The first ‘Lady’ of the Grade 3 Trillium

TORONTO, August 13, 2022 – Lady Speightspeare, under Emma-Jayne Wilson, was full of run late in taking the Grade 3 $158,200 Trillium Stakes, for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up, Saturday at Woodbine.

Sent off as the even-money choice in the 1 1/16-mile main track race, Lady Speightspeare, a 4-year-old daughter of Speightstown-Lady Shakespeare tracked in fourth through opening splits of :24.12 and :50.59.

Wilson had the multiple graded stakes winner rolling around the turn for home, and soon engaged leader Dreaming of Drew, eventually gaining the upper hand to notch a 1 ¼-length win in a time of 1:45.75. Dreaming of Drew finished three lengths ahead of Kate’s Kingdom, while Talbeyah (IRE) headed Lake Lucerne for fourth.

It was the sixth win and second straight score from 11 starts for the Charles Fipke homebred. Last time out, Lady Speightspeare dead-heated with Crystal Cliffs (FR) for top spot in the Grade 2 Nassau.

The Trillium was only the second career start on the synthetic for Lady Speightspeare, who won her first test on the Toronto oval Tapeta, the Grade 2 Bessarabian, last November. ​

“It was a little different with a mile and a sixteenth on the synthetic,” said Wilson. “But she’s been working lights out on the synthetic. She trains on it and does everything very effortlessly for the most part. I was quite confident. The trip was a little different than I expected, but it’s a different kind of race going a mile and a sixteenth, there’s a little more pace in there. I just looked to try and get her to settle, and she did. She knew it was a bit different, but she was primed and ready. She gave a big effort yet again.”

Dual hall of fame conditioner Roger Attfield was equally pleased with the performance.

“She’s just all heart. She really is a tough filly.”

Lady Speightspeare paid $4.10, $3 and $2.70. Dreaming of Drew ($3.90, $3.10) rounded out a $14.70 exactor. Kate’s Kingdom ($7.80) completed a $168.90 triactor, while a $1 superfecta with Talbeyah (IRE) returned $391.40. Hazelbrook was scratched.