Miss Temple City eyes Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf

Miss Temple City is considered a possible starter by trainer Graham Motion for the $350,000 Kentucky Downs Ladies Turf on Sept. 9, although he has not ruled out another race elsewhere to use as a prep for the Oct. 7 Shadwell Turf Mile at Keeneland.

If the 5-year-old mare does in fact make the trip from her Maryland base, surely she will be the most accomplished horse to ever set foot on the Kentucky Downs course. She’s a three-time Grade 1 winner and an earner of more than $1.4 million, with two of those Grade 1 victories coming against males at Keeneland.

Meanwhile, horsemen all over the map already are plotting their course of action for the five-day Kentucky Downs meet, which runs Sept. 2-14. Once again, purses for qualifying Kentucky-breds are $130,000 for maiden special weight races and up to $145,000 for allowances. A busy stakes schedule is highlighted by the $600,000 Kentucky Turf Cup on Sept. 9.

Field size at the turf-only course in south-central Kentucky averaged 10.9 starters per race at the 2016 meet.