Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive. Locked Sept. 1, 5th race Saratoga, MdSpWt105k Beyer: 96 1 mile 1:36 – 1st by 7 1/4 lengths ch.c.2, Gun Runner – Luna Rosa, by Malibu Moon Noteworthy siblings: None Auctions: Keeneland September yearling 2022 – $425,000 Owner: Eclipse Thoroughbred Stables and Walmac Farm Trainer: Todd Pletcher Breeder: Rosa Colasanti This colt was 12-1 in his career debut, which seems nuts. If not for a troubled start, where he was away somewhat slowly before getting pinched back and steadied, he might well have won that Aug. 5 maiden sprint. As it was, he roared home with a final furlong in 12.04 seconds, easily best in the race, and galloped out past the top two finishers like a wild horse. His price was far different in this, his second start, where Locked was treated like a lock, going off a little less than 4-5 while facing nine rivals at a one-turn mile. Fair price, it turned out. There were no early problems this time, Locked going right up to press the pace of 32-1 shot Arteta, who threw in the towel at the five-sixteenths pole. Locked, at this stage at least, is not the kind of horse to drag his rider along while fully in the bridle. He was ridden steadily down the backstretch and around the turn, and even was urged to the furlong grounds, the race long since having been decided. He is, however, a beautiful-moving colt who was able to get his final quarter-mile here in 23.94, very impressive for such a young horse going over a track that can be tiring. And it wasn’t just the win margin that was wide – 13 lengths separated second from third. Seems like a good thing that he lost first out and could stretch out against maidens to post the second-highest Beyer from a 2-year-old so far this year. Call him one of the early Breeders’ Cup Juvenile favorites of this performance. General Partner Sept. 2, 7th race Saratoga, MdSpWt120k Beyer: 92 7 furlongs 1:22.23 – 1st by 4 lengths ch.c.2, Speightstown – Fleeting Humor, by Distorted Humor Noteworthy siblings: Naughty Joker (Into Mischief, foaled 2016) – stakes winner; Cathedral Reader (Shackleford, foaled 2015) – stakes-placed; Seventhfleethumor (Afleet Alex, foaled 2012) – stakes-placed Auctions: Fasig-Tipton fall mixed 2021 – $225,000 Owner: Klaravich Stables Trainer: Chad Brown Breeder: Kenneth Ramsey, Sarah Ramsey, Speightstown Syndicate A day after Locked hit 96 on the Beyer scale making his second start in a Saratoga maiden, we got General Partner at a 92 in his second race. This was a strong performance, no question, but for route races upcoming one would have to rate Locked the better prospect, not just because of his superior figure, but that he went one mile and just has a smoother, better way of going than General Partner. General Partner probably has more speed than Locked, but his stride, at this point, at least, doesn’t come together as fluidly as Locked’s. Third in his debut, General Partner took the lightest of bumps at the start and briefly was nearer last than first, but he was tapped for pace and gave it to his jockey, making the lead within the first half-furlong. General Partner sped along in front around the turn, got a mild challenge from a three-wide Jefferson Street between the five-sixteenths and the quarter poles, but Jefferson Street’s run was short-lived, and General Partner had no trouble holding clear Dive Bomber, the 8-5 favorite. The winner’s gallop-out, from what we were permitted to see, looked excellent. General Partner is deeply inbred to Mr. Prospector, has Northern Dancer on both sides of his pedigree, and on the tail line traces to major stamina source Stage Door Johnny. Generous Tipper Aug. 28, 6th race Ellis, MdSpWt70k Beyer: 86 1 mile 1:37.35 – 1st by 7 1/2 lengths b.c.2, Street Sense – Stopshoppingdebbie, by Curlin Noteworthy siblings: Mo Money Mo Honey (Uncle Mo, foaled 2019) – 3 for 3 race record, two 95 Beyers Auctions: Fasig-Tipton summer yearling 2022 – $130,000 Owner: Walking L Thoroughbreds Trainer: Kenny McPeek Breeder: Jeff and Melissa Prunzik He debuted on turf and showed nothing but was a much better second in a fast one-mile maiden race second time out before putting it all together here in this, his third start. The running line makes it look like he got a better trip than he did. Generous Tipper broke sharply and had an early lead, but a rival to the outside assumed command while not clearing, leaving Generous Tipper sitting second on the rail down the backstretch and into the turn. A sharp move past the half-mile pole put Generous Tipper on a short lead before the early pacesetter came right back to race alongside him, with another horse applying pressure three deep. That’s how they came into the stretch, but Generous Tipper, despite being pinned inside, had been going much easier than his two foes and quickly disposed of them in upper stretch. The margin widened to the wire, and the rider already was shutting his mount down at the finish, which is why nearly the entire field galloped out past Generous Tipper. Like the incremental progress as opposed to a big debut number. All but sure to get a stakes shot next time out.