Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, October 20 and Saturday, October 21, 2023

Wednesday, October 18, 2023

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RACE 1

3-Mask On Mask Off – When The Mask was on he took a mark of 1:53.1 here this season & returns to The Big M with a cozy inside draw in a soft division

 

6-Rock To Glory – 15YO just a few dollars shy of the magic $1M mark, fresh off a solid Big M qualifier & figures to be forwardly placed for Team Chiodo

 

5-Fire Light – Tries to rebound off a rare miscue over a sloppy track @ Freehold, rallied to hit the board as the beaten favorite in his most recent attempt here

 

RACE 2

1-Thinker Monkey – $500,000 brother to 2020 Trotter of the Year Gimpanzee tangled with Grand Circuit foes @ The Red Mile, his lone win came here in this series & lands the rail for Team Melander

 

4-Mosquito – $250,000 Muscle Hill brother to King Alphonso, Spy Booth, Periculum & Crown, solid runner up in the NJ Classic Final, forgive the miscue in Kentucky, plenty of talent & potential to kick off Lucas Wallin 1-2 punch

 

3-Life On The Bluf – $155,000 Walner colt started off two-for-two, including a sharp 1:55.2 rally over an off track here on September 8, chance to bounce back off a miscue @ Tioga Downs

 

RACE 3

2-Chillin Bythe Pool – Go back to her amazing 1:50.4 blowout from the same post here back on September 9, any semblance of that could spell rebound & wake up

 

4-Anneliese Hanover – Here’s a one for 18 filly in 2023 who arrives off a strong third against N/W 4 @ Yonkers & draws well in a real soft spot

 

7-Shake It Twice – Ships in with a one for 19 record this season, flashed some late life in OSS action, Sportswriter filly make her second start her new barn

 

RACE 4

2-InternationalModel – Team Takter trainee actually owns two career wins, kicked off her career two-for-two in this series & draws inside to rebound off breaks in two consecutive starts

 

7-Honey’s Sweet – Hit the board in her first three starts, then landed on the edges against Grand Circuit stock in Lexington, demanding post, but this is a more inviting spot for Team Alagna

 

3-Kinesiology – Walner filly from the family of millionaire Costa Rica got off to an encouraging start with a narrow loss as the heavy favorite @ Pocono & draws well for Team Burke

 

RACE 5

2-I’m Burlington N – Three-time beaten favorite stung early & faded in the slop @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, yet now this 1:50.3 performer here this season is in line to trip out from post two here

 

6-Ferdinand A – 10YO took a new mark of 1:52.3 here this season, fresh off one of his patented wire-to-wire scores & logically looms as the one to track down

 

10-Lootable – Just one for 27, 0 for 17 this year & post ten, but this 3YO has picked up his game over smaller tracks & figures to get a decent set up with some speed on view

 

RACE 6

1-Crush Kill Destroy – Closed from far back & just missed a gigantic upset in an OSS Super Final @ Mohawk, lands the rail in a wide-open start to the Early Pick 4

 

5-Copperfield – Betting Line gelding sparked something in his last three for Team Burke, arrives @ The Big M fresh off his first win with a quick launch from midpack imminent

 

3-Twin B Loudacris – Kicks off a Team Alagna 1-2 punch in here, hasn’t hit the board in six starts, but got a taste of Grand Circuit action @ The Red Mile & draws better here

 

RACE 7

6-Sarasota Hanover – Took a mark of 1:51.3 here for Team Toscano back on September 8, followed up with Bluegrass win @ The Red Mile before bumping into standout Geocentric

 

1-Miraculous Deo – Steady Stay Hungry filly finished third in the NJ Classic Final, then picked up checks in Grand Circuit stakes in Lexington, now gets the rail for the raging Noel Daley barn

 

11-Tarrific – Just missed with a strong effort in the NJ Classic Final, tuned up with a strong qualifier & resumes her promising career for Chris Ryder with a second tier assignment

 

RACE 8

7-Bryant Bros S – Just missed in a Bluegrass division, then held on for his first win @ The Red Mile & further progression is expected from this Team Svanstedt son of Varenne

 

3-Winter Soldier – Wellwood elimination winner took a mark of 1:53.1 in Lexington, then hit the board in both Grand Circuit events, inside stalking threat draws well for Team Alagna

 

2-Duke Of Walner – With the exception of one miscue this Walner colt did some fine work in KYSS, finished a solid third in that final & draws inside here for Lucas Wallin

 

RACE 9

1-Bank Sea – 10YO has done his share of damage here, including a post nine blowout in 1:52 back on August, he’s back on the mile track with a rail ride in store

 

2-Thndrfrmthethron N – Relishes the long stretch @ The Big M when he often brings plenty of thunder late in the mile, recent form has been steady & inside draw favorable

 

