Woodbine Stakes Winner Shirl's Speight Confirmed for Kentucky Derby

Fipke Stable, owned by Vancouver’s Charles Fipke, announced Wednesday afternoon that its undefeated colt SHIRL’S SPEIGHT has made it into the 20-horse KENTUCKY DERBY field Sept. 5.

In a Twitter note, Fipke Stable said it had received word from Churchill Downs that the 3-year-old colt, the son of Speightstown- Perfect Shirl by Perfect Soul (Ire), 2 for 2 in his brief career for trainer Roger Attfield, is one of 20 pointing to the Run for the Roses.

Fipke also noted that COREY LANERIE would ride the colt in the Derby as his regular rider Rafael Hernandez will not be able to travel to the US to ride him, as he would have to quarantine 14 days before the race and 14 days after. Attfield is not certain to be able to travel to Churchill to saddle the colt as he would have to quarantine for 14 days upon his return to Canada.

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Shirl’s Speight, who won his maiden on the grass at 7 furlongs July 4 and then followed that up with a win in the Grade 3 Marine Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the Tapeta July 25, has been working on the dirt at Woodbine recently. He had a screaming 5 furlong prep in 57 flat on August 13 and is expected to work again Friday, August 21.

The late start of the Derby this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic has shaken out dozens of horses who have earned Derby points in preps and horses who may have been in the Derby field had it been run on the first Saturday in May. In what would be a first, Shirl’s Speight has no Derby points but appears to be the 20th horse on the Derby list pointing to the race.

In the 57-second work Attfield said they wanted the colt to sit behind workmates, “get some dirt in his face” and see how he reacted to it.

“He handled that very well,” Attfield told Woodbine’s Phil McSween. “He worked really, really well for sure.”

https://twitter.com/i/status/1293915991345258496

KENTUCKY DERBY POINTS LEADERBOARD

– denotes horse is not being pointed to Derby

1. Tiz the Law, 372 Sackatoga Stable (Jack Knowlton et al) Barclay Tagg $1,972,400
2. Authentic, 200 Spendthrift Farm LLC (B. WayneHughes), MyRaceHorse Stable (Michael Behrens), Madaket Stables LLC (Sol Kumin & Jason Monteleone) & Starlight Racing (Jack & Laurie Wolf) Bob Baffert $980,000
3. Art Collector, 150 Bruce Lunsford Tommy Drury Jr. $476,461 – Bruce Lunsford races horses at Woodbine
4. Honor A. P., 140 C R K Stable LLC (Lee & Susan Searing) John Shirreffs $340,000
5. Ny Traffic, 110 John Fanelli, Cash is King LLC (Chuck Zacney et al), LC Racing (Glenn Bennett) & Paul Braverman Saffie Joseph Jr. $472,820

6. $-King Guillermo, 90 Victoria’s Ranch (Victor & Margret Martinez) Juan Carlos Avila $317,050
7. Thousand Words, 83 Albaugh Family Stables (LLC Dennis Albaugh & Jason Loustch) & Spendthrift Farm LLC (B. Wayne Hughes) Bob Baffert $297,000
8. Dr Post, 80 St. Elias Stable (Vinnie Viola) Todd Pletcher $331,035
9. Max Player, 60 George E. Hall & SportBLX Thoroughbreds Corp. (Joe De Perio) Steve Asmussen $337,500
10. Caracaro, 60 Top Racing, Global Thoroughbreds LLC Gustavo Delgado $205,000

11. Enforceable, 43 John C. Oxley Mark Casse $314,550
*12. f-$-Swiss Skydiver, 40 Peter J. Callahan Kenny McPeek $626,820
*13. +Rushie, 40 Jim Daniell & Donna Daniell Michael McCarthy $108,000
14. Major Fed, 38 Lloyd Madison Farms IV LLC (Fred Schwartz et al) Greg Foley $179,100
15. Storm the Court, 36 David A. Bernsen LLC, Exline-Border Racing LLC (Ryan Exline and family & Justin Border), Dan Hudock & Susanna Wilson Peter Eurton $1,273,851

16. Attachment Rate, 35 Jim Bakke & Gerald Isbister Dale Romans $93,675
17. Sole Volante, 30 Reeves Thoroughbred Racing (Dean & Patti Reeves) & Andie Biancone Patrick Biancone $273,510
18. Finnick the Fierce, 25 Arnaldo Monge & Rey Hernandez Rey Hernandez $121,700
*19. $-Pneumatic, 25 Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (Ron Winchell) Steve Asmussen $79,250
20. $-Winning Impression, 20 West Point Thoroughbreds (Terry Finley et al) & Pearl Racing Dallas Stewart $54,822

21. Necker Island, 14 Raymond Daniels & Wayne Scherr Chris Hartman $74,808
*22. As Seen On Tv, 10 Screen Door Stables LLC Kelly Breen $80,100
*23. +Jesus’ Team, 10 Grupo 7 Racing Stable (Alejandro Ceballos) Jose D’Angelo $50,000
*24. +Kiss Today Goodbye, 10 John Sondereker J. Eric Kruljac $12,000 Career: $59,402
*25. Big City Bob, 2 Colts Neck Stables LLC (Richard Santulli) Jorge Duarte Jr. $123,000
26. Shirl’s Speight, 0 Charles E. Fipke Roger Attfield $55,896