Shirl's Speight

In an era where robust stables seem to dominate the upper echelon of racing, dual Hall of Famer Roger Attfield has proven that while numbers matter, how you handle the ones you've got is often of greater consequence. And although one operation might attain a certain number of wins at half the speed of another, in part buoyed by its sheer loft, crossing the wire first remains the great equalizer. Illustrating that importance of reaching the milestone following a lifetime of churning out the highest quality runners, Attfield remains only...

This week's TDN Snippets have a little international flavor, while also appreciating one of America's best, and most versatile, stallions. Can lightning strike twice? LNJ's Lighthouse (Mizzen Mast)'s Group 1 exploits in Australia have been well documented, and she's set to be offered through the Magic Millions National Broodmare Sale in May. The same connections have sent Ivy League (Medaglia d'Oro), formerly with Richard Mandella, to the Ciaron Maher/David Eustace stable trying to repeat the magic formula. All Purpose. All Places. All Power... It's not just a marketing slogan, as...

Dispatched at 9-1 despite entering on a two-race win streak, 'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) sling-shotted his way to his first top-level score in Keeneland's GI Maker's Mile S. Friday afternoon. Away in good order, the Fipke homebred bided his time in second last, running off the fence, as GI Shoemaker Mile winner and last out GI Breeders' Cup Mile runner-up Smooth Like Strait (Midnight Lute) dictated terms, putting up early splits of :24.95 and :49.63. Inching up a bit on the backstretch run, Shirl's Speight still had plenty...

After finishing behind the likes of future graded winners Olympiad (Speightstown), Speaker's Corner (Street Sense) and Known Agenda (Curlin) in his first three starts, the homebred followed up on a Gulfstream maiden win in late 2020 to take the GIII Holy Bull S. and GII Fasig-Tipton Fountain of Youth S. in his next three appearances. He makes his first start since finishing a well-beaten third behind Known Agenda in the GI Curlin Florida Derby last March. (Click for more from trainer Shug McGaughey in Steve Sherack's APB series) Also on...

Mark Casse has a strong chance to take home his third GI Ricoh Woodbine Mile with a trio of contenders set to line up for Saturday's "Win and You're In" event for the GI Breeders' Cup Mile. Gary Barber's War of Will (War Front) tries to secure a Grade I double here off a win in Keeneland's GI Maker's Mile July 10. Winner of the GIII LeComte S., GII Risen Star S. and GI Preakness S. last season, the bay capped his sophomore term with a ninth in the GI...

'TDN Rising Star' Shirl's Speight (Speightstown) is no longer being pointed to the GI Kentucky Derby after developing a cough Saturday. "Unfortunately, Shirl's Speight has come up with a minor cough today and he will not be going to the Kentucky Derby," owner/breeder Fipke Stable tweeted. "His health is our number one concern, and we'll look forward to his next race." "He's coughing and full of mucus so we've had to put him on antibiotics," trainer Roger Attfield said. "I've had four or five of them [get sick] these last...

Debutante Lady Speightspeare (Speightstown) followed in the hoofsteps of close relative and stablemate Shirl's Speight (Speighstown) Saturday to garner the 'TDN Rising Star' distinction off of a sharp unveiling over the Woodbine turf. Given a 4-1 chance off a steady, but unassuming series of drills over the Tapeta, the chestnut broke a half-step slowly but was rushed up in between rivals by Emma-Jayne Wilson to take over. She doled out and opening quarter of :22.65 with pressure to her inside, but was asked for a bit more rounding the bend...

Well-bred Shirl's Speight 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 favorite was content to sit second locked on to frontrunner Untitled (Khozan)'s right hip through splits of :24.59 and :48.68. He was asked for more by Rafael Hernandez heading into the...

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...

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...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PLUM PRETTY COLT DEBUTS AT GULFSTREAM 7th-GP, $47K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 3:00p.m. Whisper Hill Farm homebred PLUM FUNNY (Distorted Humor), a son of MGISW Plum Pretty (Medaglia d'Oro), makes his career bow in this test for Ralph Nicks. Mandy Pope paid $4.2-million for GI Kentucky Oaks victress and millionaire Plum Pretty at the 2012 Keeneland November Sale. She has produced one winner from two foals of racing age and her recent foals include the juvenile filly Plum Awesome (Curlin) and a yearling colt by...