In typical LADY SPEIGHTSPEARE fashion, Charles Fipke’s champion filly battled to another graded stakes victory at Woodbine, this time in the Grade 3 Seaway Stakes at Woodbine on September 17.
Bred and owned by Fipke, the Speightstown – Lady Shakespeare by Theatrical (Ire) miss remained unbeaten from seven starts at her home track and with this third outing in Canada in 2022, is now eligible for the Sovereign Awards of 2022.
Already a winner of the Nassau Stakes (G2) in a dead heat on the turf and the Grade 3 Trillium at 1 1/16 miles on Tapeta, Lady Speightspeare, trained by Roger Attfield, was shortening up to 7 furlongs on Tapeta for the Seaway.
The Champion Two-Year-Old Filly of 2020 settled off the pace early in the race while longshots Hai Bobbi and Emmeline disputed the early pace. Beyond My Budget, another longshot, and Nazuna tracked that pair through an opening quarter mile in 22.82 while Dreaming of Drew was inside of Lady Speightspeare a couple of lengths off the lead.
Inside the quarter pole after a half-mile in 45.45, Wilson let Lady Speightspeare make her move three wide on the leaders while Sweet Briar Too Stakes winner Hazelbrooke, trained by Lorne Richards, was making a fast move wide. second favourite Souper Sensational was also making a run under Patrick Husbands and it was down to three gals in the stretch run.
Lady Speightspeare edged clear of Hazelbrook and Souper Sensational stalled a bit and it was Fipke’s filly who took the race by three-quarters of length in 1:21.79.
“This filly is just stellar, she steps up every time,” said Wilson. “I know her like the back of my hand and she gives it her best every time.”
Attfield said, “She’s a fighter. She’s an interesting filly because sometimes she’s not a good work filly and you don’t know quite where you are with her but in the afternoon she puts it all together.”
“She’s never lost at Woodbine,” said Fipke. “I feel so lucky to have a horse like her and such a good trainer.”
Lady Speightspeare, now a candidate for Champion Female Sprinter, Champion Older Mare and Champion Turf Mare in Canada this year, has won 7 of 11 races (all at Woodbine) and over $603,000.
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