FARRIOR AND GRAHAM EARN TOP TRAINER BONUSES AS TIMONIUM CLOSES SEVEN-DAY MEET

The Maryland State Fair at Timonium concluded its seven-day race meet Monday, September 7, with Anthony Farrior and Robin Graham each earning $5,000 awards from the $20,000 Timonium Trainer’s Bonus Program. The meet, which opened August 28, featured 58 races and a memorable upset by the Pedro Nazario-trained For the Ladies in the $75,000 Shine Again Stakes.

The trainer bonus program offered two categories based on starts from January 1 through July 31, 2026: 65 or more starts and 64 or fewer starts. Horses making a second start during the Timonium meet did not earn an additional participation point.

Farrior accumulated 68 points to lead the category for 65 or more starts, followed by Jose Corrales with 51 points and a $2,500 award. A. Ferris Allen III earned $1,500 with 33 points, John Robb collected $600 with 31 points, and John Salzman Jr. received $400 with 23 points.

Graham topped the category for 64 or fewer starts with 18 points, narrowly finishing ahead of Justin Nixon, who earned $2,500 with 17 points. Mike Geralis and Damon Dilodovico tied with 13 points and received $1,050 apiece, while Marco Salazar earned $400 with seven points.

The meet’s stakes highlight came August 29, when For the Ladies gave trainer Nazario his first stakes victory in his first stakes attempt. With Raul Mena aboard, the 3-year-old daughter of Upstart prevailed at nearly 20-1 in the Shine Again, completing 6½ furlongs in 1:18.49 on a fast track.

For the Ladies finished a neck ahead of Conquerthosewecan, with Mudslide another neck back in third. She returned $41.80 for a $2 win wager and extended her winning streak to three. Nazario had claimed her for $25,000 two starts earlier.

Total wagering for the seven-day meet reached $2,812,974, compared with $3,567,923 in 2025, a decline of 21.2%. Compared with the 2023 meet, which generated $4,819,579, handle declined $2,006,605, or 41.6%.

The meet recorded 318 starters across 58 races, averaging 5.48 starters per race, compared with 346 starters in 61 races and a 5.67 average last year.

The strongest wagering day was Friday, September 4, when handle reached $522,692. Monday’s closing program generated $375,068 in wagering and drew 47 starters.

Farrior captured the training title with eight victories from 22 starts. Corrales, Allen and Michael Simone each had three wins to tie for second. The leading jockeys were Jeiron Barbosa (11 wins), Carlos Lopez (10) and Angel Cruz (six). The leading owner was Valls Thoroughbreds (trainer Simone) with three victories from three starts.

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