Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, January 27 Selections

Wednesday, January 24, 2024

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RACE 1

2-Needham Hanover – Needed just two starts to break through off the recent claim, draws inside again, faces a wide-open field & retains A Mac

 

5-Lyons Pride – 1:50.4 performer @ The Big M last season shows a lively effort two starts back off an injury scratch & returns to claimers in a mid-pack stalking role

 

1-Incredible Badger – Finished third against tougher @ 73-1 three starts back, fresh claim moves inside, gets Jason Bartlett, but would need an incredible turnaround

 

RACE 2

2-Better Than Some – Fresh off a solid second to the streaking SGT Pappa Daddy he aired it out @ Rosecroft & with renewed confidence returns here with an improved post

 

9-Golden Gesture – Nine-time winner with $70k last year has been better here in his last two, stuck outside, but drops into a wide-open claimer for raging connections

 

7-Little Power – 10YO pulled off the class drop n pop as the heavy favorite on a frigid/windy night despite missing 35 days, contender from a more challenging post

 

RACE 3

6-Revolt – Forced into some wide rallies recently, beaten favorite pace compromised & finished well again last week & now drops a notch

 

1-Barrier – Fresh off a strong finish to hit the board third time Lasix, gets some class relief, lands the rail again & retains The Buckeye

 

4-Vulcan Star N – Sparked by Lasix with two solid seconds, just missed last week & draws a bit better to stalk n pounce for an overdue win

 

RACE 4

2-Hestherightstuff – Eight-time winner last year continues to descend the condition ladder, off a wide rally for minor spoils he drops again & moves inside

 

1-Married Man – Took a mark of 1:51.4 @ The Big M last year, struggling against tougher recently & finds a softer spot to trip out & regroup

 

8-Sling Shot – Came to life with a sharp second from post seven two starts back, used way too hard last week, draws outside against, yet drops further

 

RACE 5

10-Like Clockwork – 9YO did a complete 180 form-wise in a smashing first start for the red-hot Per Engblom after missing 35 days & looms large on the jump up despite post ten

 

7-King Of Aces – Capped off 2023 on a three-race form spree, just missed going all the way as the beaten favorite two starts back & gate speed puts him in play again

 

6-Parklane Terror – Raced well to rally for third in his first start off the claim & mild upset here, strong in the win column last year & now revved up for new barn

 

RACE 6

6-Ozark – Just three for 41 last year, but has now flashed late life in two acclimating miles here & gets a chance to drop n pop with the right pace & trip set up

 

4-Just Plain Loco – Capped off his 2023 season by tripping out for a new mark of 1:52.1, solid runner up in his last two, draws better & figures to be part of the speed equation

 

2-Its Showtime – Was much more assertive, flaunted high speed with a :54.3 middle half enroute to a blowout last week & draws inside as a real threat to repeat

 

RACE 7

7-King Alphonso – Drops a notch for his second start off the bench, tougher post, but owns plenty of back class & there’s enough speed to set the table for this Per Engblom trainee

 

6-Massive Matter – Added Jordan Stratton, who was able to steal one on a soft/uncontested lead, bumped back up a notch with a similar effort expected

 

5-The American Eagle – The Eagle soared from out of the clouds for the Per Engblom upset fresh off the bench, gets the double class hike, yet draws better

 

RACE 8

4-The Best Tyme Ever – Wheeled right back to brush n crush in a career best of 1:53.4 last week, gets a slight boost in price, yet draws inside again for a fiery combo

 

5-Homestretch Wes – Was able to find room & rode the rail for a homestretch upset, returns to claimers from midpack & can’t rule out a repeat

 

8-Gentlemanjim II IE – Tripped out to prevail as the favorite two starts back, then lacked the same sustain last week, but remains a threat despite another outside draw

 

RACE 9

2-Oakwood Paddy IR – Irish-bred arrived on a roll, was pace compromised as a hard-charging runner up & draws inside again off that sharp acclimating mile

 

4-Loorim Lake A – That was a powerful wire-to-wire repeat from post seven on a frigid night last week, now he’s protected in a softer condition & stands out from a better post

 

3-Sugar Me N – Found a way to turn things around to chase Loorim Lake A for the deuce in his second start off the claim, a similar scenario looms from an improved post

 

RACE 10

9-Little Expensive – Easily & emphatically made it two-for-two off the bench for Team Orange Crush, tougher draw in a competitive field, but his arrow is pointing straight up

 

10-Platinum AS – Despite missing three weeks he grinded gamely from post seven to pay off the chalk players & remains a serious player despite post ten

 

3-Rich And Miserable – Flashed some late life in a much-needed comebacker, now draws better with trip potential & plenty of back class in his arsenal

 

RACE 11

4-Tito Rocks – Tito has been stung early in a couple of recent efforts, drops another notch, draws inside for a high percentage barn & retains A Mac

 

6-Da Delightful – Displayed ample speed in a lively effort off a sick scratch, just missed against this kind two starts back & has some back class lurking

 

9-Theflying Rock – Qualified evenly here after a long layoff & draws outside, but returns in a very soft condition for a barn that’s been winning with everything

 

RACE 12

1-Straight Up Cool – Finished third in a deadheat off the recent claim, then used early from post seven on a chilly night last week & now moves inside

 

2-Jagger Rocks – Beaten favorite sat close to a rated pace & faded to fourth, gets another inside draw in a dartboard field & switches to The Buckeye

 

8-Captain Mccrae – Achieved a better result when he picked up a show deadheat with Straight Up Cool, draws outside that rival & banks on a speed target

 

RACE 13

2-See You Friday – Hit the lowest condition & finished with much more late vigor to just miss last Friday & draws better stalk within closer striking range

 

4-Posh On the Beach A – One for 39 last year, beaten chalk finished a solid second fresh off the claim & draws well with a positive result to build on

 

10-Odds On Boca Raton – Dropped back to the bottom claiming price & romped from post eight, stuck outside here, yet another blastoff makes him a serious player

 

RACE 14

5-Gretzky The Great – Regrouped with some sharp qualifiers on Lasix, energetic runner up in the sloppy track comebacker with a :26.3 & might be poised to score

 

2-Mornin Captain – 3YO by Captain Crunch makes his second career start off a couple of solid qualifiers & draws inside for the red-hot Bartlett-Englbom duo

 

7-No Words – Lightly-raced 4YO finished in front of Mornin Captain in his latest qualifier, draws outside that rival & debuts for a new barn