Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Friday, December 8

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Friday, December 8

RACE 1

4-Ferdinand A – Beaten favorite has been dancing on the edges in his last three, has had a productive season here & draws a bit better to take charge in a wide-open curtain raiser

7-Gotta Minute N – 10YO took a mark of 1:52 at the Big M this season, his recent form not much write home about, yet this is a soft MADC series division he can exploit

9-Meet the Creeper – 0 for 27 this season & post nine again, but that was some wake up effort to finish a close second last week

RACE 2

5-Let’s Misbehave – Captaintreacherous sister to sub-1:50 performer Captain Video has sharpened her sword @ Hoosier Park & owns a mark of 1:51.4 here for Team Alagna

7-Racin For Royalty – Tripped out for a new mark of 1:52.2 here two starts back & returns fresh off a solid second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia as the beaten favorite

4-Santafe’s Appetite – Everybody saw her storm home from an impossible spot in :26.1 & now she makes her third start off a sick scratch, so expect more

RACE 3

4-Swan Flyer – Regrouped with a few months off, aired it out in his Big M qualifier, draws well & this recent Team Burke acquisition deserves strong attention

8-New Rules – Trounced these when well supported fresh off the bench & equaled his lifetime mark, stuck outside, but drops back down to lead a Team Cullipher 1-2 punch

6-Balenciaga – Owns a mark of 1:51.3 here this season, beaten favorite in three of his last four since adding Lasix now drops a notch after a miscue on an easy lead

RACE 4

7-Rockabilly Charm – 8YO has rejuvenated his form with three straight thirds @ Freehold, draws a demanding post, but has thrived @ The Big M

8-Thndrfrmthethron N – 9YO has been knocking on the door in his last few, lands outside here, yet knows how to overcome that obstacle with gate speed

10-Tidal Shark – Has struggled after slow starts in his last two, did blastoff from post ten back on November 10 & could employ that effective strategy in this wide-open affair

RACE 5

3-P Chico – Pace compromised, yet worked out a better trip & landed on the edge fourth again last week, this 3YO with some upside lands post three again in a field of question marks

7-Believer – Followed up a much-improved second with a solid third last week, his post is a bit tougher, but a tad more might do it & he’s been strong in the win column this season

9-Dribbling Bi – Pulled off a class drop n pop with a well-controlled & dominant wire-to-wire last week, moves outside, yet confident enough to handle the bump back up

RACE 6

6-Whammer Jammer – 4YO sports that slick mark of 1:51 in Lexington this season, upset winner in his Big M debut three starts back off a big rally for third last week

8-Atta Boy Dan – Classy millionaire warhorse with 92 career wins stung early from post seven @ Saratoga, romped all the way from post nine here before that

5-Cheyenne Ryan Lee – Has hit the board in three of his last four @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & launches midpack to set up his preferred stalking trip

RACE 7

7-Get Answers – Team Burke-tuned filly fresh off a decent fourth in the slop here last week drops to face a real form-challenged field

9-Cash Roll – Beaten favorite rallied stoutly for the second straight start & just missed last week, tougher post, but could be on the verge of another win here

4-Western Rosie – Finally draws inside off a no-chance trip from post ten & has license to benefit from that acclimated mile in a field ripe for the taking

RACE 8

1-Good Deal – 4YO has abruptly gone two-for-two for his new barn @ The Big M with wicked rallies, took a new mark of 1:51 from post ten two starts back & now lands the rail

5-T Dog – 3YO hit the board despite a terrible trip as the beaten favorite, finally moves inside & note that last-to-first from post ten first time Lasix back on November 17

9-Prince McArdle N – 10YO has won three of his last four for Team Estrada, fresh off an impressive romp in the slop, he’s a strong threat despite post nine

RACE 9

2-Beach Moment – Was no doubt ready to rock in the slop in her two-move victorious Big M debut last week & she comes right back at the same level with another inside post

6-Chevrons Bypass N – Beaten favorite bumped into a revved up Beach Moment in her third start here, remains at this reduced level & looks to turn the tables off that lively effort

3-Shelter Pace – Eight for 13 3YO has caught fire with back-to-back wins last month, slow starts & too far to come last week & rates highly with a better draw

RACE 10

6-Flirtin JK – Was able to turn his game around big time with a dominate post eight score in a sizzling 1:50.1 & logically looms large for Team Burke

3-Barrier – Proved to be a barn change bonanza, scoring a perfect trip 7-1 upset, took a new mark of 1:51 & draws inside again as a possible repeater

4-Southwind Sambucca – 1:51.3 career best here three starts back, then got parked & bounced back by flying home for third behind Flirtin JK at long odds

RACE 11

8-Springsteen – Classy $800,000 winner lands post eight again, but continues his descent down the condition ladder, faces several easy toss outs & has a chance to be The Boss

5-Maximum Ideal – Just two for 33 this season, yet has to rate contender status off a strong third in the slop in a much-needed acclimating mile & has won here in the past

7-Mister Hat – Landing on the edges fifth in his last two, tackles a challenging post, hasn’t raced in three weeks, yet might be heard from if he gets some speed to shoot at

RACE 12

4-Hazyshadeofwinters – Swedish newcomer along with young gun Rickard Skoglund qualified well behind a classy Lexus Kody & debuts here in a soft spot for Per Engblom

5-Buddy Earl – Beaten favorite came up with a much-improved speed try in the slop last week & this 1:53.1 winning 3YO is trending right

2-Swan Captain – Gets his third consecutive class drop & draws better, which could spell wake up in a field begging somebody to step up

RACE 13

6-Henry The Dragon – Forced wide & rallied to hit the board from a tough spot last week & remains at this reduced price off that rebound effort

2-Blueberry Heaven – Two for 26 this season a concern, yet just missed with a lively effort two starts back, then got bogged down in the slop last week & now gets class & post relief

8-Sports Hero – Fresh off a game score in the slop as the favorite, another blastoff from post eight is likely & note he equaled his lifetime mark of 1:52.3 from post eight on October 28

RACE 14

9-Its Your Choice – 8-1 choice fashioned a perfect trip & took a new mark of 1:55 in the slop despite missing a month, moves outside, yet makes his second start here for Team Burke

5-Chezactic – Beaten chalk wheeled right back with a solid third off a sick scratch, makes the mile track transition & compliments a Team Burke 1-2 punch

7-Coal Creek – Raced better picking up minor shares in his last two @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws a tricky post here, but rates contender status