Our list is topped this week by the fastest maiden performance in six years.5. BOGUS OPERANDI, SAR, 9/3-8th, 6 1/2 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure- 85 (VIDEO)(g, 3, by Maximus Mischief–Blame It On Dixie, by Blame)O-Dennis Narlinger. B-Beau Lane (Ky). T-Rick Dutrow. J-John Velazquez.Judging from the Equibase footnotes that stated he was given a “very strong warmup,” Velazquez's plan was to go to the front–and it worked. In his second start, Bogus Operandi needed to run fast to clear the competition (:21.62 and :44.52), but he opened two lengths and wasn't seriously threatened. 4. SMASHING MACHINE, DMR, 9/5-1st, 6 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure- 93 (Runner Up) (VIDEO)(c, 3, by Charlatan–Overjoyed, by Medaglia d'Oro)O-Patti & Hal Earnhardt. B-Jack Swain III (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Drayden Van Dyke.The $200,000 yearling battled with Practical Jack (below) from the start and was second-best despite a 17-point Beyer jump in his second lifetime start after beginning his career on grass (Baffert's 34th first-timer on turf in five years compared to 299 on dirt). His dam never achieved black-type status but is a half-sister to MGSW War Story (Northern Afleet) and GSW Land Over Sea (Bellamy Road). Pharocity | Sarah Andrew3. PHAROCITY, SAR, 9/5-7th, 7 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure- 93 (VIDEO)(c, 2, by American Pharoah–O Seraphina, by Congrats)O/B-Scott/Evan Dilworth & Randy Andrews (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. J-Ricardo Santana Jr.He was somewhat overshadowed by the earlier romp of U. S. S. Valor (below), but he delivered stylishly in the other division of the split maiden special weight six races later. He also set modest early fractions and drew off impressively. Pharocity was a $275,000 RNA yearling and his stakes-placed dam was acquired by the current connections for $180,000 as a yearling. 2. PRACTICAL JACK, DMR, 9/5-1st, 6 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure- 95 (VIDEO)(g, 3, by Practical Joke–Bring Joy, by Twirling Candy)O-Cami Cottam. B-EICO Ventures (Ky). T-Val Brinkerhoff. J-T.J. Pereira.This is what steady fig improvement looks like: a debut 51 Beyer in June, followed by a 58 on turf, a 78 when showing sharp speed in a half-length loss for $32,000 claiming, and now 95 after being gelded. He went right after Baffert-trained Smashing Machine (above) from the break and edged away late. His dam was unraced, but the pedigree page shows SWs under the second through the fourth dam. 1. U. S. S. VALOR, SAR, 9/5-1st, 7 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure-105 (VIDEO)(c, 2, by War of Will–Spangled Banner, by Tiz Wonderful)O/B-Team Valor International (Ky). T-Shug McGaughey. J-Manny Franco.And just like that, we have an early favorite for the Breeders' Cup Juvenile–at least from a speed-figure standpoint. Fast maiden races at Saratoga run in U. S. S. Valor's family: his half-brother Expressman (Liam's Map) ripped off a 107 debut Beyer in 2022, after which Team Valor's Barry Irwin astutely acquired dam Spangled Banner 17 days later for $225,000 in a digital sale. He promptly got U. S. S. Valor, whose 3rd-place finish in his first start was encouraging but judging from his performance Saturday was an effective learning experience. The post Five Fastest Maidens For The Week Of Aug. 31-Sept. 6 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.