6-Camlachie Chrome – Fresh off a huge wake up mile @ Pocono after missing time off a sick scratch, that kind of effort would suffice in this wide-open affair

 

RACE 10

3-Principle Interest – Late-blooming son of Captaintreacherous tripped out to break his maiden here back on September 9, first foal out of a sister to Bettor’s Wish has plenty of upside for Team Pelling

 

1-Courtship – Betting Line gelding stepped up his game with back-to-back runner up finishes in Red Mile Grand Circuit events & draws the rail in a field ripe for the taking

 

7-Rock The Captain N – Team Alagna Captaintreacherous pupil seemed to be coming around in late summer, bumped into Newsroom last out, owns a mark of 1:52 @ The Big M

 

RACE 11

3-Distance Learning – Took a mark of 1:53.3 @ The Big M this season, regained form in his last two & draws inside to carve out a favorable trip

 

4-Beach Dreamzzz – This shipper from The Meadows recently added Lasix, looks like it kicked in with a solid second two starts back, draws well & note the barn change

 

6-Me Three – Recent Per Engblom acquisition was much better in her second start off the bench @ Freehold & has a big chance to crank it up another notch

 

RACE 12

1-Paulina Hanover – Consistent Noel Daley trainee out of Oaks upsetter Personal Style on the board in five of seven, almost went all the way in her most recent Grand Circuit effort

 

3-Sambuca Hanover – $200,000 Bar Hopping filly romped in the TSS Final in 1:55 @ The Meadows, regrouped from a miscue with decent qualifier & draws inside for Nifty Norman

 

5-Walcango – Walner has been very steady for Jim Campbell, freshened after a Reynolds division win @ Tioga Downs & she flashed speed @ both ends of her Big M qualifier

 

RACE 13

2-Smart As Hill – Gelding returns to The Big M fresh off a solid third @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, continues to drop down the condition ladder & now draws better

 

5-Strict – Encountered a tough trip from post eight in his first start since changing barns, lands midpack here, has faced tougher recently, but just one for 19 this season

 

8-Fashion Cantab – 0 for 17 this year & saddled with post eight, but note the lively qualifier in a real form-challenged field

 

RACE 14

8-Takeittotheface – 9YO took a mark of 1:52.1 @ The Big M back in late July, tough draw, but faces field in which he can assert himself

 

7-Lincoln Boulevard – Was maintaining good form recently @ Freehold before fading against $20,000 claimers @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & took a mark of 1:54.1 here this season

 

4-Bilbo Hanover – 13YO ships from Tioga Downs where he seemed to be trending right, draws well & has ideal trip potential in a wide-open finale

 

Saturday, October 21 Selections

RACE 1

8-As Always – Been plugging away persistently in PA, tough trip & just missed as the heavy favorite, post eight no picnic here, but gets a substantial drop & knows this track

 

3-Passa-Grille Beach – Big M horse-for-the-course tumbled down the condition ladder on smaller tracks & returns fresh off a perfect trip/confidence-boosting score & recently changed barns

 

9-Better Take It – 1:48.3 performer here this season slammed with an outside post while in questionable form, yet the class relief could revive him in a very intriguing opener

 

RACE 2

6-Mind Hunter – Took a mark of 1:49.3 @ The Big M this season, struggling on the comeback trail @ Yonkers, yet this 4YO lands in a real prime spot to rejuvenate

 

8-Catchme If Lou Can – Makes his third start on Lasix for Team Bongiorno, stuck outside & still acclimating & has a chance to step up in a wide-open division

 

5-Bettor Be Oscar A – Got parked & pace compromised in the slop @ Freehold in his first start for Cameron Capone, not sure what we’ve got here, but some back class could resurface

 

RACE 3

4-Three Grand – Nine-time winner this season ships from Hawthorne fresh off a lifetime best blowout, draws well & can blitz this highly vulnerable division

 

5-Just A Rocket Man – Edwin Quevedo claim @ Running Aces in late August only took two starts to break through @ Freehold, equipment issues last time & has a big chance to rebound

 

3-Like Clockwork – Just one for 28 this season & certainly not sharp recently, but draws inside & has license to wake up in this blank field on back class alone

 

RACE 4

7-Quebec Hanover – Scooped up some cash in the KY Commonwealth Series for Team Svandstedt, demanding draw, yet stands out with superior seasoning & speed

 

8-Kovu AS – Traded blows with Quebec Hanover in the KY Commonwealth Series @ The Red Mile, also draws outside, but can find a way to outkick them with the right trip

 

9-Collector S – Diamond Creek bred gelding regrouped nicely with some speed in a solid Big M qualifier & might be ready to tap his potential despite an outside draw

 

RACE 5

4-Trans Meanie – Twice beaten favorite @ Vernon Downs with a mark of 1:52 here this year, draws well fresh off a well-rated narrow loss

