with earnings of more than $2.2 million, and twice finished second in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (gr. IT). Film Maker is a daughter of Dynaformer and Miss Temple City is by a son of Dynaformer.
While Film Maker raced exclusively in the U.S., Miss Temple City could be headed back to Royal Ascot, where she finished a close fourth in last year's Coronation Stakes (Eng-I).
"I am thinking about the Duke of Cambridge, a group II at Royal Ascot (June 15) that is a mile on the straight," Motion said. "I think a mile might be her deal."
Motion noted that the Coronation more than lived up to its group I billing.
"The form out of that race is just phenomenal," Motion said. "The winner (Ervedya) came back and won another group I beating the boys, and there was the Breeders' Cup (Turf) winner (Found). Now there is another grade I winner out of that race."
Heart to Heart, who finished second in the Maker's 46 Mile, is going to get a little time off, according to trainer Brian Lynch.
"As hard as he ran yesterday, he deserves a little (rest an relaxation)," Lynch said. "We will look at a race in New York next for him."
That does not mean that Lynch will be empty-handed on Kentucky Derby day May 7, at Churchill Downs.
Lynch is targeting the $500,000 Woodford Reserve Turf Classic (gr. IT) with Grand Arch. Unraced since finishing third in the Breeders' Cup Mile (gr. IT) here last fall, Grand Arch won the Shadwell Turf Mile (gr. IT) for one of his two graded stakes scores in 2015.
