Timonium picks AND PONDERINGS: AUGUST 25, 2024
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: Late Pick 5: $0
- What we learned on Maryland Juvenile Stakes dayHere’s what we learned at Laurel Park for Saturday’s Maryland Juvenile and Maryland Juvenile Filly Stakes.
RACE 1: CLAIMING $5,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
- #6 – Grace in Excess (9-2): She’s the only one in the field who hasn’t lost against winners, having gotten up to break her maiden in PA last out.
- #2 – Mucho Macho Myrtle (8-5): Only bad race within her last four starts came when caught very wide on a sealed track at Delaware Park; should get a much better setup on a fast track today.
- #1 – Bythenumbers (5-2): She made decent ground going shorter last out and might have finally found a field she can beat.
RACE 2: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #5 – Mission Artemis (7-2): Got up for third on debut in a race where the leaders never wilted; he’ll hope for a hot pace in front of him today.
- #6 – Summerinthecountry (9-5): Ran a big second two starts back, then found himself in over his head in stakes company in VA next out; these types are more in his wheelhouse.
- #1 – Casey N Pap (9-2): Improved sharply at second asking last out.
RACE 3: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 4 FURLONGS
- #1 – Perfect Edge (8-5): Ran a much-improved race when dropped in class last out and should benefit from another step down the ladder.
- #3 – Win No Joke (7-2): A repeat of either of his two performances at this level on dirt this year makes him a threat.
- #5 – Don’t Get Caught (3-1): Broke his maiden on the lead on debut, but flattened out when challenged on the pace last out; he’s sure to be sent for speed right away by Denis Araujo.
RACE 4: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 4 FURLONGS
- #2– Beach Cowboy (7-5): Should make the rail and the lead and leave them reeling from there.
- #6 – Jaisel (6-1): Scratched out of a tougher spot on Friday to run here; Katy Voss won with a first-time starter at a good price at Laurel Park on Aug. 16 and could do the same here.
- #4 – Reggiesscotchnsoda (15-1): Showed speed before fading last out and has room to improve at a price.
RACE 5: MAIDEN CLAIMING $25,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 4 FURLONGS
- #3 – Hit the Snooze (7-2): She’s from a win-early family; three of her siblings were first-out winners, and two went on to win stakes races as 2-year-olds.
- #2– Remembering Lizzy (3-1): Turned in a sharp gate workout at Laurel Park on Aug. 16, suggesting her speed has been well-honed for this dash.
- #6 – Inferno (8-1): Showed speed and stopped on debut but should at least benefit from the experience.
RACE 6: CLAIMING $16,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #5 – My Buddy Frank (9-5): He was well-bet at first asking and lived up to the hype with a dominant gate-to-wire 16-length win; should show speed once again.
- #3 – Frosty the Giant (7-2): Ran a game third in last year’s Timonium Juvenile and ran a much-improved second despite a bad start second off the bench.
- #1 – Bermuda Run (9-2): Showed speed and led the whole way two starts ago and is sure to be sent if he breaks cleanly.
RACE 7: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #5 – Rad Paisley (8-5): Scratched yesterday to run here; he looks like the controlling speed and has won in gate-to-wire fashion three times this year.
- #3 – Grey Streak (5-2): Goes first off the claim by Anthony Farrior and will take advantage if Rad Paisley can’t last on the front end.
- #1 – Retained (7-2): The other Farrior trainee ran some big races over the winter in MD and KY and will try to improve second off a three-month break.
RACE 8: MAIDEN SPECIAL WEIGHT, 2-YEAR-OLDS, 4 FURLONGS
- #4 – Empress Julia (2-1): Wesley Ward doesn’t come to MD, much less the big T, too often, but he’s shipping in this filly who improved sharply at second asking at Churchill Downs last out.
- #3 – Kissling (9-5): Led and faded on debut at Monmouth Park; adds blinkers here and comes in off a sharp gate workout.
- #6 – Possum (8-1): Guadalupe Preciado-trained gelding looks like the best of the first-time starters, with a solid worktab at his PA base.
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