3-year-old scene gets serious in Marine and Selene

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Shirl’s Speight makes his much-anticipated second start and Merveilleux will prep for the Woodbine Oaks on an action-packed Saturday card at Woodbine.

All eyes will be on Shirl’s Speight in the Grade 3 Marine, a 1 1/16-mile test for 3-year-olds. He won his July 4 debut by eight lengths with an 88 Beyer Speed Figure in a seven-furlong maiden special on the grass. Trainer Roger Attfield said the son of Speightstown exceeded his expectations.

“I wasn’t surprised that he won, but I was surprised by the way he won,” Attfield said. “He outworked Mr. Hustle last year. We always thought he was pretty special, but he got bone bruising really badly, and we just put him away for the winter. He’s acted like a serious horse, but that was very impressive. I didn’t wind him up for the race, but he did it so easily and galloped out so well.”

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Attfield said he has now qualms with running Shirl’s Speight on the Tapeta on Saturday.

“He’s done all his works on the Tapeta this year, and there’s no reason why he wouldn’t go on the dirt, either,” Attfield said.

Lucky Curlin defeated next-out winner Clayton when taking a seven-furlong allowance with an 85 Beyer here June 14. His route races were not his best, but he has yet to go long on the Tapeta.

Lookinatamiracle was a wide-closing allowance winner going six furlongs in his second start off the bench July 3. His two route starts at 2 were a good third in the Grade 3 Grey and a non-threatening fifth in the Pulpit Stakes on the grass at Gulfstream.

“I think he’s better going long,” trainer Sandra Dominguez said. “That’s why we’re going in the Marine. He ran huge in the Grey, right off a 5 1/2-furlong [maiden win]. When he ran in Florida, he was there two weeks ahead of time, but he didn’t acclimate. He was dull. He really wasn’t himself that day.”

The Grade 3 Selene is the filly version of the Marine. Both got seven entrants and are worth $125,000 apiece.

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Selene Stakes

Merveilleux was a close second in two restricted route stakes here last fall before getting the winter off. When she returned from a six-month absence June 21, she beat older allowance opposition traveling 1 1/16 miles with an 82 Beyer, much to the delight of trainer Kevin Attard.

“I wanted to get her going two turns right off the hop,” Attard said. “It worked out. Now, she’s going to get an acid test. I would have liked to have run her in restricted company, but it is what it is. I think she’s a really nice filly who possibly has big things in her future. I’m excited to see her make the next step.”

Like Merveilleux, the speedy Owlette runs in the Selene and is nominated to the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks, which goes Aug. 15.