Perfect Shirl Stuns Rivals in F&M Turf

Photo: Eric Patterson / Eclipse Sportswire

Pefect Shirl, a 27-1 outsider, rallied to a surprising victory in Friday's Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf at Churchill Downs.

Dubawi Heights was headstrong early and set the pace under Joel Rosario. She settled into a nice stride after a half in :51.07 and six panels in 1:16.90. Dynaslew drew even after a mile in 1:41.72.

The real running started to unfold at this point and 1.90-1 favorite Stacelita was crying out for running room along the rail. It never materialized and she ended up next to last.

The overseas invaders started to unwind with Nahrain hitting the lead in the lane and Misty For Me bearing down on the outside.

John Velazquez swung Perfect Shirl wide and she was gaining with every stride. In the end it was the Roger Attfield trainee by a measure 3/4s of a length over Nahrain and Misty For Me.

Perfect Shirl stopped the clock in 2:18.62 over the good turf course and paid a whopping $57.60.

Announce scraped her right hock on the rail shortly before post time and was a late scratch.

 

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