Fastest maidens: O'Neill ridgling scores monster 138 figure

The past week delivered an solid collection of maiden winners, headlined by 2-year-old ridgling Acknowledgemeplz's remarkable 138 Horse Racing Nation speed figure at Santa Anita.

Doug O'Neill earned the week's top figure with Acknowledgemeplz, and established trainers Steve Asmussen and Chad Brown each produced multiple winners. Asmussen secured two victories with El Prestigio earning a 129 at Keeneland and Stradale posting 104 at Churchill Downs, and Brown contributed Nuanced with a 127 and Counterintuitive at 101, both at Keeneland.

Sire influence

The stallion influence on this week's fastest maiden winners reveals impressive diversity in bloodlines. Bucchero sired Acknowledgemeplz. Practical Joke's El Prestigio earned the second-highest figure at 129, and Complexity is represented by Nuanced at 127. Young sires Vino Rosso and Omaha Beach continued their strong showings with Unfaithful Rose at 119 and Magnificat at 114, respectively.

Top maiden winners by speed figure

Acknowledgemeplz, 138 HRN speed figure

Two-year-old ridgling Acknowledgemeplz earned the week's top speed figure of 138 with his powerful second-time-starter victory at Santa Anita on Saturday. By Bucchero out of Starship Fantasy, this Doug O'Neill-trained ridgling overcame a wide post to win by three-quarters of a length as the 8-5 favorite in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on dirt. Antonio Fresu guided the Purple Rein Racing and Mark D. Davis homebred to victory in the five-horse field, with his running comment noting he had "rail speed, kicked clear turn, held well."

El Prestigio, 129

Three-year-old colt El Prestigio posted a 129 HRN speed figure in dominating a maiden special weight at Keeneland on Wednesday by 5 1/2 lengths. By Practical Joke out of Bartlett Narrows, the Steve Asmussen-trained colt showed persistence in his seventh career start, finally breaking through at 7-2 odds with Hall of Fame jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. aboard for owner Benjamin Gase. The colt delivered with authority over six furlongs on dirt, as he "vied inside trio, drew off upper, ridden out" in the 12-horse field.

Nuanced, 127

Three-year-old gelding Nuanced posted a 127 HRN speed figure in a commanding second-time-starter performance at Keeneland on Thursday, winning by 12 1/2 lengths at 5-1 odds. By Complexity out of Haven, this Chad Brown-trained gelding displayed superior class in a maiden claiming race over 1 1/16 miles on dirt. Tyler Gaffalione guided the Klaravich Stables gelding to a dominant score in the 10-horse field as he "set pace ins-2p, drew clear 3/8, widened, ridden out" to complete his first trip around two turns.

Unfaithful Rose, 119

Two-year-old filly Unfaithful Rose earned a 119 HRN speed figure with a visually impressive 12-length romp at Mountaineer on Wednesday in her third career start. By Vino Rosso out of Starshipunfaithful, the Ethan W. West-trained filly justified 7-5 favoritism with Jose A. Bracho aboard for owners Thorough Crowd and Mr. CPA Racing. The Monarch Farms homebred showed tactical speed in the 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on dirt as she "pressed 2p, commanded 5/16, kicked away" against six rivals on a good track.

Edifice, 118

Three-year-old colt Edifice posted a 118 HRN speed figure as he broke through in his sixth career start at Mountaineer on Oct. 20. By Malibu Moon out of Madison Square, this Eddie Clouston-trained colt delivered as the overwhelming 1-9 favorite with Deshawn L. Parker aboard in a six-furlong maiden claiming race on dirt. The Spendthrift Stallions and Don Alberto Corporation homebred, campaigned by owner Michelle Helms, showed tactical speed as he "pressed bid turn, led upper stretch, edged clear driving" to win by 1 1/4 lengths over five rivals.

Princess Summer, 116

Four-year-old filly Princess Summer earned a 116 HRN speed figure in her seventh career start at Belmont at Aqueduct on Wednesday, winning by 4 3/4 lengths at 6-5 odds. By Mastery out of Grade 3-placed mare Princesa de Papi, the Mike Maker-trained mare found her best form in a maiden claiming race over 1 1/16 miles on turf. Flavien Prat guided the Milfer Farm homebred, racing for Michael Dubb and America's Pastime Stables, as she was "3w 1st turn, chased 2-4w, coaxed 3/8, 5w uppr, up, drew clear" in the 10-horse field.

Magnificat, 114

Three-year-old filly Magnificat earned a 114 HRN speed figure in a determined second-time-starter performance at Santa Anita on Saturday. By Omaha Beach out of Grade 2 winner Holy Helena, this Richard Mandella-trained filly showed grit while winning by a quarter-length at 2-1 odds under Mirco Demuro. The Spendthrift Farm homebred demonstrated tactical ability in the six-furlong maiden special weight on dirt as she "stalked duo, bid 3deep, dueled str, dug in" against four rivals to secure victory.

Prospect watch

The following table shows all maiden winners from the past week who earned an HRN speed figure of 99 or higher.