Shirl's Speight Could Target Kentucky Derby

When Charles Fipke's homebred Shirl's Speight turned in his second bullet work in as many weeks Aug. 13 at Woodbine, rumors began to swirl that the colt could leave his Woodbine base to make a play for that most iconic of American races: the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1). 

Working over Woodbine's dirt training surface Thursday morning for trainer Roger Attfield, Shirl's Speight breezed five furlongs in :57 flat under jockey Rafael Hernandez, the fastest of seven at the distance. The son of Speightstown  had looked equally impressive one week prior Aug. 6 when he worked four furlongs in :47 3/5, the fastest of 14 at the distance. 

G3 Marine winner Shirl's 'Speight working in behind runners on this gorgeous a.m on the dirt WO training dirt. pic.twitter.com/uvytrqX1Er

— Overskate (@Goodbine56) August 13, 2020

Much like he has dominated early morning training these past weeks, Shirl's Speight has also dominated on race day. Undefeated in two starts, the 3-year-old broke his maiden on debut July 4 over turf and followed that with a stakes victory next out in the Marine Stakes (G3) on the all-weather track. Both wins were at Woodbine. 

At the moment, Shirl's Speight has no qualifying points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. The colt would only have the opportunity to run in the rescheduled Sept. 5 classic should 20 horses not enter. 

"Mr. Fipke is adamant that he would like to draw into the Derby if all goes well so we are proceeding in that direction," said Attfield. "He is also nominated to the Pat Day Mile (G3) at Churchill Downs on the same day, but Mr. Fipke would like to pursue the Derby. 

"It's quite a tall order for this horse. He's very inexperienced and in his past two races I don't know if he really learned much because he dominated them. But for now, that is our schedule."

With heavy favorite Tiz the Law having dominated the 3-year-old division in 2020 winning four graded stakes, including the March 28 Curlin Florida Derby (G1), June 20 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), and Aug. 8 Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), there is a possibility that several runners could be dissuaded from filling out the Derby field. 

With this unique set of circumstances in mind, Attfield said this year could be the perfect opportunity for Shirl's Speight to try his luck.  

"Tiz the Law has been spectacular and he's done it so easy," said Attfield. "He hasn't really had a hard race either, himself, I don't think, but I am a huge admirer of him and his trainer. So if we're still doing OK and we can draw into the Derby that is probably what we will do." 

Bred in Kentucky by Fipke, Shirl's Speight is out of the Perfect Soul mare Perfect Shirl, a multiple graded stakes winner whose best score came in the 2011 Emirates Airline Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf (G1T) at Churchill Downs. Shirl's Speight has earned CA$86,893 for his two victories.