Horse racing is a what have you done for me lately sport. When evaluating maiden winners – some are flashy wins and they develop into future stars. Others show promise in debut and for a variety of reason never develop. The horses below flashed above average talent in their “Maiden” wins. This is not a list of horses I think will develop the most – it’s recognizing big performances by Juveniles. I threw in a few regional horses from smaller tracks for diversity and a couple of fillies who had some sharp performances that hinted at above average ability. Overall my rankings reflect horses from higher purse tracks and races at longer distances – six furlongs and longer have a better ranking. I also prefer dry surfaces to sloppy or muddy maiden wins, but did include a couple of high-profile slop performances. Visual performance, speed figures and uniqueness of victory are the 3 measurements used in compiling this list. Today is horses #40 – #21 – part 2 will have the top 20.
#40 One Lucky Dane – Was sent to the lead from the rail at Santa Anita at 3/5 odds and did not disappoint, quickly into stride while being aggressively ridden on the backstretch. He opened up a 1 length lead down the backstretch and then being pressed on the outside by a couple of challengers, he lost the lead for a couple of strides. He remained calm and just quickened his stride while confifently ridden going into the turn – “The Great Dane” opened up a 4 length lead and widened his stride loving the distance and finishing full of run in racehorse time of 1:35 and 1/5. He runs with his head low, similar to his sire and has a running style that is “light” on his feet and efficient.
#39 Conquest Tsunami – Running on Polytrack in Lexington, this son of Stormy Atlantic was hammered at the windows on April 25th. He did not disapooint, dueling for a half and then drawing off to a 6 length victory in a 7 horse field. The quick breakaway coming out of the turn – turned heads and he drew away with strides “bouncing” off the synthetic surface.
#38 Carpe Diem – This was memorable from both a racing and pedigree point of view. Carpe Diem was entered in a 5.5 furlong race at Saratoga for his debut, which was unusual considering the pedigree by Giant’s Causeway out of a Unbridled’s Song mare. Carpe “Seized” rail in this race and battled tenaciously around the track putting away two horses and re-breaking near the finish line, finally opening up a margin for the victory. A pure guts race at a distance that was probably not his best. Carpe Diem only had 7 published workouts into this race, including three very slow workouts. He basically went 1:03 and change on pure talent!
#37 Gorgeous Bird – Churchill Downs on a warm November day -served as the wake up call for this son of Unbridled’s Song. A solid gate break and relaxing in 6th place while lacking room down the backside, he went by a couple of horses approaching the turn, shifted out for room and finished with interest and long strides. The final time was impressive and the ability to make multiple moves in the race while showing an eye for the finish line.
#36 Frammento – A troubled trip in debut, was against the speed. In start #2 he put the pedigree, potential and trip together, making a wide move on the turn to engage the leaders, went to the lead and drew off under urging with a gallop out that indicated a bright future. This long-winded son of Midshipman seems capable of running longer distances. His running style is more of a grinder than a quick turn of foot.
#35 Jack Tripp – Keeneland was the coming out party for this son of Flatter, slowing down the pace and setting moderate fractions, he burst away from the field winning with authority by 5 lengths. The quick acceleration was visually impressive and the ability to wait on demand – being asked for speed coming out of the turn.
#34 Lemon Drop Prize – Lemon Drop Kid son split horses and came wide running down the lane and drew off to the visually impressive win with a slow final time. He showed enough speed to stay mid-pack, but was able to stay competitive and within striking distance turning for home. Bred to develop later and like the longer distances, a win at 6.5 furlongs indicates some natural talent.
#33 Majestic Affair – The Canterbury Flash made his debut a winning one at Canterbury Park, drawing away to a powerful victory. Bred for speed with a familiar pedigree to Canterbury Downs fans. Was sold after the race and went on to bigger fish out East.
#32 Mr. Jordan – Powerfully built was bet down in debut and won in hand with a running style lowering his head with every stride down the lane. The quick burst of speed was impressive and this gray colt turned heads down the lane, was a maiden win to remember from the Jersey shore.
#31 Lord Nelson – Strutted his talent at Old Delmar. The distance was five furlongs and he broke 4th and when unable to show enough speed to get the rail, he displayed some smarts and was waiting patiently, while being hand ridden, he made a 4 wide move entering the stretch and responded when Matt Garcia set him down for the drive. He quickly passed horses taking aim on the leader with a quarter-mile to the wire. What was impressive was that 2 horses ranged up on the outside of him and he was able to hold them off and tag the leader right before the wire. This son of Pulpit carries some weight and a well-developed rear end should serve him well down the road. Lord Nelson won “comfortably” by half-length with plenty in the tank.
