Shirl's Speight Goes 2-For-2 With Marine Victory
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Photo: Michael Burns
Shirl's Speight wins the Marine Stakes at Woodbine
Charles Fipke's homebred Shirl's Speight took command in the turn of the CA$128,250 (US$95,583) Marine Stakes (G3) July 25 at Woodbine and was ridden out by jockey Rafael Hernandez to go 2-for-2 in his career.
The Marine, run at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta, followed the 3-year-old Speightstown colt's July 4 debut going seven furlongs on the turf in which he led throughout to win by eight lengths.
"He's a horse with a tremendous amount of ability, but he just had that one race and he never learned anything from that race; he didn't get any experience from it," trainer Roger Attfield said. "Today was going to be more interesting to see him get in with some horses a bit. Of course, he was only with one (chasing in second). He settled down and he rated. Once he got to the five-eighths pole over there, I was pretty sure that he would just keep galloping. He's a very nice horse for sure."
Shirl's Speight, the even-money favorite among seven sophomores, broke from the outside and was hustled into second. A length and a half ahead, Untitled set fractions of :24.59 and :48.68 through a half-mile. The pacesetter managed three-quarters in 1:12.34, but by then Shirl's Speight was only a head behind and the pair had three lengths on the field.
Untitled could not stay with Shirl's Speight, and the bay opened up down the stretch. He crossed the wire 2 3/4 lengths in front on a fast track in 1:43.42.
"I've been excited about this horse from last year, to be honest with you. He was always the workmate with Mr. Hustle, who finished up as (2019 Canadian) champion 2-year-old, and he always looked like he might be the stronger of the two, and just sprinting," Attfield said of Shirl's Speight. "I said, 'He'll stay. This horse will stay.' I was pretty sure he'd stay. But I had to put him away because he got jarred up and he needed some time. I couldn't wait to get him back this spring because I've been thinking about this horse all winter."
Lucky Curlin was one spot behind Shirl's Speight throughout and crossed the wire second. Dotted Line got up for third, and Untitled stayed for fourth. Glorious Tribute, Lookinatamiracle, and Perfect Revenge completed the order of finish.
Shirl's Speight has earned $86,893.
Bred in Kentucky, Shirl's Speight is out of Fipke's Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf (G1T) heroine Perfect Shirl, by Perfect Soul. His 4-year-old brother, Perfect Speighty, is a winner, and he has a 2-year-old unraced sister named Speightstown Shirl.
Two Sixty Goes Gate to Wire in Selene
Gary Barber's Two Sixty grabbed the lead at the start of the CA$129,250 (US$96,328) Selene Stakes (G3) Saturday and kept late-running Saratoga Vision at bay to collect her first graded victory.
The 3-year-old daughter of Uncaptured won the FTBOA Florida Sire Stakes My Dear Girl division at 2 and on her season debut this year took the Gasparilla Stakes.
Following three consecutive losses, Two Sixty went off at 9-1 in the Selene, a 1 1/16-mile race for sophomore fillies on Tapeta. With Emma-Jayne Wilson in the irons, she led through fractions of :24.12, :48.81, and 1:13.36 while 6-5 favorite Owlette was two lengths behind in second.
Owlette continued to give chase down the stretch and remained a length behind Two Sixty. Saratoga Vision, who was last of seven early, proved to be a late threat at 84-1. She edged Owlette but missed gate-to-wire winner Two Sixty by three-quarters of a length. The final time was 1:45.01.
Two Sixty takes the Selene Stakes
"It was clear on paper that Owlette was going to be pace, but they took the blinkers off. So right off the hop, I wanted to get away and set myself at the front with conviction, and that's what happened," Wilson said. "As we eased into the backstretch, I took a little bit of a hold of her. I glanced between my legs and saw that I had a length or so of daylight that I could ease back and have her take a breather. She pricked her ears as we came around the three-quarter pole top of the backstretch, and it was great. And then I just waited to hear them. … She dug hard, she ran fast, and she held them off."
Saratoga Vision, Owlette, Merveilleux, Diamond Sparkles, Livin in the Six, and American Tap completed the order of finish.
Two Sixty was bred in Florida by Shade Tree Thoroughbreds and is the first foal out of the Put It Back mare Jim's Lonesa. Her first time through the Ocala Breeders' Sales ring at the 2018 October Yearling Sale, SGV Thoroughbreds bought her for $72,000 from the Summerfield consignment. Team Casse, as agent, then purchased her from SGV for $260,000 at the 2019 OBS March Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
From 11 starts, Two Sixty has a record of 4-1-1 and earnings of $472,577.
Video: Marine S. (G3)