Fastest maidens: Baffert unleashes Nevada Beach

The last week of racing has unveiled several promising youngsters who not only broke their maidens but did so with impressive speed figures. Here's our analysis of the fastest first-time winners who could be tomorrow's stars.

Trainers setting the pace

Bob Baffert and Chad Brown lead the way with the week's two fastest maiden winners. Baffert's Nevada Beach posted the highest HRN figure of 124, and Brown's Strategic Focus wasn't far behind with 122. Among trainers with multiple horses on the list, Bret Calhoun averaged a strong 109.5 figure with Don't Backdown and Thundering Desire, and Philip D'Amato's pair of Stiglets and Favor to You averaged 108. Todd Pletcher and John Sadler also had two runners each.

Sire power

Omaha Beach and Vekoma tied for the top sire honors, each averaging 114.5 with two runners on the list. At just $35,000 stud fees, both stallions are proving excellent value. Gun Runner's Strategic Focus earned the second-highest figure of 122, and Practical Joke and Khozan each averaged 108.5 with multiple runners. These results suggest that finding value doesn't always require the highest stud fees. Khozan at just $6,000 is producing competitive runners.

Top performers

Nevada Beach, 124 HRN speed figure

Leading the week's speed figures, Bob Baffert's Nevada Beach broke his maiden at Santa Anita on April 19, winning by three-quarters of a length at even money. The 3-year-old son of Omaha Beach out of Morrow Cove showed tactical versatility, settling inside before tipping out in the lane to secure victory. Owned by the partnership of Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman, this colt demonstrated the classic Baffert punch that has become the stable's trademark.

Strategic Focus, 122

Chad Brown's Strategic Focus lived up to his Gun Runner breeding with a professional performance at Aqueduct, winning by 1 1/4 lengths as the 3-5 favorite. Owned by Klaravich Stables, this 3-year-old colt showed tactical speed from the outside post, stalking before making a winning move in the stretch. His pedigree out of a Curlin mare suggests he'll improve with distance.

Dancin for Gold, 117

Terry Eoff trainee Dancin for Gold made his debut a memorable one at Lone Star Park, demolishing the field by 12 3/4 lengths at 5-2 odds. The son of Goldencents proved that value can be found at reasonable stud fees, setting the pace before drawing away impressively. This homebred for Glenn Sorgenstein WC Racing appears to have significant upside as he moves forward.

Knock Knock Joke, 116

At Lone Star Park, Dick Cappellucci's Knock Knock Joke delivered the punchline, winning by 8 1/2 lengths as the even-money favorite. This son of Practical Joke showed impressive acceleration when asked, rallying four-wide before drawing clear. Notably, his half-sibling is Grade 3 winner Red Flag, with $478,000 in earnings, suggesting there's quality in this family.

Sweet Scorecard, 115

Tim Eggleston's Sweet Scorecard produced the week's most dominant performance at Horseshoe Indiana, winning by 15 1/2 lengths as the 2-5 favorite. Another son of Vekoma, he showed early speed before completely dominating his field. Owned by 514 Racing, this colt looks like one to follow in sprint stakes.

Stiglets, 115

Phil D'Amato's long shot Stiglets provided a nail-biting finish at Oaklawn, digging deep to win by a nose at 18-1. This son of Spun to Run showed true grit, pressing the pace before dueling through the stretch. The partnership of Agave Racing Stable, Evan Trommer and Rockin Robi might have found a real fighter.

Backtrack, 115

Joe Sharp's Backtrack justified favoritism at Keeneland, holding on by a nose in another thriller. This son of Khozan shares the same sire as Grade 3 winner Background, his accomplished sibling who has earned $558,000. The colt's determination under pressure suggests he inherited the family toughness.

Other noteworthy maidens

Vibe, a 3-year-old second-time starter trained by Todd Pletcher for owner Mike Repole, earned a 105 HRN speed figure for his victory going one mile on dirt at Gulfstream Park. The $3 million Into Mischief colt is a half-brother to Wood Memorial winner Outwork.

Victoria's Shances, a 2-year-old filly sired by Shancelot, won on debut and earned an 86 HRN speed figure. The effort was at Keeneland going 4 1/2 furlongs for trainer Wesley Ward. She is a three-quarters sister to stakes winner Shang Shang Shang, who won the Norfolk at Royal Ascot in 2018.

Looking ahead

This week's fastest maiden winners showcase diverse running styles and pedigrees, from dominant front-runners to determined closers. With speed figures ranging from 113 to 124, these youngsters have announced themselves as horses to watch. Although Nevada Beach and Strategic Focus lead the group on the numbers, the determination shown by Stiglets and Backtrack in their photo finishes suggests they may have even more to offer. As these horses progress through their careers, we'll be watching to see which ones develop into stakes winners and which might be early bloomers.

Note: The speed figures referenced are Horse Racing Nation figures, where higher numbers indicate faster performances. A 100 is above average. MSW refers to maiden special weight races, and MCL refers to maiden claiming races.