Miss Temple City in rarified company after Shadwell Turf Mile win

LEXINGTON, Ky. – Matching what only Wise Dan had done was remarkable enough. But considering that she was a filly running against males when she swept the Grade 1 Maker’s 46 Mile and the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile in the same year, her feat is downright extraordinary.

No wonder Graham Motion got so choked up after Miss Temple City held on to win the $1 million Shadwell on Saturday at Keeneland.

“She’s pretty special to me,” Motion told NBC Sports.

Victory in both of those turf races at Keeneland had been accomplished only once before. Wise Dan, the Horse of the Year in 2012 and 2013, did it on his way out in 2014 before an injury ended his career at age 7.

Motion was inclined to run Miss Temple City against fillies and mares in the Grade 1 First Lady on Saturday, but as entry time neared, some of the filly’s younger and more idealistic co-owners, such as Aaron Jutte and Sean Feld, persuaded Motion to try the boys again.

“Fair play to the crew,” said Motion. “They wanted to take a shot in this race, and they kind of twisted my arm, and it was the right thing to do. Sometimes you have to roll the dice. She’s phenomenal, this mare.”

Miss Temple City was bred in Kentucky by Bob Feld, who with his son Sean is part of The Racing Club, one of three partnership entities in the 4-year-old filly, along with Allen Rosenblum and the Sagamore Farm of Kevin Plank.

Miss Temple City earned a Win and You’re In berth in the Nov. 5 Breeders’ Cup Mile at Santa Anita by taking the Shadwell. She was back Monday at her Fair Hill training base in northern Maryland and has been confirmed by Motion for a run in the BC Mile. She will again face male rivals and the star mare Tepin, who won the 2015 BC Mile at Keeneland.