Breakout Beyers: Shooters Shoot scores a 92

Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.

This period’s highest maiden-winning Beyer Speed Figure was the 93 Blackberry Wine put up in the fifth race March 14 at Oaklawn Park. Blackberry Wine, however, was only in a maiden race because a maiden win last fall at Churchill as well as a first-level allowance race win at Fair Grounds were taken from him because of post-race positives. Due to those circumstances, he won’t be included in this list.

SHOOTERS SHOOT

March 15, 1st race, Santa Anita, MdSpWt56k
Beyer: 92
1m, dirt good, 1:38.87
b. c. 3, Competitive Edge–Repeat, by Bernardini
Owner: ERJ Racing, Exline-Border Racing, Hudock
Trainer: Peter Eurton
Breeder: Nancy Shuford

Hard to believe he was 5-1 coming off a second-place finish to the mighty Charlatan, who had aired in an N1X allowance the previous day at Santa Anita. Maybe there were distance concerns in his first route, and while he won by open lengths, this was very much a fast early, slow-late race, and it looked to these eyes like he was pretty gassed a furlong out, suggesting he might not want to go farther than 1 1/16 miles, if that. Ran with his ears somewhat back but has a good stride rhythm and obviously is quite fast. Successful $300K pinhook and not the first horse by Competitive Edge to appear in this space.

EXTRAORDINARY

March 14, 8th race Gulfstream, MdSpWt43k
Beyer: 85
1m, dirt fast, 1:36.88
ch. c. 3, Speightstown–Fiftyshadesofhay, by Pulpit
Owner: WinStar Farm and China Horse Club
Trainer: Rodolphe Brisset
Breeder: Stonestreet Stables

Debuted Feb. 8 in a two-turn Tampa maiden-special won by subsequent Tampa Bay Derby show horse Texas Swing. Ran all right there but was much sharper in this one-turn mile. Performance highlight was extra gear he showed dashing away from pace rival before quarter pole. Coasted to victory from there, had a solid gallop-out, and likely gets two turns adequately in the end, though only other foal to race from dam is Locally Owned, best as a one-run sprinter. The dam was a middle-distance stakes horse, and it’s possible this colt gets into that same territory.

LONTANO

March 14, 5th race Fair Grounds, MdSpWt40k
Beyer: 81
5 1/2f, turf firm, 1:04.69
b. c. 3, Street Boss–Woodland Park, by Bernardini
Owner: Stonestreet Stables
Trainer: Mark Casse
Breeder: Ocala Stud

Colt debuted over a speed-biased turf course at Fair Grounds and finished second to blowout winner Kingpin (who ran a Breakout Beyer himself) before graduating very encouragingly second time out. Street Boss might well be the best turf-sprint sire in North America and a major turf-sprint influence Wildcat Heir shows up in this colt’s female family. Rated very nicely for jockey and came home with sparkling finish in an above-par maiden special weight score.

WONDRWHERECRAIGIS

March 13 3rd race Laurel Park, MdSpWt42k
Beyer: 83
6f, dirt fast, 1:10.55
b. g. 3, Munnings–Social Assassin, by Giant’s Causeway
Owner: Michael Dubb & The Elkstone Group
Trainer: Brittany Russell
Breeder: Fleur de Lis Stables

First foal to race from dam was withdrawn from a pair of 2-year-old sales after being purchased as a yearling. Not a lot of black type in immediate female family, and his best close relative is the ace sprinter Affirmed Success. Fair to wonder how much he beat in this, his career debut, and he did get a perfect trip tracking dueling leaders, but part of the reason he got that trip was a very professional performance.

ARTEMUS CITYLIMITS

March 14 1st race Turfway Park, MdSpWt46k
Beyer: 81
6f, Polytrack, 1:10.29
b. g. 3, Temple City–Dene Court, by City Zip
Owner: Ken and Sarah Ramsey
Trainer: Wesley Ward
Breeder: Gunpowder Farms

Gelding is the second foal to race from a two-time listed-stakes winner and somehow, despite these prominent connections, went to post at 8-1 for his debut. Showed inside speed, was passed at the furlong grounds by a rail-rallying foe, but came right back on that horse to win going away, impressive after setting a strong pace.

BIG SWEEP

March 14, 3rd race, Santa Anita, Cal-bred MdSpWt55k
Beyer: 83
6f, dirt fast, 1:10.59
b. f. 3, Mr. Big–Misszippityslewda, by City Zip
Owner: Red Baron’s Barn
Trainer: Mark Glatt
Breeder: George Krikorian

Debuted in blinkers breaking from fence and was no secret, going off at even-money. On the lead with another horse lapped on her flank until she burst clear past the three-furlong pole. It was that stretch, from midturn to upper stretch, that won her this race, as the runner-up gained late ground and whizzed past just after the finish, though, to be fair, Big Sweep had been eased up by then. Like the look of her stride but also looks like a sprinter, albeit an above-average one by California-bred standards.