Each week in this space, the top Beyer performances by maiden winners will be featured and analyzed. Click here for a complete archive.
Justique
July 31, 8th race Del Mar, MdSpWt82.5k
Beyer: 72
5 1/2 furlongs, 1:04.29 – 1st by 2 1/4 lengths
b. f. 2, Justify – Grazie Mille, by Bernardini
Saratoga | Race 5 | Post Time 3:21 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
Flashy maiden winners burst on the scene last week at Del Mar and Saratoga. Summer must be in full swing if the weekly notebook is mostly focused on 2-year-olds. Time to dive in.
Justique: West Coast wonder
A star is born. She is Justique, who broke dead last in her sprint debut July 31 at Del Mar. For the 2-year-old Justify filly trained by John Shirreffs, the start seemingly cost her all chance.
“After she broke so poorly, I was like, well, let’s hope she makes a nice run at the end,” Shirreffs said. “And she did.”
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Saratoga | Race 8 | Post Time 4:59 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
Saratoga | Race 7 | Post Time 4:18 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up
Laurel Park hosts a multiple-stakes card, and Woodbine has the Niagara, but the focus this last Saturday in July are boutique meets at Saratoga and Del Mar.
If the racing secretary really wanted to make things interesting in the Vanderbilt Handicap, co-featured at Saratoga, he’d have packed more weight on Jackie’s Warrior. As it is, six pounds isn’t nearly enough for a horse like the sharp Ny Traffic.
