With the calendar turning to 2014, I have been taking a look at my handicapping notes and conceptually sorting out top performances from “winning” efforts, many horses win races, but through the years about 15 maiden races visually linger as impressive.
In past year’s it was Uncle Mo, stealing the show on the Travers Day undercard, Meadowlake romping at Arlington Park, Dinard setting the standard on opening day of Santa Anita. This list is to enjoy the moment, not predict the future – Who knows what the future holds, but in 2013, these were the Maiden Jaw Breakers!
Honor Code: Year-in, Year Out, Saratoga usually produces a talked about maiden, the formula usually involves a strong pedigree, trained by one of the “power” trainers. This year a Dark Bay or Brown with an undescended Testicle splashed his way through the mud, coming from 22 lengths behind to win by 5 lengths. The beauty of Past Performances is event this little snippet below, lets all horse racing fans visualize the race and starting dreaming Roses in May.
Tom Durkin, called the entire field, came back to the leaders, and then casually says and at the rail is Honor Code. Off-Track maiden wins can sometimes look more impressive in real-time and less impressive as time goes bye, but for a First Time starter, breaking slow, taking a lot of mud and coming with a rush to win going away, he made it look easy like the great one’s do and everyone watching on TV, or live knew they had seen something worth remembering.
Shared Belief: It was Saturday, October 19th at Golden Gate Fields, when a gelded son of Candy Ride took to the track, a 9 horse field, with 5 or 6 first time starters, including the race favorite trained by Jerry Hollendorfer. Casual fans singled Time Jumper, when the gates opened a good clean start for all, moderate pace and then he was shot out of cannon: He trailed by 4 lengths at the half mile pole, he won by 7 in hand at the finish line:
Unknown Road: This son of Bernadini tipped his hand running 2nd at Belmont to highly regarded Coup De Grace in his career debut, the long stretch of the Fairgrounds allowed this runner to showcase his talent and draw off to a 9 length win over some talented youngsters in his runaway score. Bernadini has sired many a precocious runner who fail to develop, Unknown road hopes to buck that trend, no matter what happens, he will always the Fairgrounds Tour De Force.
Green Mask Lexington, Kentucky, Dateline, October 24th, race 7, – It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s Green Mask skipping over poly track like Dorothy down the Yellow Brick Road. Winning by 5 lengths and stopping the teletimer in 1:09 and 4/5. The pedigree says speed, turf and precocious and this Brown colt did not disappoint, going wire to wire from the 11th post position and making every pole a winning one. On this day, Green Mask was ready and dominated.
Havana: The Leggy gray/roan son from the first cop of Dunkirk came to post heavily favored at “The Spa” on August 23rd. Havana was hammered at the windows and bet down to 2/5 favoritism. Havana lived up to the reviews and left no doubt going wire to wire in a snappy 1:02 and 3/5. Ridden in hand late with JR Velasquez sitting comfortably in the saddle. It’s always fun to have a good Gray horse on the Triple Crown trail, they are easy to spot in a bulky field.
Other Impressive Maiden performances from 2013:
Coup De Grace – Speed, Class, and Emphatic in debut win
Uncle Sigh – Made the field say “Uncle” with his 14 length win
Interchange- impressive at first asking
Kobe’s Back – from last to first
Mosler – Classy win
Pablo Del Monte – The Keeneland Flash
Protonico – Wins by 14 in debut at Delaware
Ride on Curlin – The Pride of Ellis Park
Schoolofhardrocks – “much the best” at Old Delmar