Condition of turf will determine if Miss Temple City runs in Beaugay

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Graham Motion scratched Miss Temple City out of last Saturday’s Grade 2 Churchill Downs Distaff Turf Mile because of soft turf. He may have another dilemma on his hands because rain is forecast for Saturday in New York, where Motion has Miss Temple City entered in the Grade 3 $150,000 Beaugay Stakes at Belmont Park.

Motion’s goal is to bring Miss Temple City to Royal Ascot next month for a third straight year, but he would like to get a race into the Grade 1-winning mare first. She injured herself in March when she got loose on the backstretch at Palm Meadows, and Motion does not want to run her on soft turf for her first start back.

“I’m not so much concerned about her handling it, I just think it’s really tough off a layoff,” Motion said. “She came off this little inflammation – we’re still not really sure what she did to herself – and it would be worrisome running on that type of turf course.”

Motion said that if Miss Temple City does not run Saturday, he might just train her up to the race at Royal Ascot next month.

Miss Temple City drew the outside post in the eight-horse field. Inside of her, starting from the rail, are Rainha Da Bateria, My Sweet Girl, Hawksmoor, Time and Motion, All in Fun, Dacita, and On Leave.