Speightstown

SATURDAY'S RACING INSIGHTS: By Christie DeBernardis Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency WELL-BRED CURLIN COLT DEBUTS IN NY 6th-BEL, $63K, Msw, 2yo, 1m, 3:36 p.m. St. Elias Stable homebred KNOWN AGENDA (Curlin) makes his career bow in this spot for Todd Pletcher. The chestnut is out of GISW Byrama (GB) (Byron {GB}), who is a half-sister to GSW Klammer (GB) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). He enters off a pair of bullet works, most recently covering a half-mile in a best-of-29 :48 2/5 on Saratoga's Oklahoma training track Sept. 14. His entry-mate...

Observations on the European Racing Scene turns the spotlight on the best European races of the day, highlighting well-pedigreed horses early in their careers, horses of note returning to action and young runners that achieved notable results in the sales ring. Wednesday's Insights features a son of GISW Nereid (Rock Hard Ten). 2.50 Sandown, Novice, £8,000, 2yo, 8fT CASTLEBAR (IRE) (Invincible Spirit {Ire}) at €460,000 was one of last year's leading lights at the Goffs Orby and he has joined Charlie Appleby's Godolphin ranks. From the family of the G1...

5th-Saratoga, $72,000, Msw, 9-5, 2yo, 7f, 1:22.78, ft. OLYMPIAD (c, 2, Speightstown--Tokyo Time {GSP, $249,177}, by Medaglia d'Oro), off as the 2-1 chalk to improve on a distant debut third to 'TDN Rising Star' Reinvestment Risk (Upstart) Aug. 1, broke running and raced prominently from third and three off the inside just off an opening quarter-mile in :22.80. Traveling sweetly on the turn, the $700,000 Keeneland September yearling came calling for the lead in upper stretch and finished nicely to graduate by a little more than two. The second most-expensive...

'TDN Rising Star' and Breeders' Cup heroine Sharing (Speightstown), who represented America valiantly when sent to Royal Ascot last out, will make her return to the States as a likely prohibitive favorite in Friday's GII Edgewood S. at Churchill Downs. Closing fast to be a narrow third debuting at 5 1/2 furlongs on the Saratoga turf last July, she earned her 'Rising Star' badge when proving her versatility with a 6 1/4-length off-the-turf graduation next out. Capturing the Selima S. at Laurel, she scored at 13-1 in the GI Breeders'...

Nashville (c, 3, Speightstown--Veronique, by Mizzen Mast) set sharp early fractions in the Saratoga slop on debut Wednesday afternoon and ran away and hid from his three overmatched rivals in the stretch en route to a 'TDN Rising Star' performance. The $460,000 Keeneland September yearling graduate, campaigned in partnership by CHC INC. and WinStar Farm LLC, sported a pair of flashy bullets on his worktab for Hall of Famer Steve Asmussen, including a five-furlong spin in :58 4/5 (1/20) from the gate at the Spa Aug. 9. The 1-5 favorite...

Sponsored by Alex Nichols Agency PRICEY SPEIGHTSTOWN DEBUTS AT THE SPA 3rd-SAR, $72K, Msw, 3yo/up, 6 1/2f, 1:49  p.m. China Horse Club and WinStar's NASHVILLE (Speightstown) makes his career bow in this five-horse affair. The $460,000 KEESEP purchase hails from the family of GI Kentucky Derby upsetter Giacomo (Holy Bull); MGISW Tiago (Pleasant Tap); and GSW & MGISP Stanwyck (Empire Maker). TJCIS PPs

'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...

L & N Racing's Echo Town (Speightstown) registered his first win at the highest level with a 7-1 upset in Saratoga's GI H. Allen Jerkens Memorial S. Saturday. The bay raced in mid-pack early as recent GI Woody Stephens S. hero No Parole (Violence) doled out a first quarter in :22.67 with MGSW Mischevious Alex (Into Mischief) pressing from second. Mischevious Alex turned up the heat on No Parole as the half went in :45.31 and Tap It to Win (Tapit) ranged up menacingly on their outside turning for home....

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...

B. Wayne Hughes's Spendthrift Farm has acquired the breeding rights to multiple Grade I-winning millionaire Vekoma (Candy Ride {Arg}--Mona de Momma, by Speightstown). The chestnut captured the prestigious GI Runhappy Metropolitan H. Saturday, four weeks after dominating the GI Runhappy Carter H. "We are extremely excited about Vekoma and his future as a stallion. It's not often you see an elite racehorse that is by a Grade I winner and out of a Grade I winner," said Ned Toffey, Spendthrift general manager. "Vekoma is a terrific blend of his sire...