Roger Attfield | Horse Racing Free Tips

Speightstown ‘Rising Star’ Runs Back to Debut to Dominate Marine

Well-bred SHIRL’S SPEIGHT (c, 3, Speightstown–Perfect Shirl, by Perfect Soul {Ire}) turned in one of the more impressive debuts of 2020 when he demolished nine rivals in front-running fashion over seven grassy furlongs here July 4, and the ‘TDN Rising Star’ handled two turns and Tapeta just as well Saturday to make the grade in Woodbine’s GIII Marine S. Away well from the outside seven post, the even-money favorite was content to sit second locked on to the frontrunner’s right hip through splits of :24.59 and :48.68. He was asked for more by Rafael Hernandez heading into the bend, took over seemingly a bit early midway around the turn and kept finding from there under confident handling to cruise to a 2 1/2-length victory in 1:43.42. Second choice Lucky Curlin (Curlin) completed the exacta with Dotted Line (Signature Red) checking in third. Shirl’s Speight becomes the 112th stakes winner and 55th graded winner for his top sire. The winner’s dam upset the 2011 GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf at 27-1 for this same owner/breeder and trainer. Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0. O/B-Charles E. Fipke (Ky). T-Roger L. Attfield.

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TDN Rising Star Shirl’s Speight Heads Marine

Despite facing more seasoned rivals in Saturday’s GIII Marine S. at Woodbine, Shirl’s Speight (Speightstown) looms large in the traditional primer for the Queen’s Plate, scheduled for Sept. 12. Sent off at 3-1 for a trainer not typically known for his first-time starters, the Roger Attfield trainee took control in the early going of the seven-furlong turf test July 4 and rolled home an emphatic eight-length winner under Rafael Hernandez, becoming a TDN Rising Star in the process. The Charles Fipke hombred is out of Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire})–a daughter of GISW Lady Shirl (That’s Nice)–who annexed the 2011 GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf.

On the other end of the spectrum, John Oxley’s Lucky Curlin (Curlin) will be making his 10th start in the 1 1/16-mile contest. The Mark Casse-conditioned colt needed six tries to get off the duck at two, and finally earned the distinction via DQ in a sloppy six-panel affair at the Fair Grounds in December. Off the board in a pair of stakes at the New Orleans oval over the winter, the homebred came from off the pace to score last time in Etobicoke over the Marine’s course and distance June 14.

“He’s a horse that’s disappointed me, to be honest,” said Casse. “We were always thinking, ‘If he ever gets his act together..’ He was a horse early on that we thought was as good as [Grade III winner] Enforceable [Tapit]. And of course, Enforceable is going to the [GI] Kentucky Derby.”

“His last race, from a Beyer standpoint, was very good. I wasn’t surprised, but it was pleasant. He’s been extremely frustrating for us because we’ve had high hopes for him. There are horses whose abilities are limited. He hasn’t been that way. So, we’ll see how he handles two turns. I’m still not positive that he isn’t a come-from-behind sprinter. But we’re going to give it a try.”

Among Queen’s Plate eligible runners is Dotted Line (Signature Red), listed at 18-1 in the Queen’s Plate winterbook. The winner of three starts in 2019, including a pair of stakes over the Tapeta, the Sid Attard trained gelding finished fifth in Woodine’s seven-panel Queeneston S. against fellow Ontario breds July 4.

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Speightstown Son of Perfect Shirl Super Sharp in Rising Star-Worthy Unveiling

Shirl’s Speight (Speightstown)’s dam Perfect Shirl (Perfect Soul {Ire}) may have rallied from far back when she upended the 2011 GI Breeders’ Cup F/M Turf at 27-1, but Shirl’s Speight showed off impressive speed from the first jump Saturday at Woodbine to garner the ‘TDN Rising Star’ distinction. Sporting a mostly unassuming worktab over the local Tapeta, the Chuck Fipke homebred quickly assumed command and doled out splits of :23.02 and :45.38 while traveling well within himself. Rafael Hernandez still hadn’t moved a muscle on the 3-1 shot as they spun for home, and he continued motionless all the way to the wire as Shirl’s Speight powered away a head-turning eight-length victor. Just Like Larry (Langhfuhr) was best of the rest.

