Fastest firsters: 62 maiden winners post 100+ speed figures

In this super-sized edition of fastest firsters, the last two weeks have delivered an impressive collection of maiden winners, with 62 horses posting a Horse Racing Nation speed figure of 100 or higher.

Steve Asmussen once again demonstrates his mastery with first-time starters, producing five winners headlined by Copper Wind's excellent 119 HRN speed figure at Fair Grounds. The Hall of Fame trainer also sent out Solevo (119), Chip Honcho (113), Homer's Odyssey (108) and Beekman Street (97), showing his consistent ability to have horses ready for winning efforts in maiden races. Chad Brown contributed two impressive winners with Aeolian earning a dominant 125 at Churchill Downs and Hedge Ratio posting 113 at Aqueduct, both displaying the trainer's knack for getting horses fit and ready.

Sire influence

The stallion influence on this week's fastest maiden winners reveals the continued dominance of proven bloodlines. Uncle Mo leads the way with four winners, Domino Vitali (111), Dontsplashthepot (110), Uncle's Gold (114) and Sticker Shock (97).

Gun Runner continues his sire excellence with three winners, Copper Wind (119), Mob (109) and Clairita (108). Not This Time also produced three winners, Time Passes (115), Homer's Odyssey (108) and Blackmail (96). Into Mischief's influence appears with both Cannoneer (121) and Plutarch (108), and Tapit sired Aeolian (125).

Fastest maiden winners

And Sum, 128 HRN speed figure

Three-year-old gelding And Sum earned the top speed figure of 128 with his impressive debut victory at Laurel Park on Nov. 22. By Great Notion out of Last Love, this Kieron Magee-trained gelding overcame a muddy track to win going away by 6 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight on dirt. Carlos Eduardo Lopez guided the 5-1 shot to victory in the eight-horse field, with the gelding's running comment noting he "dueled outside rival, pulled away, ridden out."

Aeolian, 125

Three-year-old filly Aeolian posted a 125 HRN speed figure while dominating a Churchill Downs maiden special weight on Nov. 27 by six lengths. By Tapit out of Danzatrice, a Grade 3-placed mare, she is a full-sister to Tapit Trice, a five-year-old Grade 1 winner who earned $1.87 million. Sent off as the 3-5 favorite for Chad Brown with Jose Ortiz aboard for Gainesway Stable, the homebred filly delivered with authority over one mile on dirt in her third career start.

Free Scrim, 123

Three-year-old gelding Free Scrim posted a 123 HRN speed figure in his second career start at Fair Grounds on Nov. 21, winning by 1 3/4 lengths at 7-2 odds in a six-furlong maiden special weight on dirt. By Yockey's Warrior out of Care, this Al Stall Jr.-trained gelding is a homebred for Adele Dilschneider and Nicole Stall. Jareth Loveberry guided the gelding to victory in the 12-horse field, with his running style showing tactical ability as he "saved ground, pressed, dueled, kept on."

Cannoneer, 121

Two-year-old colt Cannoneer lived up to the hype with a 121 HRN speed figure victory at Churchill Downs on Saturday. By Into Mischief out of Catch the Moon, this Brad Cox-trained colt is a half-brother to Girvin, a Grade 1 winner and sire who earned $1.62 million. Bred by Stonestreet Thoroughbred Holdings and racing for St. Elias Stable and Stonestreet Stables, the colt won by a commanding 7 1/4 lengths over seven furlongs on dirt in his second career start.

Crisis Manager, 120

Three-year-old gelding Crisis Manager posted a 120 HRN speed figure when breaking through at Churchill Downs on Nov. 20 in a muddy 1 1/16-mile maiden special weight on dirt. By Liam's Map out of Wilburnmoney, this Tom Amoss-trained gelding finally found his winning form in his sixth career start, winning by 2 1/4 lengths at 9-2 odds with Jose Ortiz aboard for Highlander Training Center. His running style showed determination as he "set pace 3-2 path, met bid 2nd, headed/brush upper stretch, game, dueled, shook clear."

Copper Wind, 119

Two-year-old filly Copper Wind earned a 119 HRN speed figure in her impressive debut at Fair Grounds on Nov. 20, winning by 1 3/4 lengths as an 8-1 shot in a six-furlong maiden special weight on dirt. By Gun Runner out of Copper Quest, this Steve Asmussen-trained filly is a homebred for Winchell Thoroughbreds with James Graham aboard. The filly showed tactical ability in the seven-horse field as she "prompted inside, backed off, 3-wide-bid, held firm," displaying patience and determination that belies her inexperience.