The GQ Approach – Timonium August 24

On the track at Timonium. Photo by The Racing Biz.

The GQ Approach features full-card selections from Timonium Fair Grounds for the 7 days of live racing during the Maryland State Fair (Aug. 24-26; Aug. 31, Sept. 1-3), Post Time 1:05pm EDT including a daily Best Bet, Longshot Play, and multi-race wagers — including the 20 cent Jackpot Pick-6, 50 cent Early and Late Pick-5s, as well as Pick-4s and rolling Doubles, Pick-3s and the Super High-5.

• Weather: Mostly Sunny, highs in the mid-80s
• Projected track conditions: Main – FAST 

1st Race Post Time 1:05pm EDT

Race 1

1. #1 – Clickjab (2-1): *** BEST BET *** Sent out by C. Gonzalez who seeks Big T trainers title 3-peat; drops from $8k open claimer at Prx while all foes except one (#4 at Pen) exit conditional claimers
2. #6 – Goodbyeseeulater (5-2): 7 y.o. makes 3rd start in a 20-day span; honest runner has only failed to hit the board when having a troubled trip
3. #7 – Demon Buster (9-2): Gritty win v. stablemate in latest came last month at Lrl bottom level; has a win and 3rd in 3 starts at this distance

Race 2

1. #6 – Choice Prospect (4-1): Been trying to make a living on turf for higher purses; 0 for 7 on fast dirt track but held her own early on versus better 
2. #2 – Big Bad Ben (3-1): Steeler nation will be all over this one; speed from the rail is the key on class drop and cut back to half mile
3. #4 – Change Is Coming (8-1): Better than his latest when stumbled at the start as he is like a bullet from the gate; runner-up here last year; barn loads up for this meet

Race 3

1. #5 – Dirty Laundry (9-2): Away since Dec. but likes TIM oval (2:1-1-0) due to her 4-furlong stamina; protected via Waiver Claiming rule
2. #1 – County Club (7-2): Game filly seeks natural Hat Trick after a pair of wins by a whisker; shortest distance between 2 points is the rail at the track
3. #6 – Sweethearted (8-5): Has class edge and gets dream setup to pounce on leg-weary speedsters late but could run out of real estate in the short stretch

Race 4

1. #6 – Young American (6-5): Speed figs tower over today’s foes; has been burning bettors money failing as PT fav. in last 2 of 3 outing
2. #1 – Super Buddy (8-1): Equipment malfunction (saddle slipped) cost this gray in latest, his first start in 6-months; expect better effort today
3. #3 – Expedited Vision (3-1): Speed of the speed adds blinkers but could make him too keen to win on stretch-out, though skilled bull ring jock might be able to nurse him through soft early fractions

Race 5

1. #6 – Tel Aviv (3-1): MD-bred Temple City FTS sent out by 4,000+ race winning trainer J. Runco won wins at 30% clip debut runners; tweeted video of this one schooling at CT so she could be special and gets barn Go-To rider in irons
2. #8 – Hickory Made (6-1): Trainer J. Lawrence went 1 for 1 here last year; though woeful with FTS like the work tab and Acosta in irons; MD-bred by departed sire El Padrino out of a Closing Argument mare who was 0 for 3 in her career
3. #7 – Nosey Josy (9-2): Bridesmaid in debut versus just four foes after original betting favorite and second choice acted up in the gate and were scratched; will need to improve off coming home in 7+ seconds 

Race 6

1. #5 – A Lotta Wine (6-1): $$$ LONGSHOT $$$ Had an excused when badly beaten PT favorite in first start v. winners; needs a smart ride from 7 lb. bug  
2. #2 – King of the Jungle (5-1): Third start after layoff as BRIS#s are ascending; 0 for 4 on dirt as lone win came on turf; could steal it on the front end  
3. #8 – Riteamontofmschief (8-1): Second start with blinkers often yields positive ROI; cut backs from two-turn efforts at Pen versus better; small outfit looking for first win of ‘18  

Race 7

1. #5 – Come On Callie (3-1): Adds Lasix for second start; won debut at Del v. $25kMCL foes after she dumped jock and ran off pre-race; one of two on the 9-race card for trainer J. Ness 
2. #6 – Knock Out Kid (3-1): Nearly fell exiting gate which gave her no shot in latest; expecting third start to closer resemble her debut win
3. #3 – Call Me Jelly Roll (8-1): Something must have been amiss in latest, first after claim as jock never asked her to run from the far turn; adds blinkers and jock A. Castrenze who’s 2 for 5 w/ trainer J. O’Dwyer

Race 8

1. #4 – Hard Hitter (3-1): Claimed out of his last two starts takes obligatory step up in class; gets a stalking trip to catch plethora of speed
2. #6 –  Took Over (5-1): Took advantage of four lesser rivals in depleted Lrl off the turf event; question whether he can get this distance as he backed up to 6th as fav. in only try going 6 1/2f
3. #5 – Sir Rockport (6-1): Needs to improve greatly over last three races but this is the best place to return to form; just 1 for 26 on a fast track

Race 9

1. #3 – I Came to Party (9-5): Has top Prime Power# as this lone entry for trainer J. Reynolds competed in OC$25k just 8 months ago; hasty drop in second outing off claim just to pay bills?
2. #6 – Beauziggity (7-2): First start after trainer E. Geralis claim who wins at a 25% clip in this scenario and drops a level; longtime local fan/owner loves getting Big T Winners’ Circle photo
3. #8 – Alarming (20-1): Runner-up her last year when in against $16k going shorter than today; has encountered traffic in past few; prior to that competitive   

Yesterday’s News

• On Sunday, August 19 at Laurel had 6 winners from the 10-race card (3 Top Selections; payoff in BOLD below).
• Top Selections are 292 for 1025 (28.49%). In 2017, Top Selections went 340 for 1,197 (28.40%). The payoffs of the day’s winners…
  • R1: $6.40
  • R2: $3.20
  • R3: xxx
  • R4: $6.80
  • R5: $6.20
  • R6: xxx
  • R7: $3.80
  • R8: xxx
  • R9: xxx
  • R10: $9.80
• Of the suggested multi-race wagers, did not hit any.
• BEST BET of the Day (103:28-27-9; in 2017 119: 39-25-19) Rap Top (3rd race: 7-2 M/L; 2-1 PT) stalked the pace, circled the far turn three deep and gave way to finish fourth.
• LONGSHOT PLAY of the Day (100:16-20-11; in 2017 107: 18-13-15) Drosselmoon (6th race: 15-1 M/L; 15-1 PT) lost ground four to five wide on the turn, raced in range to about the five-sixteenths pole then gave way to finish ninth.