Fastest horses: Half-brother to Ky. Derby runner-up graduates
Risk Manager recorded the day's top performance with a 128 Horse Racing Nation speed figure at Ellis Park. The 7-year-old horse by Lookin At Lucky captured an 1 1/16-mile turf starter optional claimer at 5-2 odds. He has been consistently competitive in allowance and starter level races, and Friday's win marked his ninth career victory in his 34th lifetime start.
Goldeneye secured the second-highest figure, earning a 127 HRN speed figure in a 1 3/16-mile turf allowance optional claimer at Saratoga. The 6-year-old gelding by Hard Spun prevailed at 9-2 odds in what was his sixth career win from 28 starts. He is out of Street of Gold, a Grade 3-placed daughter of Street Sense who earned $283,000 during her racing career.
Luther completed the top three performances with a 123 HRN speed figure at Saratoga in the National Museum of Racing Hall of Fame Stakes (G2). The 3-year-old colt by Frankel captured the one-mile turf contest as the 9-5 second choice, after odds-on favorite Zulu Kingdom was disqualified for coming in on the first turn. The win improved his record to 9: 3-2-1 and it was his first success at the graded level.
Top 10 Friday speed figures
| HRN | Horse | Sire | Age | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 128 | Risk Manager | Lookin At Lucky | 7H | ELP 9 | 1 1/16 miles turf |
| 127 | Goldeneye | Hard Spun | 6G | SAR 2 | 1 3/16 miles turf |
| 123 | Luther | Frankel | 3C | SAR 7 | 1 mile turf |
| 121 | Lothario | The Factor | 5G | CNL 6 | 1 mile turf |
| 120 | Speedy Wilson | Tough Sunday | 3C | DMR 6 | 7f dirt |
| 120 | Private Thoughts | Neolithic | 4G | GP 8 | 1 mile turf |
| 119 | J J Zo Zo | Sea Wizard | 3C | MTH 6 | 6f dirt |
| 118 | Borracho | Uncle Mo | 9G | DEL 4 | 6f dirt |
| 117 | Tipple | Constitution | 4F | CNL 2 | 1 1/16 miles dirt |
| 117 | Empress Ellie | American Pharoah | 6M | DMR 5 | 1 1/16 miles turf |
Maiden winners showcase potential
Mike's Magic posted the day's highest figure among Friday's maiden winners with a 116 HRN speed figure at Colonial Downs. The 3-year-old gelding by Frosted broke through in a seven-furlong dirt maiden special weight at 4-1 odds in his fifth career start. He is out of Smile More by Tiznow, whose top offspring includes the Grade 3-placed filly Lexa, an earner of almost $218,000.
Only Phil impressed with a 116 HRN speed figure in a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Ellis Park. The 3-year-old colt by McKinzie won at 9-5 odds in just his second career start. His dam is Mia Torri, a multiple Grade 3-placed daughter of General Quarters who earned $315,000. His half-brother Two Phil's was a three-time Grade 3 winner, finished second to Mage in the 2023 Kentucky Derby and earned over $1.58 million.
Vodka Vodka earned a 111 HRN speed figure at Del Mar in his sixth career start. The 4-year-old gelding by Stay Thirsty prevailed in a one-mile turf maiden special weight for California-breds as the 9-5 favorite. He is out of Margie's Minute by Hard Spun, whose notable offspring includes the 3-year-old filly Om N Joy, a winner of three straight stakes races including the Fleet Treat at Del Mar on July 25.
Top maiden winners
| HRN | Horse | Sire | Age | Race | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 116 | Mike's Magic | Frosted | 3G | CNL 1 | 7f dirt |
| 116 | Only Phil | McKinzie | 3C | ELP 8 | 7f dirt |
| 111 | Vodka Vodka | Stay Thirsty | 4G | DMR 7 | 1 mile turf |
| 103 | One More Freud | Tonalist | 2C | SAR 1 | 6f dirt |
| 102 | Its Bourbon Thirty | Outwork | 4G | ELP 10 | 5 1/2f turf |
| 93 | Guys Trip | Preservationist | 4C | GP 9 | 1 mile dirt |
| 90 | Come Full Circle | Slumber | 3G | SAR 8 | 7f dirt |
| 87 | Mamba Mindset | Kobe's Back | 3G | CNL 8 | 5 1/2f turf |
| 86 | Scratch It | Tapit | 2F | SAR 4 | 1 1/16 miles turf |
| 79 | Flame Dancer | Flameaway | 3F | CNL 4 | 5f turf |
About HRN speed figures
HRN speed figures are AI-generated using HRN's proprietary machine-learning algorithms. Although they involve less human input than other speed figures, we see that as a plus as human adjustments often knock down surprisingly good performances to match expectations. HRN speed figures were launched in December 2024, and our expectation is also that the AI-generated speed figures will continously get better over time.
The HRN speed figure scale goes from 1 to 160. Part of the reason for this higher scale is this helps us avoid assigning a speed figure of zero. For some products, in weaker races, half the field or more may get a speed figure of zero, which leads to inaccuracy and defeats the purpose of speed figures.
Because the HRN speed figures are based on machine learning, as we improve our models we can compute the numbers historically.
Using the top last-race speed figure as a benchmark, here are stats from 2021 to 2024 for HRN and other speed-figure providers:
• Top HRN figure 26.2% winners
• Top Beyer figure 28.1% winners
• Top TimeformUS figure 28.4% winners
Although all HRN speed figures are published on individual horse profile pages on a weekly basis, the daily reports are focused on the top and medium-tier tracks, which represent the majority of top speed figures.