Fastest maidens: Big numbers at Kentucky Downs, Saratoga
This week produced an exceptional crop of maiden winners, with 45 horses posting competitive Horse Racing Nation speed figures.
Leading the charge was Think Fast, a 3-year-old filly trained by Pat Clay who dominated her competition at Fairmount Park with a commanding HRN figure of 122. Kentucky Downs clocked in with several speed figures over 100 despite its challenging, undulating turf course.
Top trainers
Pat Clay delivered the week's most impressive performance with Think Fast's 122 HRN figure victory at Fairmount Park. The Candy Ride filly romped by 28 3/4 lengths going six furlongs.
Danny Gargan contributed two winners to the list, highlighted by 2-year-old colt Talkin's 115 HRN figure in his debut victory at Saratoga. Gargan also saddled Snowyte for a 102. Eric Reed matched Gargan with two winners, led by Creator of Magic's impressive 113 debut at Mountaineer Park.
Top sires
Into Mischief continues his dominance as a sire of quality maidens, producing three winners during the week, including speed-figure runner-up In the Stars (120). His other representatives, Chatham Up (111) and Metaphor (101), show the stallion's consistency.
Good Magic also contributed three winners, topped by Talkin's 115-figure debut at Saratoga and Creator of Magic's 113-figure victory. The young stallion has shown ability to sire both dirt sprinters and route horses . Mo Town produced two winners with Mobelladream (107) and Prove (106), while American Pharoah sired both Blistering (102) and American Fairytale (101).
Featured prospects
Think Fast, 122 - Pat Clay's 3-year-old filly by Candy Ride demolished her competition at Fairmount Park Saturday, winning by 28 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong maiden special weight on dirt. Out of Grade 2 winner West Coast Belle, this second-time starter was sent off as the heavy 2-5 favorite and delivered in spectacular fashion under Alexander Bendezu. Her running comment noted she "settled … drew off, ridden out," suggesting she accomplished this dominant victory well within herself.
In the Stars, 120 - On Saturday, Rusty Arnold's 3-year-old filly by Into Mischief finally broke through with a commanding seven-length victory at Kentucky Downs in a one-mile turf maiden special weight. The daughter of Grade 1 winner Stellar Wind was making her sixth career start and was backed down to 9-5 favoritism with Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard. Her patient trip saw her "settled … swept to lead & clear," indicating she has the tactical speed and finishing kick to compete.
Tre Italiani, 117 - Larry Rivelli's 3-year-old gelding by Flatter made a successful debut at Horseshoe Indiana on Aug. 25, winning a six-furlong dirt maiden special weight by two lengths. The son of Fingerprint was sent off as the 6-5 favorite in the seven-horse field under Walter Rodriguez. His race comment showed he "dueled inside, challenged outside, clear 1/16, steady drive," suggesting the gelding has both early speed and the determination to see out his races.
Talkin, 115 - Danny Gargan's 2-year-old colt by Good Magic pulled off a mild upset in his debut at Saratoga, winning a seven-furlong maiden special weight Saturday by a nose at odds of 9-1. The son of the Tiznow mare Rote showed tactical brilliance under Kendrick Carmouche, who "hustled, guided out, chased, 4-path turn... moved out, chased, up late" to get the victory.
Beyondexpectations, 113 - Robert Reid Jr.'s 3-year-old gelding by Peace and Justice finally broke his maiden at Parx Racing in his fifth career start, winning a six-furlong dirt race by three-quarters of a length. Out of the Harlan's Holiday mare Expect Wonderful, Beyondexpectations was sent off at 5-2 odds under Eliseo Ruiz and showed improved tactical speed, as he "vied outside, moved clear quarter pole, widened, lasted tiring."
Creator of Magic, 113 - Eric Reed's 3-year-old filly by Good Magic made an impressive debut at Mountaineer Park, winning a six-furlong maiden special weight by 6 1/4 lengths. The daughter of the Langfuhr mare Ullapool was backed down to 8-5 favoritism under Charle Oliveros and showed natural early speed as she "pressed pace, shook clear top lane, added on."
