Timonium picks and ponderings September 3, 2021

Horses approach the gate at Timonium. Photo: The Racing Biz

In which we pick the races from Timonium each day…

Post time: 12:40 p.m.

Carryovers: Rainbow Jackpot Pick 6 — $230 Super High 5 — $105 Late Pick 5 — $0

ANALYSIS

RACE 1: MAIDEN CLAIMING $40,000, 2-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES, 4 FURLONGS

• 1-7-3-2
• Week two of Timonium gets underway with a field of 2-year-old fillies. #1 Miss Midnight (5/2) drops in class and cuts back from 5 1/2 furlongs. She showed speed and faded in her first two starts at Colonial Downs, but this race looks tailor-made for her. #7 I’m Gittin There (7/2) made her dirt debut in her last start, and improved her brisnet figure nine points, to a 68, when she was third despite having trouble keeping a straight course. #3 Miss Casey (4/1) goes first out for Anthony Farrior, who hits at 25% with debuters and puts Arnaldo Bocachica up. This one worked well at Timonium earlier in the year.

RACE 2: CLAIMING $5,000 (CONDITIONED), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 1 1/16 MILES

1-2-4-3

 #1 Bring Me Answers (2/1) battled on the lead at Delaware Park last out before giving it up late. Moves over to a speed-favoring track and should be able to control the tempo from the inside. #2 Parched Ghost (4/1) made up good ground to win going away at six furlongs against similar in June. She stretched out to a mile at Colonial last out, and ran on well for second. Will likely run on again and grab a piece of the exotics. #4 Simmard Shenanigan (3/1) has crossed the wire first in three of her last six races and has good tactical speed. 

RACE 3: CLAIMING $12,500, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

• 7-5-4-6
• #7 Slingin Sammy B (9/5) made her first start for Farrior last out at Charles Town, after going on a hot streak at Parx. She set the pace before fading. She’ll have to outrun #4 Magical Luna (5/1) for the lead from her inside, but if she can do that, she’ll be tough to catch. #5 Mortal Storm (5/1) has improved in all three of her races this year, peaking with an 84 earned in a second-place finish at Delaware in her last start. 

ANALYSIS

RACE 4: CLAIMING $5,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 4 FURLONGS

• 1-3-5-7
• #1 Jenna the Boss (2/1) ran a career-best figure of 73 in her first start at this level two races back, then was compromised by some gate antics and a poor break last out. If she cooperates here, she’s one of the fastest horses in the field and should take them all the way around. #3 Smooth Dancer (9/2) ran a career-top 65 in her local debut at Charles Town last out. She’ll likely press Jenna the Boss on the lead. #5 Yira (8/1) is relatively lightly-raced, goes second off a long break, and will press the lead from the outside. 

RACE 5 – MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 4 FURLONGS

• 3-2-4-1
• The two favorites in here both have boatloads of early speed. This race might come down to which one of them is faster. #3 Dew Dat (6/5) was the odds-on choice when she dropped to this level for the first time two races ago, in her first start off the layoff. She led most of the way before getting caught. To get to the front here, she’ll have to outrun #2 La Familia (5/2), who switches back from grass and almost took them gate-to-wire in each of her last two races at Delaware. #4 Candy Corner (6/1) improved sharply in her second career start, rallying from behind to miss second by just two lengths. This will be her first start since October 25. 

RACE 6: MAIDEN CLAIMING $10,000, 3, 4, AND 5-YEAR-OLDS, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

• 6-2-5-1
• #6 Mose Definitely (5/2) makes her fourth career start and drops for a career-low tag for Mike Trombetta. She got bet against better last out at Colonial, but was hung wide and was a well-beaten third. Workouts since then have been sharp. #2 Notion Interruptus (2/1) has the best last-out figure in the race, a 63, by six points. She was hung wide on the pace last out and faded; that shouldn’t happen here. #5 Guapa Chica (6/1) goes second off the layoff and off the claim by Linda Walters. She showed some promise last year at Charles Town, with figures as high as 69 in three starts there.

ANALYSIS

RACE 7, ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W1X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

• 6-1-5-3
• #6 Tweet Away Robin (2/1) has finished second in each of her last three starts, losing them by about a combined two lengths. She’s the only one who has run in the 80s in each of her last three races. #1 Corn off the Cob (3/1) ran a much-improved race third off the bench at Monmouth Park last out, surging for second with an 87. She’s very dangerous if she keeps moving forward. #5 Tam Char (9/2) dueled her partner into a 17 1/4-length defeat at this level at Pimlico last out, and held on to finish third. That was the first time she had really shown speed; it may be prudent to show it again.
• RACE 8: ALLOWANCE OPTIONAL CLAIMING (N/W2X), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, 1 1/16 MILES

• 7-4-6-5
• This is the only race of the day for the boys. #7 Singlino (5/2) has improved his figure in his five consecutive races, peaking at a 95 when he won a n/w1x allowance optional claiming race gate-to-wire at Delaware last out. Not the best draw for him, but he looks fast enough to get to the lead anyway. #4 Glory Song (5/2) also has a chance of making the early lead, and hasn’t run worse than an 88 while racing at Parx for Jamie Ness. I don’t know how his form will translate here, but at the least, he should press the pace. #6 Walk Away Joe (4/1) has some of the best late pace figures in the race, and won two in a row at Pimlico against decent with a strong middle move. He’ll be right there if the leaders end up burning each other out. 
• RACE 9: CLAIMING $5,000 (N/W2L), 3-YEAR-OLDS AND UP, FILLIES AND MARES, 6 1/2 FURLONGS

• 4-6-7-8
• #4 Competent (6/1) continues to drop in class and looks to bounce back from a wide trip at Charles Town last out. She’ll be a major factor on the early pace. Angel Cruz, who had a big opening weekend, gets the mount from Bocachica. #6 Sheriff’s Kid (9/2) also got hung very wide last out, and missed a lifetime top by a few points, earning a 64. She’ll rate in mid-pack early on. #7 Miner’s Gem (5/2) steadily runs in the 60s and switches back to dirt. Should relish the drop in class but runs the risk of getting caught wide with her post and stalking running style. 

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