Fastest maidens: Godolphin, Harty team up with Turfway duo

Horse racing fans always want to know who the next big stars might be, and there's no better place to spot potential than among impressive maiden winners. This week's crop of first-time winners features eye-catching performances across various tracks, surfaces and distances. Let's dive into the data and see who might be worth following in the coming months.

Trainer spotlight

Brad Cox leads all trainers with three maiden winners in the past week, showcasing his operation's continued strength in developing young talent. His winners posted a solid average Horse Racing Nation speed figure of 101, demonstrating his versatility across different surfaces and distances. His trio of winners, Masayoshi (104), Darrow (101), and Ghosttapper (98), found success at both Turfway Park and Oaklawn Park.

While Eoin Harty had only two winners, they were arguably the most impressive pair of the week. His Godolphin-owned trainees Dala (119) and Obelisk (118) posted the second and third highest speed figures of the week, both at Turfway Park on the synthetic surface. This impressive performance from the Godolphin-Harty combination suggests they have stocked their stable with some serious talent for the upcoming season.

Steve Asmussen also had two maiden winners that demonstrated his adaptability with different types of horses. His top performer was Mila Rose (105), who rallied from off the pace to win by 3 1/2 lengths in a maiden special weight at Turfway Park on the synthetic surface. His other winner, Sound of Victory (95), showed similar closing ability on dirt at Sam Houston, coming from behind to win a route race by 1 1/4 lengths.

Other trainers with standout individual performers included Anthony J. Sciametta Jr., whose Accelerize (123) posted the week's highest speed figure with a dominant performance at Tampa Bay Downs, and Michelle Elliott, who sent out Family (117) to an impressive victory at Turfway Park.

Sire power

Bolt d'Oro is making a significant impact as a young stallion, leading all sires with three maiden winners this week averaging a strong 108.3 HRN speed figure despite a modest $15,000 stud fee. His top performer was Lightning Strike (110), who won impressively for trainer Christophe Clement at Aqueduct. His other winners, Antonacci Girl (109) and Bolt Zapper (106), also posted triple-digit figures, suggesting his offspring have inherent quality.

Hard Spun also made an impression. He had only two winners, but both were exceptional. Dala (119) and Coiled (115) gave him the highest average speed figure (117) among sires with multiple winners. What's particularly notable is that these two horses displayed completely different running styles, with Dala showing tactical speed while Coiled came from far off the pace.

Quality Road and Thousand Words each had two winners averaging 107 on the speed figure scale, while Into Mischief continued to deliver with two winners at a respectable 102.5 average. Vekoma, a second-crop sire, also made his presence felt with two winners averaging 101.5.

Accelerize, 123 HRN speed figure

The week's most brilliant debut came from Accelerize at Tampa Bay Downs. This 3-year-old son of Omaha Beach delivered a stunning 123 HRN speed figure when demolishing a maiden special weight field by 7 3/4 lengths going seven furlongs, appearing in a different class from his rivals. He is owned by powerhouse partnership of Spendthrift Farm and Repole Stable, and the trainer of record was longtime Todd Pletcher assistant Anthony Sciametta Jr. Pletcher began serving a seven-day suspension Tuesday.

Accelerize's running style suggests versatility, as he broke "away alertly" but wasn't rushed, instead setting "pace off rail" before he "drew away" under "moderate hand urging late," according to the Equibase chart. The fact that he wasn't fully extended in such a dominant performance is particularly encouraging. As a son of Omaha Beach out of a Grade 2-placed mare, Motion Emotion, his pedigree suggests he could stretch out successfully. With Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for his debut, connections clearly expected a big effort, and he delivered spectacularly.

Dala, 119

Godolphin's homebred filly Dala made quite an impression at Turfway Park, posting a 119 HRN speed figure in a maiden special weight victory. The 4-year-old daughter of Hard Spun showed both tactical speed and determination, engaging in a "two path early duel" before she "took over into turn" and "rallied on held sway" to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Eoin Harty and ridden by Gerardo Corrales, Dala's late start to her career suggests she may have needed time to develop, but the wait appears worthwhile given her impressive debut. While her pedigree, out of mare Lucknow, isn't as flashy as some, her performance speaks volumes about her ability, and she could be poised to make up for lost time. Given Godolphin's program, look for her to target graded stakes, possibly on turf or synthetic surfaces.

