Who were the five fastest maiden winners based on the Beyer Speed Figures this week? We counted them down.
5. Varney, PIM, 5/17, 1 1/16 miles
Beyer Speed Figure-86
(c, 3, by Vekoma-Summer of Fun, by Include)
O-Talla Racing, Spendthrift Farm and St. Elias Stables, B-Spendthrift Farm, T-Bob Baffert, J-Flavien Prat.
Yet another first-crop winner for Spendthrift's ascending stallion Vekoma, Varney's wire-to-wire score on the Preakness undercard was unique for several reasons. He was the fifth next-out winner to emerge from the Santa Anita Apr. 6 maiden sprint won by Goal Oriented. One race before that, he was pulled up on the first turn while battling for the lead in a one-mile maiden race when he was checked and apparently took a bad step. And you seldom see Flavien Prat ride as aggressively from the gate as he did on this one–but Varney made a clear lead and that all-in strategy paid off.
4. Camp Hale, CD, 5/18, 6 furlongs
Beyer Speed Figure: 88
(g, 3, by Mo Town-Magic Hour, by Awesome Again)
O/B- Whitham Thoroughbreds (Ky), T-Ian Wilkes, J-Brian Hernandez Jr.
Yes, he was still a maiden. Camp Hale finished second in his debut, just ahead of Patch Adams. He was second to Guns Loaded, winner of the Mucho Macho Man next time out, then second again behind Grande, the soon-to-be Wood Memorial runner up. Since he was hanging in there against stakes types, he was rewarded with a crack at the Sam F. Davis and checked in a respectable fourth. And finally, he was second to Invictus, who just ran third at 1-to-2 odds in the Sir Barton. If you don't succeed at first..
3. Stars and Stripes, BAQ, 5/17, 1 mile (3rd)
Beyer Speed Figure: 91
(c, 3, by Not This Time-Pearl River, by Quality Road)
O-Frassetto Stables, B-Pam & Martin Wygod, T-Bill Mott, J-Jose Lezcano.
Mott isn't known for striking with first-timers, but this one closed with encouraging strides for 3rd behind a duo (see below) battling in fast time. His dam Pearl River and second dam Ain't She Sweet were unraced, which may have suppressed his yearling price ($100,000 at Keeneland September 2023). But wade a little deeper into the Wygod family tree and the picture brightens: Ain't She Sweet is a full-sister to Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies winner Sweet Catomine and Breeders' Cup Ladies Classic (aka Distaff) winner Life Is Sweet.
2. Duration, BAQ, 5/17, 1 mile (2nd)
Beyer Speed Figure: 96
(g, 4, by Mitole-Smile More, by Tiznow)
O-Klaravich Stables, B-Upson Downs Farm & Louis W. Wright (Ky), T-Chad Brown, J-Dylan Davis.
The Apr. 19 maiden race at BAQ already looks like a key one. That day, Seth Klarman's promising debuter Strategic Focus rallied past Hop Sing and his stablemate Duration to win with a 90 Beyer Speed Figure, which was verified and even exceeded here. This time and last, Duration cruised up to Hop Sing like a winner at the quarter pole and couldn't quite get past him. Duration was slow to come around but the 4-year-old now has improved his Beyers in each of his six starts. His dam, Smile More, had a modest career but is a half-sister to two-time Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint winner Goodnight Olive.
1. Hop Sing, BAQ, 5/17, 1 mile (1st)
Beyer Speed Figure: 96
(g, 4, by Curlin-Sweet Assassin, by Tapit)
O-Gold Square and Tami Bobo, B-Don Alberto Corporation (Ky), T-Jose D'Angelo, J-Ricardo Santana Jr.
Could Hop Sing become a “Bonanza” for his owners? The gray gelding got off to a slow start, but he's coming on strong as the game winner of this fast maiden mile. Off for 11 months after his debut second, then another four months after his comeback race, his Beyer Speed Figure pattern since is 85, 88 and now 96. He looked beaten two furlongs out last Saturday when Duration stormed alongside with a full head of steam, but he dug in and doggedly kept his head in front. Given that lofty figure, jumping into stakes company somewhere wouldn't be surprising, and with his pedigree, he should be as good or better around two turns.
It a stretch battle, Hop Sing gets the win in R6 at Belmont at the Big A! 🦄@JFDangelo trains and @RSantana_jr was in the saddle. pic.twitter.com/FrBNHje3RB
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) May 17, 2025
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