Fastest maidens: DeVaux drops Development Fee, builds speed

Photo: Maryland Jockey Club

The starting gate opened on several promising careers this past week, with a new crop of maiden winners announcing themselves across the racing landscape. Let's take a look at the trainers, bloodlines and standout performances that could signal the arrival of racing's next stars.

Top trainers

Bob Baffert continues to prove why he's a Hall of Fame conditioner, producing the week's second-fastest maiden winner in Varney, who earned a 126 HRN speed figure in his third start. The 3-year-old colt dominated at Pimlico by 5 1/5 lengths while facing higher-quality maiden-special-weight competition. What's perhaps most notable is that Cherie DeVaux, a rising force in the training ranks, outpaced even Baffert this week with her Development Fee posting a remarkable 128 figure on a class and distance drop. DeVaux landed two horses on our list, cementing herself as one to watch with young talent.

Other elite trainers making their presence felt are Jose D'Angelo and Todd Pletcher, each debuting impressive winners with figures of 123 and 119 respectively. Chad Brown's filly Layered crushed her MSW competition by nearly eight lengths at Monmouth, and the always dangerous Ian Wilkes unveiled another promising 3-year-old in Camp Hale. When trainers of this caliber unveil a maiden winner producing a triple-digit speed figure, pay close attention. These connections don't bring horses to the races unless they're ready to perform.

Sire power

The stunning performance of Development Fee puts his young sire Volatile, standing for just $13,000, in the spotlight. Although this relatively affordable stallion topped our list by speed figure, it's the proven superstars Curlin and Frankel who continue demonstrating their elite influence with impressive winners Hop Sing and Gun Barrel City.

Rising sire Vekoma appears twice on our list of maiden winners, suggesting his promising early results might justify his fee. Complexity also landed two offspring on the list, including the ultra-impressive filly Layered. 

Perhaps most intriguing for value-minded breeders is the appearance of Mo Town and Adios Charlie, both producing winners with speed figures above 117. In an era of escalating stud fees, these emerging sires represent potential value for breeders seeking affordable outcrosses with genuine upside.

The week's standout performers

Development Fee, 128 HRN speed figure

This 3-year-old ridgling by Volatile made an explosive debut at Churchill Downs for his third career start, this time dropping into a maiden claiming event. Trained by Cherie DeVaux, he overcame early trouble and demonstrated tactical speed before drawing clear by 3 1/2 lengths going a mile on dirt. With Axel Concepcion aboard at odds of 8-5, he stalked inside before angling out and powering away in the stretch. He will have a new trainer for his next start, as Linda Rice claimed him.

Varney, 126

Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert brought this 3-year-old colt by Vekoma to Pimlico for his fourth lifetime start. With losses to both Baeza and Goal Oriented in his PPs, he took advantage of the drop in class to devastating effect. Ridden by top jockey Flavien Prat, Varney overcame a bumped start to dominate a short field by 5 1/2 lengths at odds-on. This son of Vekoma out of a Grade 1-placed mare cruised on the lead while negotiating 1 1/16 miles on a good track. Though he took time to break his maiden, he appears destined for stakes competition in the immediate future.

Hop Sing, 123

This four-year-old gelding by Curlin brought trainer Jose D'Angelo a powerful maiden special weight victory at Belmont at Aqueduct. Under Ricardo Santana Jr., Hop Sing showed remarkable determination to prevail by a nose after a stirring stretch duel. Considering he sold for $300,000 as a 2-year-old and is out of Sweet Assassin, this late-blooming son of Curlin demonstrated the patience often required with this sire's offspring. His grinding style suggests longer distances could be in his future.

Adios Jersey, 123

Among the most visually impressive maiden winners was this 4-year-old gelding for trainer Gustavo Chacon. Despite competing in a maiden claimer at Parx Racing, this modestly bred son of Adios Charlie, a $3,000 stallion, demolished his competition by seven lengths at 8-5 odds. Jockey Andy Hernandez merely had to be a passenger as Adios Jersey seized control early and widened through the stretch. Most notable about this winner is that he cost only $5,000 at auction, demonstrating that overwhelming talent can emerge from modest beginnings.

Gun Barrel City, 119

Todd Pletcher unveiled this regally bred 4-year-old gelding by Frankel out of Grade 2 winner Mrs McDougal at Belmont at Aqueduct last fall, but he put it all together last week for his first win. Under Irad Ortiz Jr., Gun Barrel City showcased the patient handling and development typical of the Pletcher program. Racing 1 3/16 miles on turf, he closed from midpack to win going away by 1 1/4 lengths as the 2-1 second choice. His dam already has produced Grade 2 winner Seal Team, suggesting this later-developing gelding might be just starting to fulfill his tremendous pedigree potential.

Churchill Downs led all tracks with five maiden winners, followed by Belmont at Aqueduct with four, each averaging respectably high speed figures of 111.6 and 115, respectively. 

From the affordable brilliance of Development Fee to the blue-blooded promise of Gun Barrel City, this week's maiden winners showcase racing's wonderful diversity. As these newly minted winners progress through their conditions and perhaps toward stakes competition, watch for those who build upon these impressive debuts, as today's fastest maiden winners often become tomorrow's graded-stakes stars.

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.