Kentucky Derby Horse: SHIRL’S SPEIGHT
By Ed McNamara
Shirl’s Speight – Courtesy of Woodbine Racetrack /Michael Burns Photo
Meet the only undefeated horse in Derby 146.
The downside is Shirl’s Speight has run only twice, on turf and synthetic, and debuted July 4. An optimist would say he’s an inexperienced version of Animal Kingdom, hero of the 2011 Derby in his first start on dirt.
A realist would say he belongs in an allowance race. He’s also by sprint influence Speightstown, making 1 1/4 miles a tough go. Might inject juice into the pace, but that’s about all you can expect.
Was granted entry into the field when it became clear less than 20 (a full field) 3-year-olds on the Derby-qualifying leaderboard would be entered.
Colt has been training on dirt in August, most recently working a mile in 1:39.20 at Woodbine on Aug. 21.
Profiles will be updated with morning-line odds and post position after the field is drawn on Tuesday, Sept. 1.
SHIRL’S SPEIGHT
Odds: TBD
Post position: TBD
Jockey: Corey Lanerie
Trainer: Roger Attfield
Owner: Charles Fipke
Career record: 2-2-0-0
Career earnings: $86,693
Top Equibase speed figure: 97
Kentucky Derby points: 0
Pedigree: Speightstown-Perfect Shirl, by Perfect Soul
Color: Bay
Running style: Front-runner
Notes: This would be Corey Lanerie’s fifth Derby; he was 15th on Promises Fulfilled in 2018, second (behind Always Dreaming) aboard Lookin At Lee in
2017; eighth with Mo Tom in 2016; and 16th with Harry’s Holiday in 2014 … Roger Attfield has saddled one previous Derby starter, Takin Man (12th in 1995) … Canadian diamond mogul Charles Fipke has owned three previous Derby starters: Anak Nakal (seventh in 2008); and Golden Soul (second) and Java’s War (13th), both in 2013.
(USRacing’s Kentucky Derby will include profiles of the horses listed as probable for the race on Saturday, Sept. 5. Each day until the post-position draw on Tuesday, Sept. 1, USRacing will publish selected profiles of the contenders.)
Ed McNamara is an award-winning journalist who has been writing about thoroughbred racing for 35 years. He has handicapped races for ESPN.com, Newsday and The Record of New Jersey. He is the author of “Cajun Racing: From the Bush Tracks to the Triple Crown” and co-author of “The Most Glorious Crown,” a chronicle of the first 12 Triple Crown champions.