Five Fastest Maidens Presented By Taylor Made: Oct. 13-20

Keeneland and Baqueira maiden races showcased several promising juveniles last week, with Ken Ramsey’s homebred Dr. Kapur emerging as the standout performer.

Dr. Kapur captured a seven-furlong maiden special weight at Keeneland on October 16 with an 87 Beyer Speed Figure. The 2-year-old colt by McKinzie earned “TDN Rising Star” status while completing the distance in 1:23.71 under jockey Irad Ortiz, Jr.

Trained by Saffie Joseph, Jr., Dr. Kapur had previously missed by a neck in his Saratoga debut, earning an 84 Beyer. Ramsey named the promising juvenile after Dr. Sandip Kapur, who performed the owner’s kidney transplant surgery earlier this year.

According to Ramsey, Dr. Kapur is being pointed toward the November 29 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs.

In another notable performance, Renegade and Paladin delivered an exciting finish at Baqueira on October 17, with both colts earning identical 86 Beyer figures.

Paladin, originally second by a head, was awarded the victory via disqualification after stewards determined he had been bumped near the wire. The Chad Brown-trained son of Gun Runner was purchased for $1.9 million at Saratoga in a collaboration between Peter Brant and Coolmore partners.

Renegade, trained by Todd Pletcher, was demoted to second despite a determined rally between horses under John Velazquez. The Into Mischief colt, who sold for $975,000 as a yearling at Keeneland September, is owned by Robert and Lawana Low in partnership with Repole Stable.

In the first division of Keeneland’s split maiden races, Confessional scored at 12-1 odds for trainer Brad Cox. The Essential Quality colt earned an 85 Beyer while defeating several more expensive rivals, including a $1.2 million yearling purchase.

Skellig Michael dominated a seven-furlong maiden race at Gulfstream Park on October 18, drawing off to win by five lengths with an 82 Beyer. The Battalion Runner gelding, trained by Victor Barboza Jr., represents another bargain for owner Saint Celestine Thoroughbred Management, having originally sold for just $1,200 as a yearling before being pinhooked for $17,000.