Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Saturday, December 9

Wednesday, December 6, 2023

Ken Warkentin’s selections for Saturday, December 9

RACE 1

8-Winwood Jack – Has promptly gone two-for-two since the Maria Alvarez claim, his latest from post eight @ Harah’s Philadelphia & took a new mark of 1:52.4 here before that

10-Racing Money – Zipped home in a snappy :26.3 from post ten & was right there in the photo, stuck outside, but gets another shot at this reduced level

7-Sgt Papa Daddy – Tough to find a third party to complete our top three in this one, this 9YO was on a serious roll against cheaper @ Vernon Downs & capable of controlling speed

RACE 2

5-Third Pillar – Has hit the board in both starts @ The Big M for his new barn, runner up to an uncatchable Barrier last week & taps into his upside in a camera-shy field

2-Country Squire – Lightly-raced 3YO kicked home in a noteworthy :26.3 after a slow start from post ten off a sick scratch & draws much better to show further improvement

3-The Good Doctor – Just one for 18, finished an even fourth chasing a fired up Art Scaping after missing three weeks & draws inside again to offer more for Noel Daley

RACE 3

3-Good Rockin – Stormed home from a very tough spot to hit the board behind Hereittiz last week, needed that race & draws better to stalk closer for The Buckeye

5-Hereittiz – Tripped out to make it two-for-two off the Edwin Quevedo claim, nailed a well-rated & heavily favored Sugar Me N last week & can’t rule out another

7-Sugar Me N – Twice beaten favorite was once again allowed to dictate his terms & just missed to Hereittiz & remains a sharp threat for Team Burke

RACE 4

1-Robbie Burns N – Parlayed a modest & overdue Freehold win into a brush n crush from post seven here last week & moves inside brimming with confidence

2-Flashy Dude – Proved to be no Freehold flash in the pan when he rallied to a decisive score with a tailor made trip here, his ninth tally of the year & now draws better in high gear

3-Majestic Kiwi N – Showed mild gains well behind Flashy Dude in a decent acclimating mile, draws better & switches to Jason Bartlett

RACE 5

1-Homestretch Wes – Gets a bit of class relief & lands the rail with that sharp narrow loss from post ten on view two starts back & looks for a stalking trip closer to the action

4-Chief Of Staff – Was dropping some positive hints before he grinded gamely enroute to an impressive post nine score last week & rewarded with a better draw

5-Stretch The Line – Just missed with an ideal trip two starts back, then rallied from never-never land to hit the board last week & has the form to snap his 0 for 23 this season

RACE 6

5-Beach Cowgirl – Chased the classy Racine Bell to the wire in a brisk :26.2, looks to be on the verge, while dipping to a more favorable level in her second start for Team Burke

4-Vibrance – This Team Burke-tuned filly has been a solid runner up in three of her last four @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws well to flaunt her speed & form

9-Caviart Davia – 1:49.2 performer @ The Big M has been on a nice late-season roll for Team Alagna, third behind Beach Cowgirl last week & just missed from post eight before that

RACE 7

5-Control Heaven – Owns a mark of 1:49.2 @ The Big M this season, dips back to a competitive level, returns to the mile track & presents a midpack stalking threat for Team Cullipher

7-San Domino A – Classy 10YO finished an energetic third fresh off the bench for Team Burke & now lands a demanding post in a drop down derby & strong in the win column

8-Building Boost – Dropped back to this level, steamrolled first over & finished a close third in his second start for Team Harmon, faces a tougher draw, but trending right in a tricky puzzle

RACE 8

7-Toccoa Falls – Steady Per Englom trainee dipped back to this level & finished a solid second by neck last week, tougher post this time, but he looms large if the pace & set up is right

3-Lexus Kody – Regrouped with a standout Big M qualifier after consecutive miscues & draws inside to take charge & show his class for Team Burke

1-Lindys Irishcream – 3YO filly flashed a :27.4 finish to land on the fringe fourth last week, now she gets the rail & continues on the rise for a hot barn

RACE 9

3-Better Not Talk – Capitalized on a class drop with an explosive score as the favorite two starts back, then got parked in a :27.2 third quarter & this is a more reasonable spot

10-My Pal Joe – This classy 1:48.3 performer @ The Big M has taken a few starts to sharpen his sword, slammed with post ten, but drops another notch in a headscratcher

6-Colossal Stride A – Took full advantage of his third straight class drop & romped to an overdue win as last week’s Best Bet & hikes back up in top form

RACE 10

9-South Beach Star – Notched his 11^th win of 2023 when he romped here back on November 4, been trading blows with Open types @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & gate speed puts him in play

6-Soaring Now – 4YO has caught fire going two-for-two here for Noel Daley, shot down the road in a sizzling & decisive 1:49.3 last week & might be tough to deal with again

2-Stone Hanover – Beaten favorite finished a bang up second to a fiery Soaring Now last week & now draws inside that rival & the main concerns

RACE 11

4-Rockin On Venus – 1:48.4 performer @ The Big M this season has been tackling better, a solid third to standout Colossal Stride A last week, drops again & draws inside for Team Cullipher

6-Aflame Hanover – Fresh off an excellent two-move effort from post eight as runner up to Colossal Stride A, acclimated now & dips another notch

3-Alta Blues A – Just missed in his first two November starts before the miscue, bounced back with wicked speed from post eight last week & draws better to ration it out

RACE 12

9-Love Your Work A – Post nine no picnic, but this 1:49.4 performer here this season makes his second start off the bench after a much-needed start

8-Passa-Grille Beach – Go back to that post nine wire-to-wire in late October, dips below that level with another tough post in a really wide-open field

2-Good Investment – Superb pocket-sitting runner up to wire-to-wire winner Nazare with a much-improved effort in the slop & lands post two again to follow up

RACE 13

2-Lyrical Genius A – Fresh off a terrific US debut, just missed with a mighty late surge, drops a notch & draws much better for Team Stratton

4-Mr Ibiza N – Last week’s Price Play faded to fifth behind Lyrical Genius A, yet he gets further class relief to show more pop for his third start off the bench for Team Alagna

6-It’s In The Stars – Catapulted off a hot pace to grab the deuce in a very beneficial Big M debut for Team Cullipher & logically capable of showing more

RACE 14

3-Imabeachboy – Just one for 24 this season, ships in fresh off a narrow loss @ Plainridge, note the switch to Team Estrada & draws inside a dartboard finale

4-Maximus – 0 for 26 in 2023, yet arrives after almost going all the way @ Cumberland Run, that was 32 days ago & draws well second time Lasix

5-Isitfridayyet – 10YO with some back class is another barn change possibility, recent form @ Plainridge looks decent & launches midpack in a pari mutuel puzzler