August 26 racing: Maiden races highlight Big T kickoff

TODAY’S ACTION: Pair of maiden events highlighted at Big T

• Tracks in action: Monmouth Park, Laurel Park, Penn National, Charles Town

Friday marks the opening day of the brief Timonium meet during the Maryland State Fair and the opening card offers several intriguing contests, including a pair of maiden special events for two-year-old fillies.

Friday’s fourth race is a one-turn dash at four furlongs for the two-year-old fillies, with one-half of the compact field of six comprised of Maryland-breds looking to defend their home state’s honor and three others bred elsewhere.

Lady Spot (6-1), a Maryland-bred daughter of Cal Nation out of an Artax mare, draw the rail for her career debut for trainer Robert Leaf, Jr. Chips Icluded (4-1) has tried maiden claimers at Laurel and Pimlico for trainer John Salzman, Jr. and was second in one outing, while Next Street (4-1), a daughter of Street Magician trained by Salzman, has finished second once and third once in six winless outings.

Wild Cheers (8-5), the morning line favorite, finished a sharp second in her career debut at Monmouth Park against maiden $40,000 claimers for trainer Jose Corrales and will likely go postward as the favorite off that effort, while Called In Sick (7-2) and Socially Driven (10-1) both make their respective career debuts for trainers Phil Schoenthal and Wayne Potts, respectively.

Then two races later in a two-turn maiden special weight at the about distance of 6 1/2-furlongs, the field of eight freshmen fillies is equally divided between four state-breds and four others looking to garner their diplomas for their respective owners.

Maryland-breds Sommer Something (10-1) and morning line favorite Holiday Magician (5-2) will look to defend the local honors. Sommer Something, a Bonita Farm product trained by Kevin Boniface, was sixth against maiden $15,000 claimers at Delaware Park in her lone start, while Holiday Magician, a daughter of Harlan’s Holiday trained by Michael Trombetta, makers her career debut for owner-breeder R. Larry Johnson.

Daniella (20-1) will make her Maryland debut after three nondescript efforts at Delaware Park for trainer Carla Morgan and owner-breeder Lady Olivia Northcliff, LLC, of Virginia, while West Virginia-bred Tapthestar (15-1) makes her career debut for trainer Anthony Farrior and owner-breeder James F. Miller.

Spicy Girl Red (8-1), a daughter of Preakness and Belmont Stakes winner Point Given, arrives off three tries against maiden claimers for trainer Hamilton Smith. Thirst For Truth (7-2) was seventh in her career debut against maiden special weight foes then was fourth against maiden claimers for trainer Cathal Lynch. Mischievous Star (4-1) was seventh on the Laurel turf against maiden special weight foes in her career debut for Salzman, while Summer Of Joy (7-2), a daughter of Sky Mesa, makes her career debut for trainer Rudy Rodriguez.