When the New York Racing Association held the $600,000 Flower Bowl Stakes (G2T) at Racecourse Saratoga September 3, the horse to beat in the mare age 4 and up, most people would agree, will be the one trained by Bill Mott War Like Goddess .
Trainer Brendan Walsh doesn’t know if he can beat his favorite horse 2-5 in the morning, but he thinks he will compete with six other horses in the yard. Walsh will saddle 6 years old Terrorize the temple city and she’s come a long way since she first arrived at the barn.
Owned by Pocket Aces Racing, daughter of Temple City It took a long time before she broke into the win column.
Temple City Terror began her career on January 5, 2019, with her first appearance in a junior race. She came in fourth. The trend will continue.
It wasn’t until her 10th start, on November 16 of that year, that she finally found the winner’s circle, breaking her maidenhood on the pitch at Churchill Downs.
“A long way from breaking her maidenhood,” Walsh said. “But she’s always been a favorite in the stable. She’s never had a bad day, just a joy to be around. It’s nice to have such a mare.”
Temple City Terror didn’t turn into a winning machine after getting that first score.
In the 16 races since that first win, she has won another four. Two of those races come in the same race, the Keertana Overnight Stakes at the mile and a half at Churchill this year and last.
She chased War Like Goddess, finishing second behind her in the 1 1/2 mile match at Glens Falls Stakes (G2T) at Spa on August 6; Last year in the same race, she finished third behind Most Popular Miss.
“She has improved with age,” says Walsh. “She’s a trying mare and you can’t beat that. She shows up and gives it to her all the time.”