Shirl’s Speight is his dam’s fourth foal, and has a year-older full-brother who also won first out while showing speed on the turf–that runner, Perfect Speighty, is now two-for-four. Perfect Shirl, out of the GISW Lady Shirl (That’s Nice), is a half to MGISW Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}), MGSW Lady Shakespeare (Theatrical {Ire}) and SW/MGSP and useful producer Fantastic Shirl (Fantastic Light). Perfect Shirl has a 2-year-old full-sister to Shirl’s Speight named Speightstown Shirl who was posted two works recently at Woodbine.

10th-Woodbine, C$83,137, Msw, 7-4, 3yo/up, 7fT, 1:19.97, fm.
SHIRL’S SPEIGHT, c, 3, Speightstown
1st Dam: Perfect Shirl (GISW-USA, GSP-Can, $1,390,729), by Perfect Soul {Ire})
2nd Dam: Lady Shirl, by That’s Nice
3rd Dam: Canonization, by Native Heritage
Lifetime Record: 1-1-0-0, $30,997. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by Fasig-Tipton. Free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
O/B-Charles Fipke (KY); T-Roger L. Attfield.

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Elizabeth Way Collars Another Time At The Wire In Woodbine’s Nassau

Elizabeth Way got up in the final strides to steal the spotlight in the $175,000 Nassau Stakes (Grade 2) featured on Saturday's program at Woodbine Racetrack in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

Jockey Emma-Jayne Wilson worked out the winning trip in the one-mile fillies and mares turf event for Hall of Fame trainer Roger Attfield and owner John McCormack.

Elizabeth Way was led along by pacesetter Another Time through a quarter in :24.41, half-mile in :46.92 and three-quarters in 1:09.61 before digging in down the stretch and getting up to collar the front-runner at the wire in 1:33.26.

Sent postward as the 5-1 fourth choice, Elizabeth Way returned $13.30 to her backers. Favorite Malakeh followed the winner's cover and rallied home for third-place while Amalfi Coast closed from the backfield to finish fourth. Nantucket Red and Eyeinthesky completed the field. Lunar Garden was scratched.

A 4-year-old Godolphin-bred daughter of Frankel out of the Giant's Causeway mare Maids Causeway, Elizabeth Way started her career in Ireland and ventured to Woodbine after making four starts in the U.S. earlier this year under Attfield's care. Following a maiden-breaking score when trying 1 1/16 miles on the turf at Gulfstream Park, she won the Grade 3 Very One Stakes next time out in late-February over 1 3/16 miles. Saturday's victory was her third in 10 career starts and boosted her bankroll well over the $200,000 mark.

A confident Wilson, who studied replays and spoke with the chestnut filly's trainer to determine the winning strategy, said she knew Elizabeth Way had a chance to catch the front-runner and was happy to have another horse lead her along throughout the race.

“Her form is all over the place – one minute she's on the lead, one minute she's at the back of the bus. Watching the replays gave me a real understanding as to what she needed to do,” said Wilson. “It was really about getting her into a good rhythm and that's what Roger and I talked about as well. I got her out of the gate… and just got her happy into a rhythm and, you could see, she just galloped them down and she just kept on. She's a stayer.”

The Nassau is the first leg of Woodbine's Ladies of the Lawn Series, which offers $75,000 in bonuses to the top performers based on points accumulated in the designated graded turf routes for fillies and mares (10 points for 1st, seven points for 2nd, five points for 3rd, three points for 4th, two points for 5th, one point for 6th through last).

The second leg of the series is the $175,000 Dance Smartly Stakes (Grade 2) on August 15 followed by the $250,000 Canadian Stakes (Grade 2) on September 12 and the $600,000 E.P. Taylor Stakes (Grade 1) on October 18.

Wilson doubled up on the 10-race card as did Rafael Hernandez. Both jockeys are tied for the top spot in the 2020 standings with 15 wins through the first 12 race days.

Live Thoroughbred racing continues, without spectators, on Sunday afternoon. Post time for the 10-race program is 1 p.m.

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