Fastest maidens: Baffert's Cherokee Nation tops charts

Cherokee Nation's jaw-dropping 146 Horse Racing Nation speed figure at Santa Anita Park topped the fastest maidens for the week. Thirty-five maiden winners posted HRN speed figures of 100 or higher during the period, representing a pipeline of young talent that could shape the sport's coming months. The week's figures were dominated by California racing, with Santa Anita producing several of the most impressive performances.

Trainers leading the maiden ranks

Bob Baffert headlines the trainer list after Cherokee Nation's 146 HRN figure, but three trainers each saddled a pair of 100-plus performers during the week. Doug O'Neill sent out Biggiebiggiebiggie (115) and Angelica Bay (109) on the Santa Anita grass to give the Southern California trainer two notable winners. Brad Cox contributed Dagmara (110) on the turf at Fair Grounds and Petoskey Stones (103) on the synthetic at Turfway Park, while Mike Maker sent out a pair at Turfway Park with Muir Woods (104) and Rhythm Lady (100).

Sire influence

Not This Time delivered the week's headline act with Cherokee Nation's big 146 HRN figure, continuing to burnish his record as one of the country's elite stallions. McKinzie had two runners in the top performers, with Fancy Fairlane earning a 114 at Oaklawn Park and Grand Oracle posting a 100 at the Hot Springs track as well. Omaha Beach also sired two 100-plus winners, Dagmara (110) at Fair Grounds and Leinani (101) at Gulfstream Park.

Liam's Map made a strong impression with Lincoln's Law's 112 debut figure at Gulfstream Park, while Maclean's Music son Biggiebiggiebiggie tapped into enough class to break through on a figure of 115 in his ninth career start. Frosted continued to sire horses that develop with experience, as 4-year-old gelding Vex delivered a 115 figure in his fourth career start at Turfway Park.

Top maiden winners by speed figure

Cherokee Nation, 146 HRN speed figure

Cherokee Nation delivered the week's most breathtaking performance, and arguably one of the fastest maiden figures in recent memory, with a 146 HRN speed figure in his sixth career start at Santa Anita Park on Friday. By Not This Time out of Believe in Charlie, the Bob Baffert-trained 3-year-old colt powered away from a six-horse maiden special weight field by 10 lengths on dirt over one mile, with Emisael Jaramillo guiding the 6-5 favorite for owners SF Racing, Starlight Racing and Madaket Stables. Bred by Fortune Farms and William and Corinne Heiligbrodt, Cherokee Nation showed tactical prowess as he "pressed outside, dueled, powered away," overcoming an early pace dispute before asserting himself in dominant fashion.

Illmatic, 117

Illmatic posted a 117 HRN speed figure as a 9-1 shot in his second career start at Aqueduct on Saturday, winning an eight-horse maiden special weight by six lengths on dirt over six furlongs. By Honest Mischief out of Woodflower, the Miguel Clement-trained 3-year-old colt responded emphatically when asked as Jaime Rodriguez sent him into contention, with the running comment noting he "hustled, pace, asked 2-path turn, drew off, strong urging." The win for Adelphi Racing Club and LJSS Thoroughbreds announced the son of Honest Mischief as one of the more exciting young sprinters on the east coast circuit.

Vex, 115

Vex earned a 115 HRN speed figure in dominant style in his fourth career start at Turfway Park on Saturday, taking a 12-horse maiden claimer on the synthetic surface by 6 1/2 lengths over 6 1/2 furlongs. By Frosted out of All Aces, the 4-year-old gelding broke alertly and held every rival at bay, with Luan Machado aboard for trainer Matthew P. Sims as the 7-2 choice. Vex was "brushed at the start, set pace 2-path, cleared in hand around the turn, drew off, ridden out", the kind of wire-to-wire authority that suggested the Dunwoody Farm homebred was ready to fire.

Biggiebiggiebiggie, 115

Biggiebiggiebiggie finally broke his maiden on his ninth career try, posting a 115 HRN speed figure in a maiden claimer on the Santa Anita turf on Friday. By Maclean's Music out of Wild About Star, the Doug O'Neill-trained 3-year-old colt sat off the pace in his customary style before Emisael Jaramillo angled him out to the four path and kicked clear in the upper stretch to win by 3 1/4 lengths at 8-5 odds. The nine-horse field had no answer once R3 Racing's homebred found his stride on his preferred turf surface.

Fancy Fairlane, 114

Fancy Fairlane delivered a sharp 114 HRN speed figure in his second career start at Oaklawn Park on Sunday, winning a nine-horse maiden special weight by 4 3/4 lengths on dirt over six furlongs. By McKinzie out of Count On Caroline, the Greg Foley-trained 3-year-old gelding stalked the pace before John Velazquez asked him to run approaching the stretch, and the response was immediate as he cleared his rivals with authority at 7-2 odds for owner Terry L. Stephens. Bred by Drumkenny Farm and American Equistock, Fancy Fairlane tracked methodically, "prompted early, stalked three paths around the turn, cued at the five-sixteenths, bid four paths in the stretch, clear," - suggesting the McKinzie gelding has the tactical ability to keep running well.

Lincoln's Law, 112

Lincoln's Law announced his presence in emphatic fashion with a 112 HRN speed figure on debut at Gulfstream Park on Saturday, posting that figure despite an awkward start in a 10-horse maiden special weight over six furlongs on dirt. By Liam's Map out of Bernadreamy, the Phil Bauer-trained 3-year-old colt recovered from his early stumble to press the pace three paths wide, then drew off under Luis Saez to win by 2 1/2 lengths at 6-1 for the Rigney Racing homebred operation. Lincoln's Law is a half-sibling to Chancer McPatrick, a Grade 1 winner who earned $818,000, and the debut figure suggests he may eventually follow that path.

Fastest maiden winners