TDN Writers' Room Podcast, Episode 40 with Guest John Shirreffs | June 10, 2020

It's not every year that John Shirreffs, a patient trainer with a small stable of mostly older horses, has a GI Kentucky Derby contender. In fact, the last time most remember him being in the spotlight was with a certain mare named Zenyatta (Street Cry {Ire}), four-time champion and arguably the most popular horse of the 21st century. But with newly-minted Grade I winner Honor A. P. (Honor Code) looking like a leading challenger for the Run for the Roses, Shirreffs joined the TDN Writers' Room presented by Keeneland Wednesday as the Green Group Guest of the Week to talk about his colt's development and yes, reminisce some about Zenyatta.

Expectations were high at an early stage for Honor A. P., an $850,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga buy in 2018. They only ratcheted up after he flew home from last to be second debuting at six furlongs Aug. 17 at Del Mar and powered away to a 5 1/4-length maiden win when stretching out to a mile Oct. 13 at Santa Anita.

Elsewhere in the show, the writers reacted in real time to the news of Maxfield (Street Sense)'s injury and recapped a massive weekend of racing action. Then, in the West Point Thoroughbreds news segment, they broke down the frustrating impasse at Arlington Park and discussed their early impressions of OBS Spring.

Read more on the TDN.