Obelisk, 118

Making it a banner week for both Godolphin and trainer Harty, Obelisk delivered an outstanding performance at Turfway Park with a 118 HRN speed figure in a one-mile maiden special weight. The 4-year-old gelded son of Quality Road displayed a powerful closing kick, as he "raced back to far turn" before he "rallied along wide into stretch to clear" by 2 1/4 lengths.

Obelisk's pedigree is particularly distinguished, as he's out of the Grade 1 winner Better Lucky, suggesting he has every right to develop into a stakes-caliber performer. His patient running style and effectiveness around two turns indicate he could be well-suited for longer distances as he progresses. Like stablemate Dala, his delayed debut suggests patience from connections that appears to be paying off handsomely.

Family, 117

One of the more surprising performances of the week came from Family, a 3-year-old filly by Sharp Azteca who posted a 117 HRN speed figure in a six-furlong maiden special weight at Turfway Park. Trained by Michelle Elliott for owner and breeder Machmer Hall Thoroughbreds, Family displayed excellent tactical speed, using "inside speed to the lead" while being "well handled" before she was "challenged turn" but "cleared" to win by 4 3/4 lengths.

Her pedigree received a significant boost from her half-sister Vegas Magic, a Grade 2 winner who has earned $247,000. This family connection suggests that Family may have higher-level talent that could translate to stakes competition in the near future. Given her impressive debut, she appears to be another success story for her owner-breeder.

Brother Rice, 116

The highest rated maiden claiming winner of the week was Brother Rice, who demolished his competition at Penn National with a 116 HRN speed figure. The 4-year-old gelded son of Catholic Boy, who stands for a modest $6,000 fee in California, won by a stunning 9 3/4 lengths in a six-furlong contest. He showed speed from the start as he was "away alertly" and "set clear pace" before he "drew out turn" and "drew off, handily."

Trained by Elisha Perez for Ultra Championship Racing, Brother Rice was sold for $70,000 at the Fasig-Tipton October 2022 sale. While he debuted in claiming company, his performance suggests he may have been underestimated and could move up in class for his next start. The margin of victory and manner of his win indicate there's untapped potential.

Mikel W, 115

Another standout was Mikel W, who crushed his competition at Sam Houston with an impressive 115 HRN speed figure. The 3-year-old gelded son of Bradester won by a whopping 11 3/4 lengths in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight. In his dominant performance he "cleared field" early, engaged in a duel before he "took command" and proved "much best."

Trained by Carlos Padilla for owners Lynn Haverkamp and Rodney Fleenor, Mikel W showed the kind of brilliance that suggests he could be a regional star in the making. Although his pedigree, by Bradester out of the winning Yes It's True mare Sophia's Night, isn't flashy, his performance certainly was, and he's one to watch as he progresses through the ranks in the Southwest.

Coiled, 115

Rounding out our featured performers is Coiled, a 3-year-old colt by Hard Spun who earned a 115 HRN speed figure in a one-mile maiden special weight at Turfway Park. Unlike many of our other standouts, Coiled came from well off the pace, showing "no speed from inside" as he "trailed to half" before he "angled out with a rush" and cleared to win by 2 1/2 lengths.

Trained by Arnaud Delacour for owner Mark Grier, Coiled's closing style and effectiveness at a route distance suggest he could develop into a serious contender as distances increase. His breeding, by Hard Spun out of the winning Lemon Drop Kid mare Laquesta, adds further credence to his potential for success going longer. The patient handling by jockey Rafael Manuel Hernandez and powerful finishing kick make him an intriguing prospect.

Surface analysis

An interesting pattern emerges when analyzing the surfaces these top maiden winners competed on. Although 37 of the 60 winners, 62%, came on dirt tracks, the highest average speed figures (103.3) were posted on synthetic surfaces. This suggests that horses winning on synthetic tracks like Turfway Park may be showing particularly high-quality performances.

The maiden special weight races generally produced higher figures, an average of 104.7, than maiden claiming events, with a 100.0 average, which is expected given the quality difference in the competition. Butit's worth noting that Brother Rice's 116 figure in a maiden claimer shows that exceptional talent can be found in less prestigious races.

Impressive maiden wins don't always lead to sustained excellence, but the combination of strong pedigrees, capable connections, and eye-catching performances makes this group particularly worth following as the racing season progresses.

Keep watching these rising stars as they progress through the ranks. Next week, we'll be back with another look at the most impressive maiden winners across the country.

*Note: The speed figures referenced are Horse Racing Nation (HRN) figures, where higher numbers indicate faster performances. A 100 HRN speed figure is considered above average.

MSW refers to maiden special weight races (higher class), while MCL refers to maiden claiming races (lower class).