Hovdey: Setbacks not enough to halt Motion barn

So, how’s your week going?

Graham Motion can be forgiven if he answers that question by curling into the fetal position and hiding under his desk, or disappearing for a few days with the dogs and a backpack into the woods of northern Maryland, or lashing out with a profanity-laced diatribe against the forces of fate that rose up against him.

Then again, that would not be Motion, whose tamped-down British sensibilities preclude such dramatic behavior – bloody hell, Bob’s your uncle, stiff upper lip, and all that jazz.

Last Saturday, the racing world was informed that a Motion stakes winner in April at Keeneland had tested positive for a regulated muscle relaxant in excess of the allowable level. For you chemistry buffs, it’s called methocarbomal. For those more interested in jurisprudence, it was Motion’s first medication violation in a 23-year training career beginning with his apprenticeship with Hall of Famer Jonathan Sheppard.

Then, on Sunday morning, Motion and his crew were rocked to their shoes by the fatal injury of Tactitus in a routine work at Keeneland. The 4-year-old son of A.P. Indy won stakes this summer at Saratoga and Belmont Park, realizing the potential he showed while running in England. The answer to the question of why bad things happen to good horses remains a mystery.

“It was just so shocking,” Motion said Thursday from his stable at Fair Hill. “It just doesn’t make any sense, and I don’t understand it. He was just breezing. He would have gone a half in no more than 50 or 51. You don’t ever get used to something like that, and if you do, you probably should be doing something else.”

The loss of a horse in such a violent manner is a shock to any system, leaving the caretaker limp from grief and helplessness. The accusation of a medication violation is another beast entirely, one that Motion is determined to fight.

“It would be a whole lot easier to pay the $500 fine and take the five days,” Motion said. “Who could care less? But for me, it’s the principle. It’s just not right.”

Motion’s suspension was stayed pending his appeal. As of this week, he had 10,961 starters and 2,054 winners in North America without a violation, which is unusual given the variety of jurisdictions in which Motion has raced.

“I preach about it to our guys,” Motion said of medication rules and practices. “I am so passionate about it, and that’s why something like this makes it so much worse. If I thought someone had screwed up, I’d swallow my pride and move on. But nobody screwed up. We were just tripped up by the system. The filly ran in California, in Florida, and we handled her the same way every time. I don’t know what else I could do. I can’t blame people for not challenging these things, but I have to defend myself.”

Clearly, the appeal will preoccupy Motion for as long as it takes to resolve. Still, there is regular business to conduct. To that end, he will send out Miss Temple City for Sagamore Farm and partners Saturday in Keeneland’s $500,000 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at 1 1/8 miles on turf.

Miss Temple City made news in June at Royal Ascot when she ran an admirable fourth in the Coronation Stakes. The daughter of Dynaformer was beaten just two lengths by Ervedya, a French classic winner, and 1 1/2 lengths by runner-up Found, who went on to be second to Golden Horn in the Irish Champion. Also, if you look carefully, the filly Miss Temple City edged for fourth in the Coronation was Arabian Queen – the same Arabian Queen who handed Golden Horn his only loss in the Juddmonte International.

“The form of the Coronation was really strong,” Motion said. “That’s why I feel like she’s the caliber of filly who should win a race like the Queen Elizabeth. My frustration is that we haven’t been able to win one of these others along the way.”

The last time Miss Temple City ran at Keeneland, she finished second to division leader Lady Eli in the Appalachian Stakes. But in two appearances since the Coronation, Miss Temple City was second in the Lake Placid at Saratoga and third in the Sands Point at Belmont, both won by Sentiero Italia from the Kiaran McLaughlin barn. Could the England trip have dulled her?

“It didn’t seem like the trip was hard on her,” Motion said. “I basically treated it like we’d gone to Dubai and gave her a month without doing much at all.”

Drayden Van Dyke, who won the Rodeo Drive at Santa Anita on Photo Call for the Motion barn on Sept. 26, will be riding Miss Temple City for the first time.

“To be honest, I actually talked myself out of running but then did a flip-around and decided we should go for it,” Motion said. “I know I haven’t been able to beat Kiaran’s filly in the last two starts, but I was always taught by my old boss never to fear that one horse. She’s doing well, and it’s a Grade 1 for 3-year-old fillies. It seems to be beyond conservative to skip the race.

“Besides, I had the great pleasure of meeting the queen at Royal Ascot this year. It was pretty amazing. For an Englishman, it was almost emotional. If we’re fortunate enough to win on Saturday, I might have to send her a note.”