Speak of the Devil (Fr) (Wootton Bassett {GB}) makes her first start for Peter Brant and trainer Chad Brown in the GII Churchill Distaff Turf Mile S. Saturday. The 5-year-old mare, who just missed when second in the 2020 G1 French 1000 Guineas and again when third in last year's G1 Prix Rothschild, was purchased by Brant for €1.95 million at last year's Arqana December sale.
Brant and Brown will also be represented in the Distaff Turf Mile by In Italian (GB) (Dubawi {Ire}). The 4-year-old was a flashy wire-to-wire victress of the Mar. 5 GIII Honey Fox S. in her most recent start and makes just her fifth trip to the post Saturday. She was tabbed a 'TDN Rising Star' following her maiden score at Belmont last May, but was sidelined by pneumonia until adding a Tampa allowance Jan. 12.
Roger Attfield sends outs Charles Fipke's homebred Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown). The 'TDN Rising Star' was sidelined for a year after winning the 2020 GI Natalma S. in her second career start. She returned with a pair of victories at Woodbine, including the GII Bessarabian S., but is winless in four starts since leaving Canada. The speedy filly was never a threat after blowing the break in the Apr. 16 GI Jenny Wiley S., but still came home third at Keeneland last time out.
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