Five Fastest Maidens, Presented By Taylor Made: Oct. 6-13

5. (tie) BLAST FURNACE, KEE, 10/8, 1 mile 1/8th (turf) (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-83
(g, 4, by The Factor–Aliquippa, by Yes It's True)
O-Three Diamonds Farm. B-EH Beau Lane (Ky). T-Mike Maker. J-Luis Saez.
This should sound familiar: Maker gets new horse in barn, runs him longer distances on grass, and improvement ensues. Blast Furnace was transferred this summer by Three Diamonds to Maker, who ran him 1 5/16 miles and then got this MSW victory at 1 1/8 miles.

5. (tie) CUT TO THE CHASE, KEE, 10/12, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-83
(f, 3, by Complexity–Listen to Libby, by Indian Charlie)
O-Thomas Bachman. B-Brereton Jones (Ky). T-Wesley Ward. J-Victor Espinoza.
In her second start, Cut to the Chase led all the way for a sharp 4 3/4 length Keeneland score. Owner Thomas Bachman–who previously raced Grade II winner Kehoe Beach with Ward–bought the filly for $375,000 at Keeneland September 2023 from Airdrie Stud's Brereton Jones, exactly one week before Jones' death.

4. SIMPLE SONG, SA, 10/10, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-88 (2nd)
(g, 3, by Munnings–Serene Melody, by Street Cry)
O-Muir Hut Stables. B-Lewis Thoroughbred Breeding. T-Mark Glatt. J-Kazushi Kimura.
He proved no match for the latest Zedan/Baffert freight train Jude (see below), but all things considered his debut second was highly encouraging–as is his pedigree. His dam Serene Melody was a minor stakes winner, but her dam was 11-time Grade I winner and Hall of Famer Serena's Song.

3. JUDE, SA, 10/10, 6 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-93
(c, 3, by Uncle Mo–Helena Bay (GB), by Johannesburg)
O-Zedan Racing Stables. B-Runnymede Farm, Peter Callahan and Three Chimneys Farm (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez.
Baffert's soon-to-be 2026 3-year-olds will sort themselves out eventually, but his Derby hopeful list continues to grow. Amr Zedan's $2-million yearling purchase Jude, named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', debuted with a sharp 2 1/2-length victory in fast time–and he broke slowly, then rallied from last. He's a half-brother to former Baffert star Collected, whose remarkable 2017 run began with four straight stakes wins including the GI Pacific Classic, followed by a second to Gun Runner in the GI Breeders' Cup Classic.

2. COFFEE TALK, KEE, 10/9, 6 1/2 furlongs (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-94
(g, 3, by Medaglia d'Oro–Desert Legacy, by Tapit)
O/T- David Jacobson. B-Godolphin (Ky). J-Jose Ortiz.
Fifteen months ago, Jacobson purchased Godolphin owned-and-bred 4-year-old Banishing at auction for $80k. At the time, Banishing had made $100,000 on the track; since the purchase he has earned $1.8 million and is being pointed for the Breeders' Cup Sprint. This summer, Jacobson went back to the Godolphin well, spending $30,000 at Ellis Park to claim Coffee Talk, who had made $14,443 in five starts with a top Beyer of 76. Jacobson ran him back for $50,000 and got a 10 3/4-length win with a 94 Beyer. The bad news for Jacobson: Coffee Talk was claimed again out of the race, this time by Linda Rice.

1. FURTHER ADO, KEE, 10/10, 1 mile 1-16th (VIDEO)
Beyer Speed Figure-98
(c, 2, by Gun Runner–Sky Dreamer, by Sky Mesa)
O-Spendthrift Farm. B-John Oxley (Ky). T-Brad Cox. J-Irad Ortiz, Jr.
Further Ado, named a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', is now being pointed for the Nov. 29 GII Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes after this 20-length romp continued Spendthrift's remarkable October run. His 98 Beyer tied Ted Noffey for the second-fastest 2-year-old figure of the year behind only Brant's 101. His female side traces back to Oxley's champion mare Beautiful Pleasure.