Margaux Training Grad SHIRL’S SPEIGHT scored a thrilling victory as he edged out his rival by a nose in the final strides in the G1 Makers Mark Mile Stakes, going 1 mile on the turf at Keeneland on April 15.
Coming off a victory in the G3 Tampa Bay Stakes, trainer Roger Attfield had SHIRL’S SPEIGHT primed and ready to run a big one. Under jockey Luis Saez, SHIRL’S SPEIGHT sat near the back of the pack in the initial stages of the race before going wide and making his move in the stretch. He was up just in time to nab favorite MASEN (GB) at the wire in dramatic fashion. SHIRL’S SPEIGHT completed the mile on the turf listed as good in 1:35.93.
Bred and owned by longtime supporter of the game Charles Fipke, the son of SPEIGHTSTOWN is a true Fipke homebred. SHIRL’S SPEIGHT is out of the Fipke bred mare PERFECT SHIRL who is by another Fipke-bred Champion and Grade 1 winner in PERFECT SOUL (IRE). SHIRL’S SPEIGHT’S dam was successful herself as she earned $1.3 million and won the G1 Breeder’s Cup Filly & Mare Turf. With the victory in the G1 Maker’s Mark Mile, SHIRL’S SPEIGHT increased his earnings to $614,665.
