Time and Motion pointing to California stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Time and Motion, the winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup at Keeneland, is pointing to a pair of stakes in December in Southern California, trainer Jimmy Toner said Sunday.

Toner said Time and Motion will run in the Grade 1, $300,000 Matriarch at Del Mar on Dec. 3 and use that as a prep for the Grade 1, $300,000 American Oaks at Santa Anita on Dec. 31.

:: Breeders’ Cup Challenge: Results, replays, charts, and more

The Matriarch is at a mile, a little shorter than Time and Motion’s preferred distance, but it will give her a race four weeks out before the American Oaks at 1 1/4 miles, a race previously run in July.

“If she gets a piece of it, that will be great, and it’ll set her up for the next one,” Toner said of the Matriarch.

Toner said an added bonus for running in the Matriarch is to get a race over the Del Mar turf course. Next year’s Breeders’ Cup will be held at Del Mar.

On Sunday, Time and Motion worked a half-mile in 50.39 seconds over a “good” Belmont Park inner turf course.