Five Fastest Maidens – Jan. 5 – 11

5–POWERED BY FAMILY, FG 4, 1-10, 1m 70 yards (video)
Beyer Speed Figure–84
(f, 3, Quality Road–Icon Project, by Empire Maker)
O/B-St Elias Stable & West Point Thoroughbreds (KY); T-Cherie DeVaux; J-Jose Ortiz
Fast starts are not her thing, but the way she rolled from last to first and made up 14 lengths to win going away in her second appearance, Powered By Family stamped herself as a filly to watch. Her dam Icon Project has been mostly forgotten but here's a reminder: she ended her racing career in 2009 with a 13 1/4-length romp in the off-turf New York Stakes (106 Beyer) in June at Belmont, and a 13 1/2-length win in Saratoga's Personal Ensign (114 Beyer) in August.

3-(tie)–THE PUMA, GP 4, 1-10, 7f (video)
Beyer Speed Figure–85 (finished 2nd)
(c, 3, Essential Quality–Eve of War, by Declaration of War)
O-OGMA Investments, JR Ranch and High Step Racing. B-Hidden Brook Farm and Brian Kahn (KY); T-Gustavo Delgado; J-Javier Castellano.
Sent away a 2-1 favorite in his debut here, he got away a bit sluggishly then ran through the field to take command at the quarter pole only to be outfinished by Chief Wallabee while 9 1/4 lengths clear of the others. Three years ago, Gustavo Delgado unveiled Mage in a Jan. 28 Gulfstream maiden at seven furlongs and 3 1/2 months later won the Kentucky Derby.

3-(tie)–KOKOSAN, SA 6, 1-9, 1mT (video)
Beyer Speed Figure–85
(c, 4, Unified–Coldwater, by Hold Me Back)
O/B-Janavar Thoroughbreds (KY); T-John Sadler; J-Armando Ayuso
He had been running well enough in defeat that Sadler entered him in the Hollywood Derby–and he ran respectably despite 52-1 odds to be fifth and beaten three lengths. Back in maiden company, he dominated by 5 1/4 lengths and appears to be on the improve for owner-breeder Greg Bardakjian.

2–THUNDEROUSLY, GP 8, 1-10, 1 1/16m (video)
Beyer Speed Figure–87
(c, 3, Gun Runner–Princess Warrior, by Midshipman)
O-Wathnan Racing; B-Evan Trommer Jr, CDM Bloodstock & Crocket Farm (KY); T-Bill Mott; J-Junior Alvarado
At the top of the list are two first-timers unleashed Saturday at Gulfstream by Mott that created buzz. Thunderously not only was dominant in running clear by five lengths through the short stretch, he professionally took dirt along the inside to get there. Mott said he trains like a two-turn horse, thus that's where he got started. His dam won the GII Mrs. Revere Stakes and was significantly better on grass.

1–CHIEF WALLABEE, GP 4, 1-10, 7f (video)
Beyer Speed Figure–88 (TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard)
(c, 3, Constitution–A La Lucie, by Medaglia d'Oro)
O/B-Michael & Katherine Ball (KY); T-Bill Mott; J-Junior Alvarado
Just like Thunderously four races later, Chief Wallabee handled his racing debut like he'd done it a dozen times already. And it should be noted that Mott isn't known for his prowess with first-timers. It isn't unprecedented for a Mott runner to win on debut, but before Saturday it had happened with only 7 of his last 133 starters–and one of those was Sovereignty, who lost his first two starts before taking the Street Sense Stakes as a maiden.