Five Fleet Fillies: January 5-11, 2026

Wandering Eyes · 2026-01-16T19:33:58Z

Every week in the TDN, we have been running the five fastest maidens as judged by the Beyer Speed Figure time. An astute reader suggested that since all breeders like fast fillies, we should have a look and see who the five fastest fillies of the week are each week. Here you go.

5. GRATEFULLY, SA, 1/8-5th, Alw, 6 furlongs (turf)
Beyer Speed Figure-91
(f, 4, by Laoban–Selflessly, by More Than Ready)
O- Adelphi Racing Club and Shelly & Russell Hume. B-WinStar Farm (Ky). T-Robert Falcone. J-Umberto Rispoli.
In her '26 debut, Gratefully's 3 3/4-length turf score ran her record to 4-for-4: two on grass, two on dirt (off-the-turf), all in sprints. She's the first foal from Selflessly (More Than Ready-Uniformly Yours), a GSW at 2 and 3 for Klaravich Stable/Chad Brown in 2019's GII Miss Grillo and 2020's GIII Lake George. The “acquisition chain”: WinStar acquired Selflessly, bred her in 2021 to now-deceased Laoban to get Gratefully, sold the mare in November 2022 for $875,000 to Ireland's Barronstown Stud, then sold yearling Gratefully in 2023 for $155,000 to Adelphi.

4. SHINING STAR (Chi), FG, 1/9-7th, Alw, 5 1/2 furlongs (turf)
Beyer Speed Figure-93
(m, 5, by Saraha Spirit–Green Power (Chi), by Dublin (Ire))
O-Sumaya U.S. Stable. B-Haras Sumaya (Chi). T-Brad Cox. J-Jose Ortiz.
The two-time minor SW in Chile is a potential stakes star here after consecutive turf sprint Beyers of 92-93. Chilean owner/breeder Oussama Aboughazale sent her to the U.S. in early '25 on dirt form, but after flopping on dirt at Santa Anita she was transferred to Cox and now has won two straight on grass by a combined 11 1/2 lengths. Aboughazale stands unraced Tapit stallion Saraha Spirit in Chile: he's out of Wild Spirit, who Aboughazale also imported in 2003 to become his only Gr I winner in this country. Saraha Spirit is a half-brother to stallion Protonico (Giant's Causeway).

3. PRINCESA MOCHE (Per), SA, 1/11-8th, GIII Las Cienegas S., about 6 1/2 furlongs (turf)
Beyer Speed Figure- 94 (2nd)
(m, 6, by Muwaary (GB)–Queen Jezebel, by Motivator (GB))
O-Rancho San Roberto. B-Haras Los Azahares. T-Chief Stipe O'Neill. J-Marco Demuro.
After two allowance wins, Princesa Moche took a big step forward Beyer-wise in a frontrunning half-length Las Cienegas (Gr III) loss to Queen Maxima (see below) at 16/1 odds. California jeweler and Peru native Roberto Spasiano acquired her last summer in Peru and after two $1500 handicap wins sent her to O'Neill. She initially looked overmatched in this country, but not any more.

1 (tie). QUEEN MAXIMA, SA, 1/11-8th, GIII Las Cienegas S., about 6 1/2 furlongs (turf)
Beyer Speed Figure-96
(m, 5, by Bucchero–Corfu Lady, by Corfu)
O-Dutch Girl Holdings and Irving Ventures. B-Saul Rosas (Fla). T-Jeff Mullins. J-Juan Hernandez.
With her game Las Cienegas victory, Queen Maxima now has won seven of her last nine, all in turf sprints and three against graded company – and her name belongs high on the list of the country's best female turf sprinters, arguably just below Shisopicy. Co-owner Michele Arthur (the Dutch girl) bought her for only $40,000 as an Ocala June 2-year-old and races her in partnership with Ruben Isla. Arthur and Isla also own Gr I-winning 3-year-old Intrepido.

1 (tie). LOTSANDLOTSOFCANDY, FG, 1/10, Nelson J. Menard Memorial S., 5 1/2 furlongs
Beyer Speed Figure-96
(m, 5, by Twirling Candy–Lotsandlotsofhope, by Tiznow)
O-Jay Em Ess Stable. B-Samantha Siegel. T-Paul McGee. J-Brian Hernandez Jr.
She has lately been drifting to the middle of the track through the stretch, but with her lotsandlotsoftalent, so far that hasn't mattered. Her family talent can be expressed in Beyers: in 2000, Samantha Siegel and late parents Jan/Mace bought 2nd dam Hope Rises, a SW who ran five Beyers between 91-93; she produced Lotsandlotsofhope, whose only start in 2012 was a nose loss with a solid 85 Beyer; and Lotsandlotsofhope has produced not only this mare (90, 94 and 96 Beyers) but also GSW Extra Hope, who three times ran Beyers between 90-95.