Fastest maidens: Standouts emerge at Del Mar, Saratoga

Last week produced an impressive collection of maiden winners, with 32 horses posting Horse Racing Nation speed figures of 99 or higher. These breakthrough performers showcase diverse bloodlines and training operations across multiple tracks from coast to coast.

From Del Mar's turf course to Saratoga's main track, these maiden graduates displayed the kind of raw ability that suggests promising futures ahead. The week's standouts include seasoned campaigners finally breaking through and promising first-time starters announcing their arrival on the racing scene.

Top trainers

Several trainers dominated the maiden ranks with multiple high-figure winners during the week. Brittany Russell led the way with two impressive graduates as Shared Success earned a 109 at Laurel and Musical had a 102 breakout at Delaware. Charles Essex also produced a pair of winners at Emerald Downs, Atmospheric River (105) and Pearl Blue (101), both 3-year-olds making their fourth lifetime starts.

Individual standouts included Peter Miller's We the Hobby, who earned the week's top figure of 124, and Richard Baltas contributed Modus Bestia's impressive 122 performance. Other notable single-horse achievements came from Todd Pletcher with Only in America (117), Richard Mandella's first-time starter Brave Deb (113), and Brad Cox's Chapman's Peak (108) finally graduating at a near-marathon turf trip.

Sire power

The sire influence among this week's fastest maiden winners reveals established bloodlines and emerging stallion power. Violence appears twice on the list, siring Sock It to Me (110) and Boyd (107). Candy Ride continues his legacy with two representatives in Musical (102) and Canned Heat (99).

Notable individual sire performances include Om with speed figure leader We the Hobby (124), Maclean's Music represented by Modus Bestia (122) and Constitution siring Only in America (117). The diversity of successful sires from young stallions such as Authentic with Brave Deb to proven veterans such as Quality Road with Chapman's Peak shows the depth of quality bloodlines producing winners.

Top performers of the week

We the Hobby, 124 HRN speed figure

Three-year-old filly We the Hobby earned the week's top speed figure of 124 with her hard-fought victory at Del Mar on Friday. By Om out of an American Farrah, this Peter Miller-trained filly finally broke through in her 10th career start, winning by half a length at 3-1 odds in a one-mile maiden special weight on turf. The filly showed determination as she "rated, inside 2 wide, bid outside stretch, dug in" to secure victory for Altamira Racing Stable.

Modus Bestia, 122

Modus Bestia posted an impressive 122 HRN speed figure when winning his maiden at Del Mar on Sunday by three lengths. By Maclean's Music, this Richard Baltas-trained 3-year-old colt delivered as the 5-2 favorite in a 6 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on dirt. The colt showed natural speed throughout as he showed "speed inside ... hand urging" to secure victory for owners Calvin Nguyen and Joey Tran in his sixth career start.

City Panda, 117

City Panda, a 3-year-old gelding, earned a 117 HRN speed figure with his dominant 3 1/4-length victory at Timonium on Labor Day. By City of Light, this Rodolfo Sanchez-Salomon-trained gelding finally graduated in his 11th career start, taking a maiden claiming race at about 6 1/2 furlongs on dirt. Sent off at 7-2 odds for Lugamo Racing Stable, the gelding showed tactical speed as he "prompted pace, took over at 5/16 point, opened up past 3/16 pole, driving" to secure his breakthrough.

Only in America, 117

Only in America matched the 117 figure with his impressive debut victory at Saratoga on Labor Day. By Constitution out of the Tiznow mare American Doll, this Todd Pletcher-trained 3-year-old colt won by 3 1/4 lengths at 9-1 odds in a one-mile maiden special weight on dirt. The colt showed tactical ability in his fourth career start as he "hustled, 4-path 1st turn... tracked out... lead just inside 1/8 pole, drew clear" to deliver for owners Lawana and Robert Low.

Brave Deb, 113: The 2-year-old filly Brave Deb posted a 113 HRN speed figure in an impressive debut at Del Mar on Friday. By Authentic, this Richard Mandella-trained filly won by a nose at 9-1 odds in a one-mile maiden special weight on turf. The homebred for Spendthrift Farm showed natural speed as she "led inside, cleared 1/4, held gamely" to secure victory in her first career start, suggesting significant potential ahead.

Chapman's Peak, 108: 3-year-old gelding Chapman's Peak earned a 108 HRN speed figure when breaking his maiden at Kentucky Downs on Sunday. By Quality Road out of Grade 1 winner Dickinson, this Brad Cox-trained gelding graduated in his fourth career start with a one-length victory at 3-1 odds in a 1 5/16-mile maiden special weight on turf. The Godolphin homebred showed determination as he was "forced 5-6 wide early, forward, stalk 3-4 wide, bid 1/4 pole, headed, dug in" under Irad Ortiz Jr.

Boyd, 107: 2-year-old colt Boyd posted a 107 HRN speed figure in his debut at Del Mar on Sunday. By Violence, this Bob Baffert-trained colt showed promise in a 5 1/2-furlong maiden special weight on dirt, suggesting he could develop into another exciting juvenile prospect for owner Zedan Racing.

Looking ahead

This collection of maiden winners represents the depth of talent currently emerging in North American racing. From promising 2-year-olds such as Brave Deb and Boyd to experienced campaigners finally finding their form, these horses provide exciting prospects for the remainder of the racing season.

Fastest maiden winners