By Randy Moss
It was a week of unlikely maiden performances: a staggering 106 debut Beyer and two fast runners from a rare 1 1/4-mile maiden race.
5) LATE NIGHT TEXT, 4/23-3rd, 7 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 83
(f, 3, by Into Mischief-Arrifana, by Curlin)
O-Daugherty Racing and 24th Road Racing. B-LNJ Foxwoods & Gainesway Thoroughbreds (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph Jr. J-Micah Husbands.
Running for Joseph for the first time, Late Night Text improved his previous top Beyer Speed Figure by 11 points in his sixth career start to defeat a pair of Brad Cox-trained favorites (including Godolphin's third-place finisher Delightfully, a full-sister to two-time champion Essential Quality). First foal to race from stakes-winning and GSP dam Arrifana, who was 5-for-6 lifetime with a best Beyer of 91.
4) RAGS OVER RICHES, SA, 4/25-3rd, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 83
(c, 3, by Mendelssohn-Welcome Speech, by Henrythenavigator)
O-Sayjay Racing. B-William Harrigan, Mike Pietrangelo and Mark McEntee (Ky). T-Richard Baltas. J-Armando Ayuso.
His debut victory marked a double triumph over low expectations. First, he was bought as a yearling by Steve Young's Sayjay Racing for just $40,000 after RNAing as a weanling for $50,000. And last week at Santa Anita, he went to post as the 19-1 longest shot in a six-horse sprint field (his dam had zero speed and ran long on the turf), yet rushed past the leaders in midstretch en route to a 4-length triumph. And in case you're wondering, there is zero connection to Belmont winner Rags to Riches.
3) DIRECT STRIKE, CD, 4/26-8th, 1 1/4-miles (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 84 (2nd)
(c, 3, by Into Mischief-Day of Victory, by Victory Gallop)
O-Qatar Racing, Mountmellick Farm and Hunter Valley Farm. B-Cypress Creek Equine. T-Brad Cox. J-Irad Ortiz Jr.
After setting the pace, he couldn't hold off Tiernanogue (below), who also beat him at Fair Grounds. But he keeps getting better numbers with each start. And his $500,000 yearling pricetag reflects his solid pedigree. Into Mischief needs no introduction, and his now-21-year-old dam also produced Gr. I winner Finley'sluckycharm and is a half-sister to multiple Gr. I winner Pure Clan and Gr. II winner Greater Good.
2) TIERNANOGUE, CD, 4/26-8th, 1 1/4-miles (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 85
(c, 3, by Quality Road-Spritz, by Awesome Again)
O-Mulberry Racing. B-Gary Holland (Ky). T-Brendan Walsh. J-Tyler Gaffalione.
Billionaire Australian investor Mike Gregg is making a splash in racing down under, but Tiernanogue is his first U.S. winner in 16 total starts. The $300,000 yearling purchase has been improving with racing and with added distance, and gradually wore down Direct Strike in a manner indicating he probably wouldn't mind a mile-and-a-half. First foal of dam Spritz, stakes placed on the track but nowhere near as successful as her half-sister Judy the Beauty, the Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint (Gr. I) winner.
1) MASHALLAH, KEE, 4/23-6th, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure- 106
(f, 3, by Maxfield-All in With Aces, by Quiet American)
O-JR Ranch. B-Taylor Made Stallions, Louis Brooks Ranch, Bayshore Stables et al (Ky). T-Brendan Walsh. J-Joel Rosario.
It's a Brendan Walsh exacta at the top of the rankings, but this one wins by a pole. She became the 20th horse since Beyer Speed Figures were first published in DRF in 1991 to record a figure of 106 or higher in a career debut. The fastest-ever was 114 by Maclean's Music in 2011, who never raced again. And this bodes well for Mashallah's future: of the other 18 on the list, 17 went on to run at least one more triple-digit Beyer.
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