Timonium picks AND PONDERINGS: AUGUST 30, 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.
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: MAIDEN CLAIMING $45,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #7 – First to Arrive (3-1): Opened up a long lead and kicked away in her last dirt start, only to
get caught late in a career-best effort. - #8 – Designer (9-2): Crossed the wire first on debut last September but was disqualified, now
makes her first start since then. - #2 – Red Hat Hanna (9-2): Crossed the wire first on debut last September but was disqualified, now
makes her first start since then.
RACE 2: CLAIMING $10,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 4 FURLONGS
- #4 – Molly of Stratford (2-1): Takes a drop in class and has a solid speed figure edge over this soft bunch.
- #5 – Miss Pearl Hart (9-5): Charles Town shipper broke her maiden in gate-to-wire fashion last out, and is fixing to repeat that effort.
- #1 – Vienna’s Twirl (4-1): Broke her maiden three starts ago when handled more patiently early; she’ll try to stalk the pace on the rail.
RACE 3: CLAIMING $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #3 – Catalina Cruzin (9-5): A repeat of any of her last three dirt efforts wins this without much trouble.
- #4 – Blue Trillion (2-1): She’s gone off-form in her last few starts but might return to her best self if she can make the early lead.
- #7 – Frosty Maya (9-2): Lightly-raced filly has early speed and room to improve.
RACE 4: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES
- #5 – Go Sherry Go (2-1): She’s faced better in her last few starts but should get her trip and get up over these.
- #6 – Sandra D (4-1): Led every step in her first local dirt start last out and is a threat to wire this group.
- #2 – Viennese Waltz (7-2): Look for her to do her best running in the final stages; she has the best late speed in the field.
RACE 5: STARTER OPTIONAL CLAIMING $20,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #5 – B West (5-2): He’s held his own against better in his last few and now finds a spot where he’s best on paper.
- #7 – Dee Jay (5-1): He’s done his best running in sprints lately and this is a sprint; the outside post is his only potential impediment.
- #4 – Backnthwoods (8-1): Improved sharply second off a four-month layoff last out and should get a nice trip in the middle of the
pack.
RACE 6: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 4 FURLONGS
- #6 – Bandits Warrior (2-1): She’ll need to break well, but her best race wins this; her niece broke her maiden here in exciting style on Sunday.
- #3 – Poggibonsi (3-1): She hasn’t raced in a while but has enough early speed to be a serious threat.
- #5 – Mendys Honey (5-2): Broke her maiden in dominant fashion on debut at Charles Town last out and now gets her
class test; can she compete with these?
RACE 7: STARTER ALLOWANCE $5,000, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #5 – Rock Rose (5-2): Won on the pace last out at Charles Town, beating some of today’s rivals in the process.
- #1 – Sapphire Beauty (4-1): Has tactical speed on the rail and should hang around for at least share.
- #6 – Divine Fashion (2-1): She was the winningest horse in the country last year and has solid form this year as well.
RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #6 – Stickwiththecolors (8-5): Just missed last out in PA against similar, and has room to improve.
- #1 – Flower Mound (3-1): The switch back to dirt and the claim by Anthony Farrior should help her out.
- #3 – Train Wreck (15-1): She has decent early speed and will try to secure the rail and the lead.
RACE 9: CLAIMING $25,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 6 1/2 FURLONGS
- #3 – All the Way (10-1): Ran a career-best race first off a nine-month layoff last out and looks like an upset threat against these.
- #7 – Dutch Mills (2-1): He’s run three big races in a row in DE; he’ll be tough if his form transfers to here.
- #4 – Buckin’ Dreamer (5-2): Fought on the lead and won last out; he was claimed by Anthony Farrior from that race.
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