In just another unusual story from an unusual horse racing year, Shirl’s Speight faces an unusual journey to make it to Churchill Downs for the Kentucky Derby on September 5. Based in Canada, he and his trainer, Roger Attfield, face difficulties just getting to Louisville. Border issues due to restrictions that Canadian government has placed on travel to and from the United States mean that Attfield can’t just drive, as he normally would. Instead, he has to change planes several times. But this isn’t going to faze Attfield, an 80-year-old legend in horse racing. Take a look at Shirl’s Speight’s quest for the roses.
Shirl’s Speight is currently priced at +3500 at mega-racebook JAZZ Sports. Make sure to check out all their betting pools, match-up odds and other interesting options for the Kentucky Derby
No Points? No Problem! Shirl’s Speight and the 2020 Kentucky Derby
Shirl’s Speight has raced two times in his career, neither of those on dirt, so the Kentucky Derby will be his dirt debut. His racing has earned him precisely zero points to qualify for the Derby. However, the 20-horse field is looking light, as a few of the top three-year-olds are either hurt or just looking for other opportunities (such as Dr Post, the Belmont Stakes runner-up who may forego Churchill Downs and re-engage with Tiz the Law at the Preakness Stakes instead).
Shirl’s Speight’s owner is Charles Fipke, and he has tried to get a horse into the Kentucky Derby without any qualification points before. It happened in 2015, when Tale of Verve was eligible for the Derby but could not crack the top 20. He did run in the Preakness Stakes that year, coming in second to American Pharaoh.
So how did Shirl’s Speight do in those two races? He won his maiden outing, a seven-furlong affair on the turf at Woodbine – and he won by eight lengths. On July 25, he won the Marine (Grade III), also at Woodbine, this time covering 1 1/16 miles on an all-weather surface, by 2 ¾ lengths.
According to Attfield, Shirl’s Speight has not done more racing because of some difficulties with bone bruising during and after his two-year-old training career.
There have only been five horses in the Kentucky Derby since 1937 with two or fewer career races on their resume. China Visit, racing in 2000, had the best finish of the five, coming in sixth. Justify, though, only had three career races before winning at Churchill Downs in 2018 – and then completing the Triple Crown.
Shirl’s Speight’s sire was Speightstown, whose other offspring have shown poor stamina in longer outings. However, his dam, Perfect Shirl, took first in 2011 at the Breeders’ Cup Filly & Mare Turf, over 1 3/8 miles, paying on 27/1 odds.
Attfield has not brought a horse to Churchill Downs since 1995, when he brought Talkin Man, who came in 12th. However, he is in the horse racing halls of fame in Canada and the United States, and he has had three horses win the Canadian Triple Crown.
So if you’re looking for an intriguing alternative to Tiz the Law (-120 ml), this is a horse that has not yet faced (and lost to) Tiz the Law.
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