Miss Temple City far outside talented dozen in Matriarch

DEL MAR, Calif. – When it comes to stakes races at this Del Mar fall meeting, or loading the horses into the gate for the Grade 1 Matriarch Stakes on Sunday, they’ve saved the best for last.

Miss Temple City will be the last to load, but bettors are expected to wager on her to be the first to arrive at the end of the $300,000 Matriarch, which highlights the closing-day card here.

Miss Temple City drew the outside post in a field of 12, and what a field it is, unquestionably the best stakes race of this monthlong meeting. Her rivals include the outstanding 3-year-old filly Time and Motion as well as a trio of stakes winners – Mexican Gold, Roca Rojo, and Zindaya – trained by Chad Brown.

But Miss Temple City is clearly the horse to beat in this one-mile grass race for older females. She owns a pair of Grade 1 wins this year against males and comes off a solid fifth-place finish – beaten just 2 1/4 lengths – against males in the Breeders’ Cup Mile. She has raced in Kentucky, New York, California, and at Royal Ascot in England this year and has continued to hold her high-class form.

“She’s probably the best filly I’ve had, and I’ve had some good ones,” trainer Graham Motion said on Friday. “The way she trains in the morning, I think she’s that good. She’s a big, strapping filly.”

Motion said he thinks Miss Temple City has raced in the shadow of Tepin, the acknowledged leader of the older female turf division, but that she has accomplished plenty.

“It’s unfortunate she’s come along at the same time as Tepin, or she might stand out more,” Motion said. “On the flip side, to get around Tepin, we’ve run and won two Grade 1’s against males, which we probably wouldn’t have done if Tepin wasn’t around.”

Miss Temple City is owned by a partnership that includes the Sagamore Farm of Kevin Plank. They have taken Miss Temple City twice to Royal Ascot, and that is a goal for next year, as Miss Temple City will remain in training at age 5.

“She’s owned by a group of owners who are extremely sporting,” Motion said. “They enjoy taking on a challenge, which is kind of refreshing.”

The Matriarch is one of five grass races on Sunday, with every odd-numbered race on the turf. This is the last turf racing on this circuit until Dec. 26, when Santa Anita’s winter meeting opens, as there is no turf racing at Los Alamitos, which runs Dec. 8-18.

p>There will be mandatory payouts Sunday on all wagers that include a carryover, such as the pick six, so the single-ticket jackpot carryover, new at this meet, must be paid out.

Matriarch, Race 7

KEY CONTENDERS

Miss Temple City, by Temple City

Last 3 Beyers: 104-106-97

◗ Both of her victories this year came at one mile on turf. After the Breeders’ Cup, she was considered for both the Matriarch and a race in Hong Kong.

“For once, we took the more conservative route, but that was because I was concerned how a trip to Hong Kong would impact her going into next year,” Motion said. “Her owners want to run next year, which I think is great.”

Time and Motion, by Tapit

Last 3 Beyers: 100-97-95

◗ She has won five times in six starts this year, most recently in the Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland. She’s a 3-year-old and will be facing against older runners for the first time.

◗ After this race, she will remain in California for her main goal, the Grade 1 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Dec. 31, a 1 1/4-mile race restricted to 3-year-old fillies.

“This race isn’t at her best distance,” Tiffany Webb, assistant trainer to Jimmy Toner, said Friday. “We’ll see how she runs against these fillies, and it’s a chance to see how she likes Del Mar,” which plays host to next year’s Breeders’ Cup.

Zindaya, by More Than Ready

Last 3 Beyers: 94-97-95

◗ She shipped west last month and won the Grade 2 Goldikova at Santa Anita the day after the Breeders’ Cup ended.

Roca Rojo, by Strategic Prince

Last 3 Beyers: 104-92-94

◗ She has won five times in six starts and is 3 for 4 since being imported from her native Ireland, but this is her first time in a Grade 1 race.

Mexican Gold, by Medaglia d’Oro

Beyers: 97-91

◗ She is making just her third start in this country after previously racing in France. She was third to stablemate Roca Rojo in the Grade 3 Athenia on soft ground at Belmont Park last time out but was a winner on firm ground at Saratoga in her U.S. debut and will get that kind of ground here.