Chasing Aces sets a Del Mar speed record

The colt Chasing Aces wiped a 52-year-old track record from the books and posted the highest Beyer Speed Figure of the year among 2-year-olds with a dazzling victory against maidens on Sunday.

He sped five furlongs in 56.21 seconds while winning by 5 1/4 lengths over the well-regarded Straight Fire, who was another 5 1/2 lengths in front of the rest of the field.

The race was fast on raw time and when adjusted for the speed of the track, too. It came back a 101 from Team Beyer.

“Wow,” trainer Peter Miller said when informed of the figure. Miller said he would run Chasing Aces next in the Grade 2, $200,000 Best Pal on Aug. 13 or wait until the Grade 1, $300,000 Del Mar Futurity on closing day, Sept. 5.

Chasing Aces, by Flatter, was making his second start Sunday. He had finished second in his debut June 25 at Santa Anita. Straight Fire, a colt by Dominus, was racing for the first time.