Shirl's Speight gets called out in sharp debut

ETOBICOKE, Ontario – Rafael Hernandez rode five winners last Saturday at Woodbine, including a sweep of both stakes. The one who got all the jaw-dropping attention was the Roger Attfield-trained Shirl’s Speight, who romped in his debut, on the grass, by eight lengths while flirting with the seven-furlong course record, to the delight of track announcer Robert Geller.

“Shirl’s Speight in an absolute cakewalk,” Geller exclaimed. “This is really what I’d just consider second gear. How many gears are there? I’d say plenty of them left.”

Attfield said the 3-year-old colt Shirl’s Speight, who got an 88 Beyer Speed Figure, exceeded his expectations on debut.

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“I wasn’t surprised that he won, but I was surprised by the way he won,” Attfield explained. “He always 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.”

A Charles Fipke homebred by the elite sire Speightstown, Shirl’s Speight is the fourth foal from Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Turf winner Perfect Shirl. The Kentucky-bred is ineligible for the Canadian Triple Crown. Attfield said his next start has yet to be determined, but it doesn’t have to be on the grass.

“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.

Ward opts for patience

Trainer Wesley Ward bypassed Sunday’s Fury Stakes with his two speedy Canadian-bred 3-year-old fillies, Artie’s Princess and Owlette.

Artie’s Princess won her first two races here last fall, leading up to a narrow loss against Ontario-sired males in the Nov. 9 Frost King Stakes. She won her return from a seven-month layoff here June 6 in a five-furlong allowance by four lengths with an 87 Beyer, which swayed Ward into giving her more time off before her next start.

“She ran a big number, and it would have been coming back a little too quick,” Ward said.

Ward said Owlette is under consideration for the $500,000 Woodbine Oaks on Aug. 15. She won two sprint stakes here last year, before narrowly losing the 1 1/16-mile South Ocean Stakes after going too fast on the lead Nov. 16. She defeated reigning Canadian champion 2-year-old filly Curlin’s Voyage when going gate to wire in her season opener in the six-furlong Star Shoot Stakes on June 13. The big 91 Beyer she earned was reason enough for Ward to give her more spacing between races as well.

◗ A field of eight fillies and mares was drawn for Thursday’s headliner. Trainer Mark Casse sends out Chart and Cee’s Overture in the 6 1/2-furlong allowance, which is the seventh of eight races.