Cough forces Shirl's Speight out of Kentucky Derby

ETOBICOKE, Ontario - Owner Charles Fipke announced on his Twitter account Saturday that his unbeaten 3-year-old colt Shirl’s Speight will miss next Saturday’s Kentucky Derby due to a cough.
“Unfortunately, Shirl’s Speight has come up with a minor cough today and he will not be going to the Kentucky Derby. His health is our number one concern, and we’ll look forward to his next race.”
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Shirl’s Speight won his first two starts with authority, both at Woodbine in July, earning his diploma on turf before taking the Grade 3 Marine on the Tapeta.
Trainer Roger Attfield had been working Shirl’s Speight aggressively on the dirt training track at Woodbine, including a mile in 1:39.20 on Aug. 21. The homebred by Speightstown was scheduled to have his final Derby work tomorrow before shipping to Kentucky on Monday.
Shirl’s Speight is expected to be pointed to the Oct. 3 Preakness Stakes at Pimlico. Attfield sent out Alydeed to finish second in the 1992 Preakness.