 

9-Blueberry Shake – Sports a mark of 1:51.4 taken @ The Big M this season, stuck outside, but returns to the mile track in a much easier spot

 

5-Coolncalculating N – Pumped up her win percentage with two romps in her last three, can fire out to take control from midpack while brimming with confidence & knows this track

 

RACE 6

4-Caviart Davia – Captaintreacherous filly was a perfect trip winner here back on September 1, tasted stakes company & draws well fresh off a strong qualifier for Team Alagna

 

1-Goo Goo Won – Took a mark of 1:50.3 @ The Big M this season, returns sharp & fresh off a pair of narrow losses @ Harrah’s Philadelphia with the rail

 

9-Pattycake Mooss – Lands outside here & hasn’t raced in 42 days, but fresh from a solid second to a formidable Watch Me Now N & has license to get involved

 

RACE 7

4-Watch Me Now N – Exploded from the pocket for a convincing post eight score in her most recent here, then second to Treacherous Dragon in a solid qualifier & draws well for Team Alagna

 

5-Keep Rockin A – Simply has to garner strong attention based on her ultra consistent form, just missed in her last two on the engine @ Pocono & might be the main target

 

7-Dresden – Handled the step up to this level & scored a perfect trip repeat @ Pocono, faces a demanding draw in a competitive field, yet note the barn change to The Burke Brigade

 

RACE 8

1-Headoverboots AS – One for 22 & runner up 11 times this season, but scored second time Lasix before the miscue last out, 4YO can rebound from the rail in his second start for Team Burke

 

4-Infinity Stone – 1:54 winner @ The Big M this season gets some needed class relief & draws well off a solid third @ Yonkers to play a stalking role in a real headscratcher

 

3-Donato Patriot K – Makes his key third start off bench after an improved performance in the slop @ Pocono & has been pretty strong in the win column this season for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 9

1-Mindtrip – Struggled in his last two when forced up in class @ Pocono, but this 10YO warhorse-of-the-course returns to The Big M with the rail & has a chance to stalk n pop

 

4-Montana Storm N – Beaten favorite in the Freehold Preferred Handicap, third in a deadheat with a nice bounce-back effort, draws well in a wide-open field & welcome back Crocodile Man

 

8-Straight Talk – Went all the way from rail in convincing fashion as the heavy favorite, now tackles post eight after missing 42 days & bumped up a notch

 

RACE 10

2-American Classic – 4YO arrives fresh off a wire-to-wire blowout in a sizzling 1:50.4 @ Pocono, steps up in class, draws inside & most importantly makes his Team Burke debut

 

6-Stonebridge Reef – Responded to some needed freshening with a lively qualifier, steady sort 11 times a runner up this season, yet always gutsy when able to take control

 

7-Sport Secret – Hard-charging second by a nose to Stone Hanover in the slop @ Pocono, tougher post here, but looms large off that effort for Team Cullipher

 

RACE 11

1-Darbyshire – Newcomer to these parts flashed some talent in OSS & took a mark of 1:53 @ Mohawk, makes his first start for Dylan Davis from the rail in a wide-open affair & worth a swing

 

10-Dribbling Bi – Took a mark of 1:53.1 @ The Big M this season, has come around with a back-to-back narrow losses @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, lands outside here, yet rates a long look

 

9-Tactical Planner – Team Toscano filly took a mark of 1:53.2 @ Mohawk this season, distant runner up two starts back was a much-improved effort & factors in despite post nine

 

RACE 12

4-Toto Hanover – 4YO making only his fifth start of the season, started to crank it up in his latest three @ Freehold & draws better for the mile track transition

 

1-Pictonian Thunder – Hasn’t missed the board in his last five elsewhere & this game winner two starts back @ Freehold is headed for a right trip scenario from the rail here

 

8-Mister Godro – Beaten favorite fell only a length shy after being pressured through a solid pace @ Saratoga, challenging draw here, but ships in with good form

 

RACE 13

3-Sugar Me N – Returns to The Big M fresh off a sharp narrow loss @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, has plummeted down the condition ladder & draws inside for Team Burke

 

1-Go Dancing A – Trying to shake off the cobwebs since the late August sick scratch & stands out getting big time class & post relief for Team Tritton

 

5-Hopnroll Heaven – Landing on the edges recently @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, 1:51.3 performer here this season could drop n pop from midpack

 

RACE 14

9-Sunset Soph – Has compiled some decent numbers @ Mohawk, arrives fresh off a lifetime best, qualified well @ Yonkers & looms large despite post nine

 

3-Virtual Kiss – Freshened Ontario import raced commendably in her comeback & now lands in a soft spot for her new connections

 

4-Miami Seelster – Ships in fresh off a wire-to-wire effort @ Freehold, that gives her the confidence to possibly take charge here from an inside post