The Five Fastest Maidens – Jan. 26 – Feb. 1

Wandering Eyes · February 4

5 – CAPTAIN SHREVE, SA, 1/31-6th, 6 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-78 (2nd)
(g, 3, by Runhappy–Sierra Electrica, by Tapit)
O/B-Kretz Racing (Ky). T-George Papaprodromou. J-Kyle Frey.
If one considers Potente (below) a 3-year-old to monitor going forward, Captain Shreve has to be somewhere on the same screen. He nagged Potente from the start, drew alongside turning for home, then couldn't quite keep pace late in another legit runner-up finish (he was a debut 2nd to Secured Freedom). Rustin and Juliana Kretz are Southern Californians, but named the gelding after a Shreveport, La., high school.

4 – POTENTE, SA, 1/31-6th, 6 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-79
(c, 3, by Into Mischief–Sweet Sting, by Awesome Again)
O-Speedway Stables. B-Pam and Marty Wygod (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Kazushi Kimura.
Much was expected of Potente, and not just because he was a Baffert 3/5 first-timer. The grandson of Breeders' Cup Filly and Mare Turf Grade I winner Perfect Sting has been in a spotlight ever since Speedway owners Peter/Ann Fluor and K.C. Weiner bought him for $2.4 million as a Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling. He delivered by leading all the way, and even though his 79 Beyer was hardly “potente” (read: powerful), it was at least a starting point.

3 – PIKE, GP, 1/31-4th, 6 ½ furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-81 (2nd)
(g, 3, by Cajun Breeze–Glitterama, by Rock Hard Ten)
O/B-Tom McCrocklin (Fla). T-Fernando Abreu. J-John Velazquez.
It may be unfair to tarnish him with this observation after only four starts, but thus far it appears Pike will run however fast a maiden race requires–to finish second. He has a perfect record in that respect, with his last three losses by a neck, neck and head when it appeared he would win all three. In fact, he took the lead from Wall Street at the sixteenth pole then gave it back, although both finished well (see below).

2 – WALL STREET, GP, 1/31-4th, 6 1/2 furlongs (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-81
(c, 3, by Into Mischief–Well Humored, by Distorted Humor)
O-WinStar Farm and First Go Racing. B-WinStar Farm (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Irad Ortiz Jr.
WinStar already stands Grade I winner Patch Adams, so for whatever reasons, it probably isn't too torn up about losing this full-brother for $50,000 at the claim box, or the colt wouldn't have been entered for a tag in the first place. But after losing his debut at even-money with a slow start, Wall Street sped home Saturday in :24.32 for his final quarter to stubbornly keep in front of co-favorite Pike. Comparing that to other impressive sprint winners on the card, unbeaten Solitude Dude came home in :24.72 in the Swale and 5-year-old Roar Ready finished in :24.87 in an allowance.

1 – FORCED ENTRY, SA, 2/1-2nd, 1 mile (Video)
Beyer Speed Figure-81
(f, 3, by Charlatan–Violent Times, by Violence)
O-Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. B-Stoneriggs Farm (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez.
As 7/2 third choice in a five-horse field, bettors viewed this second-start turf-to-dirt maiden with unusual skepticism for a Baffert trainee even though the highest Beyer run by her four rivals was a mediocre 68. And the skepticism was quite unwarranted: Forced Entry set a lively pace and romped by 7 1/4 lengths. A $375,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase, she may not prove an Oaks filly for the Three Amigos with an 81 Beyer. But it was plenty enough in this spot.