Thoroughbred Racing has announced its five fastest maiden winners of the week based on Beyer Speed Figures, with several impressive performances highlighting the racing calendar.
Pursuitneversleeps topped the list with a 93 Beyer Speed Figure at Churchill Downs on May 3. The 3-year-old Ghostzapper colt, owned by Bakster Farm LLC and trained by Dale Romans, battled to victory in a seven-furlong contest under jockey Corey Lanerie. After his mid-March debut second behind Here Comes Francis, owner Jim Bakke specifically targeted this Kentucky Derby day return for the even-money favorite.
Mainstream secured the second position with a 92 Beyer, despite finishing second in the same race as Pursuitneversleeps. The Brad Cox-trained Speightstown colt, owned by Jeffrey Drown, Don Rachel LLC and Stonestreet Stables LLC, rolled past Pursuitneversleeps into the turn but couldn’t completely shake his rival in the sloppy conditions. The $485,000 yearling lost his March debut at Gulfstream in similar fashion.
Ron Ellis-trained Concord Bridge earned the third spot with an 89 Beyer at Santa Anita on May 4. The 3-year-old Medaglia d’Oro colt, claimed for $50,000 in December by owner Antonio P. Sardo, showed explosive acceleration in his eighth career start. After sitting behind leaders and finding a rail opening into the stretch, he quickly opened daylight on the field. His dam is a half-sister to Grade I sprinter American Theorem, and he once commanded $850,000 as a yearling.
Fountain Lake secured fourth place with an 87 Beyer at Churchill Downs on May 3. The John Ortiz-trained Improbable colt, racing for Shortleaf Stable Inc., led wire-to-wire in his sixth lifetime start. Owner John Ed Anthony, known for naming his horses after Arkansas locations, purchased the colt for $100,000 as a yearling.
Rounding out the top five with an 86 Beyer is Pahoehoe D’Oro, who won at Oaklawn Park on May 2. The 4-year-old Medaglia d’Oro filly, trained by Phil D’Amato, comes from an exceptional pedigree. Her third dam is Juddmonte blue hen Hasili, who produced multiple Breeders’ Cup winners including Banks Hill, Intercontinental, and other Grade I winners Dansili, Heat Haze, Cacique and Champs Elysees.
Pahoehoe D’Oro’s dam Miss Exclusive was purchased for $750,000 at Keeneland November in 2018 by Mt. Brilliant. The filly, owned by Old Bones Racing Stable LLC, Volcanic Racing LLC and Joey Platts, won smartly in her second lifetime start after a 7½-month layoff. The name “pahoehoe” refers to a form of volcanic lava, likely inspired by Volcanic Racing owner Larry Goldman.