Ground Support, 111 - Kelsey Danner's 2-year-old filly by Army Mule pulled off one of the week's biggest upsets, winning her debut at Kentucky Downs at odds of 99-1 while posting an HRN figure of 111. The daughter of Grade 3-placed mare Arch Support overcame a slow start in the one-mile maiden special weight on turf, with jockey Adam Beschizza guiding her to a three-quarter-length victory in the 12-horse field. Her running comment showed she was "off slowly, rated, rail upper stretch, all out," demonstrating both tactical speed and the determination to rally from behind on the demanding Kentucky Downs turf course.
Fastest maidens
The following table showcases the maiden winners with HRN speed figures of 100+ from the week ending Monday, organized by experience level to help identify the most promising prospects for future development.
| HRN Fig |
Horse Name |
Div. | Sire | Date | Track | Surface | Distance | Trainer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-time starters | ||||||||
| 117 | Tre Italiani | 3G | Flatter | 08/25 | IND | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Larry Rivelli |
| 115 | Talkin | 2C | Good Magic | 08/30 | SAR | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | Danny Gargan |
| 113 | Creator of Magic | 3F | Good Magic | 08/25 | MNR | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Eric R. Reed |
| 111 | Chatham Up | 3G | Into Mischief | 08/29 | CNL | Dirt | 1 Mile | Brittany Russell |
| 111 | Ground Support | 2F | Army Mule | 08/30 | KD | Turf | 1 Mile | Kelsey Danner |
| 110 | Swampy | 2F | Jimmy Creed | 08/29 | EVD | Dirt | 5 Furlongs | Samuel Breaux |
| 108 | Military Time | 2C | Gun Runner | 08/31 | WO | Synthetic | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Mark Casse |
| 107 | Mobelladream | 2F | Mo Town | 08/25 | FL | Dirt | 5 1/2 Furlongs | M. Anthony Ferraro |
| 106 | Victoriously | 3F | Win Win Win | 08/29 | SAR | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | Adam Rice |
| 106 | Cultivate | 3G | Practical Joke | 08/27 | SAR | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Chad Brown |
| 105 | Embrace the Moment | 2F | Yaupon | 08/28 | DEL | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Greg Compton |
| 101 | Universe | 2C | Global Campaign | 08/30 | SAR | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | Kenny McPeek |
| Second-time starters | ||||||||
| 122 | Think Fast | 3F | Candy Ride (ARG) | 08/30 | FP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Pat Clay |
| 112 | Feels So Right | 2G | Uncle Lino | 08/29 | TIM | Dirt | About 6 1/2 Furlongs | Hamilton A. Smith |
| 106 | Scouser | 2C | Instagrand | 08/28 | RP | Dirt | 5 Furlongs | Steve Asmussen |
| 106 | Prove | 3C | Mo Town | 08/27 | SAR | Turf | 1 1/16 Miles | Amelia J. Green |
| 101 | Metaphor | 4G | Into Mischief | 08/29 | CTM | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Craig Robert Smith |
| 100 | Lovely Christina | 2F | Vekoma | 08/31 | SAR | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Todd Pletcher |
| Third-time starters | ||||||||
| 110 | Montador | 3C | Nyquist | 08/28 | KD | Turf | 1 Mile | Michael Stidham |
| 101 | Vekomancer | 3F | Vekoma | 08/26 | IND | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | John Ortiz |
| Multiple-time starters (3+ starts) | ||||||||
| 120 | In the Stars | 3F | Into Mischief | 08/30 | KD | Turf | 1 Mile | Rusty Arnold |
| 113 | Beyondexpectations | 3G | Peace and Justice | 08/25 | PRX | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Robert Reid, Jr. |
| 110 | Our Majestic | 6G | Half Ours | 08/28 | EVD | Dirt | 7 Furlongs | Allison Ramsay-Banks |
| 109 | Tempus Volat | 3C | Not This Time | 08/30 | DMR | Turf | 1 Mile | Leonard Powell |
| 109 | Max Forward Speed | 4G | Keen Ice | 08/26 | PRX | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Michael V. Pino |
| 108 | Ivory and Ebony | 3F | Spun to Run | 08/31 | SAR | Dirt | 1 Mile | Dale Romans |
| 107 | Somethintobelieven | 3C | Well Positioned | 08/26 | FP | Dirt | 6 Furlongs | Robert Pompell |
| 106 | Obvious Conclusion | 4G | Include | 08/25 | LAD | Dirt | 6 1/2 Furlongs | Alan Love, Sr. |