Speed figures: Fierceness leads pack with Florida Derby romp
As you might have guessed, Fierceness tops this week's list of the fastest stakes winners with a 106 Brisnet Speed Rating and a 110 Beyer Speed Figure.
Those figures came, of course, from his 13 1/2-length, gate-to-wire win in the Grade 1 Florida Derby on Saturday. John Velazquez and the new Kentucky Derby favorite covered the 1 1/8 miles in 1:48.22. It was the second-highest Beyer of the year, according to Daily Racing Form, behind Ova Charged's win the previous weekend at Fair Grounds.
Kertez and McKulick are tied for second on the Brisnet list at 101. Kertez won the Pan American (G2) by a nose in his first U.S. start. The 6-year-old gelding, who was ridden by Joel Rosario, began his career in France and now is trained by Christophe Clement.
McKulick scored in the Orchid (G3) in her first start since finishing 12th in the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Turf.
The second-highest Beyer, 101, went to Frosted Grace, winner of the Oaklawn Mile (G3). It was the second graded victory for the 8-year-old Mike Maker trainee.
Here are the figures for last week's 20 highest-rated stakes winners, ranked by Brisnet Speed Ratings, with Beyer Speed Figures.
| Horse | Race | Jockey | Brisnet | Beyer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fierceness | Florida Derby (G1), 1 1/8 miles | John Velazquez | 106 | 110 |
| Kertez | Pan American (G2), 1 1/2 miles (turf) | Joel Rosario | 101 | 94 |
| McKulick | Orchid (G3), 1 1/2 miles (turf) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 101 | 92 |
| Frosted Grace | Oaklawn Mile (G3), 1 mile | Ramon Vazquez | 99 | 101 |
| Muth | Arkansas Derby (G1), 1 1/8 miles | Juan Hernandez | 99 | 98 |
| Laughing Boy | Excelsior, 1 1/8 miles | Samuel Camacho Jr. | 98 | 92 |
| Masqueparade | Temperence Hill, 1 1/2 miles | Harry Hernandez | 97 | 95 |
| Oscar Eclipse | Sir Shackleton, 7 furlongs | Jose Ortiz | 97 | 93 |
| Il Miracolo | Ghostzapper (G3), 1 1/16 miles | John Velazquez | 96 | 96 |
| Power Squeeze | Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2), 1 1/16 miles | Daniel Centeno | 95 | 92 |
| Connors Outlaw | TRAO Classic Sprint, 6 furlong | Leandro Goncalves | 93 | 91 |
| Smokin' T | Appleton, 1 mile (turf) | John Velazquez | 93 | 94 |
| Cairo Consort | Sand Springs, 1 1/16 iles (turf) | Irad Ortiz Jr. | 91 | 86 |
| Thorpedo Anna | Fantasy (G2), 1 1/16 miles | Brian Hernandez Jr. | 91 | 91 |
| American Band | Matron, 6 furlongs | Walter De La Cruz | 90 | 82 |
| Take Me Serious | Miranda Diane, 6 furlongs | Gerardo Mora | 90 | 77 |
| Beyond Awesome | ATBA Sales, 6 furlongs | Glenn Corbett | 88 | 78 |
| Nice as Pie | Serena's Song, 6 furlongs (synthetic) | Adam Beschizza | 88 | 83 |
| Set | Cutler Bay, 7 1/2 furlongs (turf) | Emisael Jaramillo | 82 | 84 |
| Tony's Tapit | ATBA Sales, 6 furlongs | Fausto Da Silva | 82 | 71 |