Last week’s Pick, Johnny Casino, folded his hand early but we did see 11 BreezeFigs maidens win across the country during the week, at: Aqueduct (two), Delta Downs, Gulfstream (four, including a BreezeFigs trifecta and BreezeFigs exacta), Oaklawn and Santa Anita (three, including a BreezeFigs trifecta and BreezeFigs exacta). Today’s card has a paucity of first-timers, but there are two intriguing plays you might consider, see below.

Santa Anita | Race 6 | Post Time 3:00 p.m. (PT) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

It’s a solid Saturday of winter stakes action across America, with an emphasis on the 3-year-olds.

I’m very interested to see Taraz make her two-turn debut at Oaklawn in the Martha Washington Stakes, but not very interested in betting her at something like 1-5. If she does anything to these fillies like what she did to her opponents in a Churchill maiden race and in the Letellier Stakes at Fair Grounds, her connections could take a shot against males in the Rebel Stakes.

Aqueduct | Race 7 | Post Time 3:55 p.m. (ET) | Go to the TimeformUS PPs | Not already a TimeformUS member? Sign up

FORTLITE

Trainer: Dale Bennett

Last race: Jan. 25, 3rd

Finish: 1st by 5 1/2

Beyer: 62

Impressive score here, not surprising given the sharp works leading up to this sprint. Expecting him to rise out of the claiming ranks for his next but he should handle better if he's able to run back to this race.

BURN THE BOATS

Trainer: Leon McKanas

Last race: Jan. 25, 8th

RING LEADER

Trainer: Mac Robertson

Last race: Jan. 24, 9^th

Finish: 1^st by 5 1/4

Beyer: 77

She separated herself from her rivals in the stretch run of a first-level allowance sprint for 3-year-old fillies, improving her career record to 2 for 2. The start was the first since June for the daughter of Paynter.

READY TO ROLL

Trainer: Bret Calhoun

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

Kingpin

Jan. 20, 6th race, Fair Grounds, MdSpWt40k

FIRE WHEN READY

Trainer: Jeff Mullins

Last race: Jan. 25, 3rd

Finish: 2nd by head

Beyer: 72

Could have won race at odds-on but lugged in through lane. Claimed for $12,500 by Mullins from Bob Hess Jr. Assuming new trainer remedies lugging in, can win next.

REGAL BEAUTY

Trainer: Bob Baffert

Last race: Jan. 26, 3rd

Finish: 2nd by head

Beyer: 63

GAUZY

Trainer: Cathal Lynch

Last race: Jan. 26, 1st

Finish: 2nd by 2 3/4

Beyer: 56

Tonalist half-sister to stakes winner Fact Finding broke slowly, then raced wide around both turns in route debut over sealed, muddy track. Gave a strong bid in the stretch only to falter a bit in the final half-furlong. She's bred for route races and shouldn't be long for the maiden ranks.

CORT'N ASONG 

Trainer: Hugh McMahon

Before the international calendar became saturated with multimillion-dollar stakes for older horses, the handicap division was not typically a hot topic in the month of January.

It changed when winter-spring became the new summer-fall. The richest races now are the earliest – the $3 million Pegasus in January at Gulfstream Park, inaugural $20 million Saudi Cup in February in Saudi Arabia, and $12 million Dubai World Cup in March.