#30 Bronze Star – Stretched out and broke loose in a big way at Santa Anita. After a couple of rough trips sprinting, Bronze Star was entered in a route race and showed an impressive, grinding style that will serve him well in route races. Breaking from the gate with the lead, Bronze Star established position on the rail. Deliverate fractions of 23 and 1/5, while being chased just enough to make him work the half in 47. The ability to stalk, rate and ration his speed. Bronze Star was chased by a couple of horses and just refused to give up any ground before sealing the deal late down the stretch. Final time was solid and beat a next out open lengths winner. He did seem distracted the entire stretch looking repeatedly at the grandstand and to horses to the outside of him, before finally focusing late near the finish line. Look for him to wear blinkers in his next race possibly.
#29 The Truth or Else – The race came off the turf and this guy sat in 4th place for the first half mile, making a 3-wide move to engage the leaders, he came wide for the drive and drew away quickly to the powerful 2 length score. Finished with a fluid stride and switched leads on cue after taking the lead.
#28 Daredevil – Hammered at the windows and with a sloppy track in front of him, this son of More Than Ready burst out of the gate and went wire to wire. He skipped over the slop and relished the off going in this impressive maiden effort. He was ridden aggressively in the race and responded with a splashing victory in the mud.
#27 Blofeld – A short field of five for the debut of this son of the fast and precocious Quality Road. The Storm Cat line on the female side indicated this guy would be ready to win early. With a final workout of 4F in 46 and 3/5 out of the gate he was bet down to 3/5 on the toteboard. Chasing a speed ball down the backstretch, Blofeld slowly made his move at the leader, inherited the lead behind the tiring pacesetter, down the stretch and drew away to the 1 length victory at the abbreviated distance of 5 furlongs. The margin of victory did not truly indicate how powerful the effort was, and the speed figure was a little low for the fast final time. Big rear end, deep muscles and quick strides indicate he has a future as miler type.
#26 Trackattacker – The Northwest Flash overpowered a Seattle field at Emerald Downs in his debut, quickly out of the gate, with the raw speed to open up a huge lead and finishing off the race widening at every call. He led by 5 lengths at the stretch and by 9 at the finish line. Man among boys in this maiden breaker. This Washington Bred – Gelded son of Harbor the Gold could be a fixture in Seattle for year’s to come. He set a new track record in his debut race and the chart had this comment “Drew off with something left”.
#25 Classy Class – One of the more impressive visual races of the Juvenile season. Belmont Park was the scene of this unveiling. Classy Class broke out of the gate fastest of all and then was rated back into 3rd place while a challenger opened up a 5 length advantage. Ortiz never moved a muscle remaining calm until going into the turn, the pacesetter began to tire and Classy Class inhaled him in a couple of strides. Taking the lead in mid-stretch, Classy Class then opened up a 2 length lead, the final 1/8th of a mile is what separated this performance, he switched leads and just kicked away with a burst of energy near the finish line with a smooth stride, lowering his head near the wire like he wanted more distance. A well muscled son of Discreet Cat. The pedigree says “sprinter/miler” my eyeballs say something else.
#24 El Chumpari – A turf race was taken off the turf and moved to the main track and this guy blew up the tote board winning the race at odds of over 45/1. The manner in which he did it was something to behold. The field go bunched up turning for home and Chumpari moved wide the for drive, was race mid pack until the 1/8 pole and then passed the entire field while running 9 wide and widening at the wire. Trakus shows him traveling the final 1/8 of a mile in :12 and 1/5 seconds and averaging 37 miles an hour.
#23 El Kabeir – Broke his maiden at Saratoga by 10 lengths in a memorable performance. The track was a little biased, but El Kabeir broke quickly out of the gate with a 1 length lead, opened up on the back side and dominated the race from beginning to end. There was no doubt who the winner was 20 feet into the race. Freak race and one that created some buzz.
#22 Flashaway – This big strapping son of Eskendereya made a sharp presence in the post parade and made an even bigger impression at Woodbine during the race. He was the favorite and was forced a little wide but after a half mile, he took the lead and established command of the race. Quick turn of foot and well muscled, carries a lot of weight.
#21 Wake Up Nick – The distance was short at 4.5 furlongs, but this son of Cindago was bet down to 1/2 odds in his debut race in a 6 horse field. The gates opened and he broke fast, dueling for a 1/4 mile and then opening up on the field flying home to a 9 length win. Short, quick, powerful strides of a sprinter, “Nick” blew away the competition in this Baby race in May.
Next up we take a look at the top twenty maiden Juvenile winners of 2014.