Thursday's Top Performers in Horse Racing: Speed Figures and Maiden Victories
On Thursday, July 17, 2026, the world of horse racing witnessed remarkable performances, with several equine athletes demonstrating exceptional speed and prowess across various tracks. This report delves into the standout contenders, focusing on those who achieved the highest speed figures as calculated by Horse Racing Nation's advanced AI system, alongside a special mention of the day's most impressive maiden winners. These analyses offer a glimpse into the potential of these thoroughbreds and the evolving landscape of performance metrics in equestrian sports.
Two horses, Reverend Moon and Great Sword, distinguished themselves by achieving the highest Horse Racing Nation (HRN) speed figure of 120. Reverend Moon, a five-year-old gelding by Omaha Beach, showcased his dominance at Delaware Park in a six-furlong dirt race. Under the guidance of trainer Bruce Kravets, he commanded the early pace, securing a victory by 1 3/4 lengths. This marked his third win in twelve starts this year and his sixth career triumph. Simultaneously, Great Sword, a four-year-old Candy Ride gelding, earned his 120 HRN speed figure in a turf mile event at Horseshoe Indianapolis. After a mid-pack start, he surged forward to win by a length. Notably, he was claimed by trainer Raul de la Mora following this race, adding to his record of two wins in five seasonal outings and three career victories.
Among the maiden contenders, Kiss the Ring led the pack with a 114 HRN speed figure, also ranking as the third-highest overall for the day. This three-year-old Street Boss gelding, trained by Jesus Cruz, broke his maiden in a turf mile at Colonial Downs, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. His pedigree includes a strong lineage, with his third dam being the Grade 1 winner Cara Rafaela, known for producing Preakness winner Bernardini. Following closely, Ati Girl, a three-year-old Nyquist filly, achieved a 111 HRN speed figure in a Saratoga maiden special weight race over 1 1/8 miles on dirt. Under trainer Bill Mott, she secured a 2 1/2-length victory, graduating in her ninth career start. Her half-brother, Nu What's New, is a notable force in the handicap division with two Grade 3 wins. Tuning In, a three-year-old Upstart gelding, made an impressive debut at Saratoga, earning a 108 HRN speed figure in a New York-bred dirt mile. Trained by James Bond, he claimed victory by half a length, showcasing his potential. His dam, Forever Smart, has produced several winners, including stakes-placed horses.
The HRN speed figures, generated by AI-driven machine learning algorithms, provide an objective assessment of horse performance, minimizing human bias often found in traditional methods. Launched in December 2024, these figures are designed to improve continuously and span a scale of 1 to 160, avoiding the inaccuracies associated with zero-speed figures in weaker races. While HRN speed figures are published weekly on individual horse profiles, daily reports emphasize performances at top and mid-tier tracks, which typically yield the highest figures. Historical data from 2021 to 2024 shows competitive win rates for top HRN figures (26.2%), comparable to Beyer figures (28.1%) and TimeformUS figures (28.4%).
The daily race outcomes consistently highlight the ongoing quest for speed and excellence within the horse racing community, driven by both the inherent talent of the horses and the innovative analytical tools employed to measure their success.