• John Piassek
• August 25, 2023

John Piassek is here to provide Timonium picks and analysis for every day of live racing at the Maryland State Fair.

Post time: 12:25 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6: $0

Jackpot Super High 5: $0

Late Pick 5: $0

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $5,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 1 MILE

1. #2 – Remastered (5-2): Showed speed for the first time last out and faded while wide; should save more ground here. 
2. #1 – Union League (2-1): Races first off the claim by top trainer Anthony Farrior and faces the easiest field he’s seen in a while.
3. #6 – Spunky Irishman (5-2): Improved a bit second off the layoff last out.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

1. #3 – Thunder Boss (2-1): She runs her best races when she gets to the front going shorter, and she looks fast enough to secure the rail and the lead.  
2. #4 – Watch Me Disappear (4-1): Stopped badly last out but showed good speed and held well in prior two efforts.
3. #1 – Ellie Victorina (5-2): Should sit off the pace on the rail and get a minor share, like she’s done in her last few.  

RACE 3: CLAIMING $25,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

1. #1 – By Its Absence (5-1): Chased the pace while wide last out and tired; should be able to control the tempo from the rail this time.
2. #5 – Nick’s Little Boy (9-2): Broke his maiden impressively in his dirt debut last out and now tries winners for the first time.
3. #4 – Great Days Ahead (9-2): Has a great late kick but that might not play as well here as it does on the big tracks.                        

RACE 4: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

1. #4 – Connecting Flight (2-1): Ran a big race to win at Charles Town last out while racing wide on the pace.   
2. #2 – Stormin’ Amanda (3-1): Gets a much-needed cutback in distance and will show speed from the inside.
3. #6 – Miss Antietam (5-1): The wire came in time for her to break her maiden three starts ago after lasting through pace pressure; well-beaten in last two but now cuts back from a mile.               

RACE 5: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

1. #5 – Top Boss (9-5): Won five times over the winter and spring at Laurel but might’ve bitten off more than he could chew last out; has a good recent workout in preparation for his return.          
2. #2 – His Name is Sue (2-1): Has very in-and-out form but his best probably wins this.     
3. #6 – Seanow (6-1): He’s lost three close finishes in a row and should prompt the pace on the outside here.

RACE 6: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $16,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 4 FURLONGS

1. #1A – Spicy Margarita (4-1): Looks the fastest early in a race full of speed and has worked well since going to the sidelines in mid-May.  
2. #3 – Miner’s Gem (5-2): Stalked the pace and won first off the layoff last out; her two best races might’ve been her last two dirt tries.
3. #4 – Always Something (6-1): Trainer Kevin Patterson is 4-for-5 at Timonium over the past three meets.       

RACE 7: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 4 FURLONGS

1. #7 – Divine Magic (1-1): Led most of the way and faded last out in a much-improved effort from her first three races.   
2. #6 – Beach Island (10-1): Trainer Kerri Raven is 4-for-13 with first-time starters since the start of 2020.            
3. #1 – Kapatude (3-1): Was well-bet on debut at Delaware but flattened out after showing mild speed; has a good workout since then and faces easier.

RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 MILE

1. #6 – Prize Debate (30-1): Went gate-to-wire last out and should be used aggressively in a largely paceless affair.
2. #9 – Hazardous Humor (3-1): Ran a big race to finish second at Monmouth last out but runs the risk of another wide trip.     
3. #4 – Tweet Away Robin (6-1): Drops in class for her first start off the layoff.         

RACE 9: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

1. #2 – Chica Rabiosa (9-2): Showed speed and faded in her last dirt start, now gets a much-needed cutback from a mile.
2. #8 – Viking Queen (9-5): Closed well for third on grass first off the layoff last out; likes to get second or third but is 1-for-21 since the start of 2022.
3. #4 – Performanceanxiety (5-2): Didn’t do much last out but closed to get up over a next-out winner two races ago.