Four different racetracks are represented in this week's top five.5. EPISIST, KD, 9/7-1st, 1 5/16 miles (turf)Beyer Speed Figure-82 (VIDEO)(f, 4, by Outwork–Silent Candy, by Candy Ride (Arg))O/B-Westwind Farms (Ky). T-Steve Asmussen. J-Jose Ortiz.He squeezed in two races at Kentucky Downs: a strong runner-up at 1 1/2 miles (and since upgraded to an 81 Beyer) followed eight days later by this decisive 1 5/16-mile win earning the number five spot in a tiebreaker due to 124 pounds carried. Those two were by far his best races, and his connections (the Bowling Green-based Harris family has been breeding for a half-century) are hoping he isn't a Kentucky Downs specialist–although $130,000 in purse earnings every year would be nothing to sneeze at. 4. DARGHAM, SAR, 9/7-7th, 6 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure-83 (VIDEO)(c, 2, by Army Mule–Jeanne's Speight, by Speightstown)O-IEE Racing, Winning Move Stable, Poe Racing Stable, Silverwood Stables and Sanford Robbins. B-Amaroo Farm and Autrey Bloodstock (Ky). T-Linda Rice. J-Ricardo Santana Jr.He progressed from a $95,000 yearling to a $500,000 2-year-old and began his career with this solid frontrunning victory. The all-star in his pedigree is a few decades back: third dam Jeanne Jones famously blew a 6-length lead with Bill Shoemaker in the final quarter of the 1987 Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies after taking a bad step when (according to trainer Charlie Whittingham) she propped at the sight of photographers' cameras beneath the rail.Dargham | Sarah Andrew 3. IMPERIAL HONOR, DMR, 9/7-8th, 5 1/2 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure-85 (VIDEO)(c, 2, by Honor A.P.–Seeking Mo Jewel, by Nyquist)O-Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman. B-Stoneview Farm (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Juan Hernandez.A sharp 5 1/4-length debut score may not have Baffert and the Three Amigos immediately thinking turf, but Imperial Honor happens to be the first foal out of a two-years-older unraced half-sister to current grass star Deterministic (Liam's Map). That pedigree connection undoubtedly played some role in Imperial Honor's $725,000 valuation this April at Ocala. 2. COACH POPE, CD, 9/12-5th, 1 mileBeyer Speed Figure-86 (VIDEO)(c, 2, by Tapit–Gamble's Ghost, by Ghostzapper)O-Gainesway Stable, Shamrock Stables and Michael Mackin. B-Tall Oaks Farm and Tapit Syndicate (Ky). T-Ken McPeek. J-Jose Ortiz.Emerging from Saratoga's strongest maiden field, Coach Pope displayed graded-stakes-level talent with a strong pedigree to match. In that prior August 8 debut, he finished just ahead of U.S.S. Valor (War of Will), who returned with a 13 1/4-length win and gaudy 105 Beyer. In his return last Saturday, Coach Pope scored by 12 1/2 and was every bit as professional and impressive visually as that margin suggests. His namesake, Kentucky basketball coach Mark Pope, tweeted a photo of himself watching the race on his phone at halftime of the UK-Alabama football game.Congrats to @KennyMcPeek & @jose93_ortiz & Coach Pope sired by the legendary Tapit on a massive 12.5 length victory @ChurchillDowns today!AND CATS up by 4 at half! Let's Go! pic.twitter.com/lG7GxRomh9— Mark Pope (@CoachMarkPope) September 12, 20261. BIG JAKE, CD, 9/13-10th, 6 1/2 furlongsBeyer Speed Figure-95 (VIDEO)(c, 3, by Army Mule–Beyond Heavenly, by Uncle Mo)O-Jill Baffert. B-Matthew Davis (Ky). T-Bob Baffert. J-Flavien Prat.A veteran of Baffert's new Kentucky division who has made all four career starts at Churchill Downs, 3-year-old Big Jake stylishly dominated what appeared to be slightly easier rivals in a 7 3/4-length score. He was training last summer at Del Mar before suffering an apparent setback delaying his debut to this May–on the last race of Kentucky Derby day. Big Jake was acquired for $150,000 at Keeneland September 2024 on the same day GISW Bottle of Rouge (Vino Rosso) was bought earlier for $100,000; both tickets were signed by Big Sky Racing with both horses eventually racing for Baffert's wife. The post Five Fastest Maidens Of The Week For Sept. 7-13 appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.