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

Wandering Eyes · 2025-10-21T22:07:46Z

5. SKELLIG MICHAEL, GP, 10/18, 7 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-82
(g, 3, by Battalion Runner–Miss Monk, by Blame)
O-Saint Celestine Thoroughbred Management. B-St Elias Stables (Fla). T-Victor Barboza Jr. J-Ernesto Jaramillo.
The 4-5 pacesetter looked beaten at the quarter pole, but responded when set down by Jaramillo and kicked away to a five-length victory. The gelding is another bargain from Vinnie Viola's blue-collar stallion Battalion Runner: originally bought for $1,200 as a yearling, then pinhooked for $17k as a June 2-year-old.

4. CONFESSIONAL, KEE, 10/16, 7 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-85
(c, 2, by Essential Quality–Speedy Vanessa, by American Pharoah)
O-Steve Landers Racing. B-Breed First (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Axel Concepcion.
Congratulations to bettors who reasoned that a Cox-trained 2-year-old first-timer was value at 12-1 odds. He settled just behind the leading trio, shouldered for room 5/16ths out and won nicely. His workouts weren't flashy and six others in the field sold for more than his $160k yearling pricetag (including a $1.2-million yearling and a $975k 2-year-old buy), but that didn't matter.

3. PALADIN, BAQ, 10/17, 1 mile (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-86 (2nd to 1st by DQ)
(c, 2, by Gun Runner–Secret Sigh, by Tapit)
O-Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, Derrick Smith, Peter Brant, Brook Smith and Summer Wind Equine. B-Summer Wind Equine (Ky). T-Chad Brown. J-Flavien Prat.
The $1.9-million Saratoga Brant-Coolmore collaboration contested the pace with Prat in his debut, responded when Renegade and John Velazquez charged up from the inside leaving the eighth pole, and took a light bump just before he was overtaken at the wire by a head. Stewards lit the inquiry sign (this wasn't the Kentucky Derby) and reversed the order. Given the Beyer, these are definitely two juveniles worth keeping an eye on. Advice: don't search for Paladin on Google unless you're a Dungeon and Dragons gamer.

2. RENEGADE, BAQ, 10/17, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-86 (1st to 2nd by DQ)
(c, 2, by Into Mischief–Spice is Nice, by Curlin)
O-Robert and Lawana Low and Repole Stable (Ky). B-Robert and Lawana Low. T-Todd Pletcher. J-John Velazquez.
We can debate whether Paladin or Renegade ran the better race; Paladin did dirty work on the pace and Renegade waited and came through between horses. Renegade also had one previous start – a distant 3rd in It's Our Time's runaway Saratoga win. Regardless, both were impressive. Repole signed the $975k ticket for yearling Renegade at Keeneland September, and the breeders bought back in, the Lows having raced his graded stakes-winning dam they acquired for $1.05 million from Bobby Flay.

1. DR. KAPUR, KEE, 10/16, 7 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-87
(c, 2, by McKinzie–Ava's Kitten, by Kitten's Joy)
O-Ken Ramsey. B-Ken and Sarah Ramsey (Ky). T-Saffie Joseph, Jr. J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
It doesn't take much to get Ramsey excited, but with this colt (named for Dr. Sandip Kapur, who performed Ramsey's 2024 kidney transplant surgery) he has good reason. In the second division of split maiden races at Keeneland, this 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' went 7 furlongs in 1:23.71 compared to Confessional's 1:23.84. And he was beaten a neck at Saratoga in his debut with an 84 Beyer, missing that week's Five Fastest Maidens by a fraction of a point. This time, he finishes on top, and Ramsey says he is now being pointed for the Nov. 29 Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes at Churchill Downs.