Five Fastest Maidens: January 12-19

Wandering Eyes · 2026-01-21T17:45:18Z

5. CINISTER CIX, TP, 1/16-6th, 6 furlongs
Beyer Speed Figure-83 (2nd)
(c, 4, by Curlin–Auntjenn, by Uncle Mo)
O-Bartolome Mafla Herrera. B-Breffni Farm. T-Shane Sands. J-Walter Rodriguez.
Privately purchased from the breeder after a half-dozen mostly uninspiring starts, the Curlin filly ran a career-best Beyer and appears to be just coming around. The pedigree is solid: dam Auntjenn was twice stakes-placed, five times ran Beyers between 81 and 83 for Brad Cox, and out of four foals to race has also produced GSW Petulante ($254k) and SW The Donegal Clan ($276k).

4. TAP ME A SONG, TP, 1/16-6th, 6 furlongs
Beyer Speed Figure-84
(g, 4, by Tapiture–Gwithian, by Street Sense)
O-Cowboys and Razorbacks Racing Stables. B-Clark Brewster (Ky). T-Carlos Santamaria. J-Gabriel Saez.
It took 10 starts to break his maiden, but a rail run and switch to Tapeta unlocked sharp improvement and a new top in the Beyer department. Unraced dam Gwithian is a half-sister to former Coolmore runner Solomini (Curlin), a Grade I winner at two who went on to run in Justify's 2018 Kentucky Derby and is now standing stud in New York.

3. RUNNING WITH CHAOS, SA, 1/18-6th, 6 1/2 furlongs
Beyer Speed Figure-84
(g, 4, by Khozan–House Money, by Wildcat Heir)
O-Eduardo Bernal, Larry Buckendorf and Jeffrey Lambert. B-Woodford Thoroughbreds (Ky). T-Bob Hess Jr. J-Edwin Maldonado.
In a four-horse field against a couple of favorites who had run 92 Beyers, he dueled them into submission with a half in :44.04 then emerged the clear survivor. Nothing jumps off the pedigree page (thus his $50k OBS 2023 yearling price), but in three starts he now has a Beyer progression of 77-81-84.

2. TROUBLE CALLING, FG, 1/17-6th, 6 furlongs
Beyer Speed Figure-86 (2nd)
(c, 3, by Dialed In–Into Trouble, by Into Mischief)
O/B-Donamire Farm (Ky). T-Greg Foley. J-Luis Saez.
In the week's fastest maiden race, he more than held his own against Knock It Off (below), battling for the lead from the outset and giving way only grudgingly to finish eight lengths clear of third. The Donamire genes are there: dam Into Trouble took the Arlington-Washington Lassie and has produced Grade I winner Troubleshooting (Not This Time, $1.7 million thanks to Kentucky Downs) and SW Big Trouble (Kantharos) – both turf sprinters, so the green may be a future option.

1. KNOCK IT OFF, FG, 1/17-6th, 6 furlongs
Beyer Speed Figure-89
(c, 3, by Vekoma-Bodie's Flight, by Bodemeister)
O-Kirk & Judy Robison. B-Deann & Greg Baer (Ind). T-Steve Asmussen. J-Paco Lopez.
Bought as a weaning for $18k then pinhooked as a yearling for $150k, the Indiana-bred made a splashy debut at Fair Grounds – leading throughout in 1:09.47 for a Beyer eight points faster than the Lecomte Stakes later on the card. He's a colt to watch, at least in the 3-year-old sprint division. The Robisons are best known as the owners of sprint sensation Jackie's Warrior, while the Baers are perennial leading breeders in Indiana.