Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, February 9, & Saturday, February 10, 2024
Wednesday, February 7, 2024
Race 1
1-Shore Of Himself – Enjoyed a pretty productive season in 2023, in a prolonged slump, yet exits the TM series, lands the rail & has a chance to trip out
2-Rockabilly Charm – Surprise winner two starts back lacked the same pop last week, draws better & has license to rebound in a wide-open field
7-Lincoln Boulevard – Caught out of position last week, hit the board back-to-back before that, tricky post, but switches to Joe Lee
Race 2
1-Guest Of Honor – Promising Walner colt qualified well, then finished a solid second in his career & draws inside again for TOC
7-Kovu AS – Liking those back-to-back 1:57.2 wins before the recent miscue & just missed as the beaten chalk, Brett Beckwith back in the bike
3-Touchpoint – Lightly-raced son of Six Pack has been on the edges in both starts on the comeback trail & draws well for Nifty Norman
Race 3
2-Collusion Illusion – Forced wide & finished a much better third in her second start here & draws inside for smooth, grounding-saving trip
3-Betabcool N – 14YO perked up with an overdue win in the slop @ Monticello, followed by a nice rally for the deuce & knows this track
8-Western Stepp – She was a strong second in her transition to the Big M, then had an off night, tough post, but now Dexter Dunn takes the lines
Race 4
3-I’ll Owe You One – Emerged off two narrow losses with a wire-to-wire romp in 1:58.2 & lands in a prime spot to repeat
7-Hardrockcafe – Has encountered some tough trips in the lower conditions, draws a demanding post, yet might be more effective here
1-Keystone Blade – Has had no chance after slow starts from outside posts in his last two, now moves inside & gets Dexter Dunn
Race 5
7-Dynomites Peak – Fresh off a grinding narrow loss he switches to the MADC 1, while trending right & picks up The Judge
6-Atta Boy Dan – 15YO warhorse a twice beaten favorite @ Rosecroft, those were solid/needed races & Yogi Sheridan could send him
5-Kissinbythebeaches – Has been hinting for Peter Kleinhans, third from the pocket last week & he’s expected to be forwardly placed
Race 6
4-P Chico – Pace & trip compromised to finish a gallant second as the beaten favorite last week & lands post four again with The Buckeye
5-Bully Boy Hill – Fresh off the class drop n pop in 1:55.4 last week & bumped back up in winning form
1-Chake – Looks to rebound off another late miscue, she was a solid second in her two previous starts & finally moves inside for Per Engblom
Race 7
6-Chesapeake Sunrise – Dipped to this price & was a runner up to runaway Bettor Than Some & now makes her second start for Team Estrada
5-Robbie Burns N – Classy 13YO drops to the bottom claimer & has license to improve in his key third start off the bench
2-Mister Godro – Got roughed up in his last two, previous form was sharp, reclaimed by Robert Ginsburg, Jr. & draws better to rebound
Race 8
7-Lisa Lane – Has taken a tumble down the condition ladder, just missed with a mighty surge last week & drops again
2-Shezafreaklikeme – Beaten even money favorite with a sharp narrow loss in the fog two starts back draws better to rebound
6-Pearl Harbour N – Flashed some early speed from post ten, look for more in her third start off the bench at a reduced level
Race 9
6-King Alphonso – Dropped to the level & absolutely dominated from post seven, look for his back class to continue resurfacing for Per Engblom
8-Buddy Earl – Dipped down & tripped out score decisively as the heavy chalk last week, draws a tougher post, but brimming with confidence
9-Some Chapter – Rallied to crush these two starts back, then a solid rally to hit the ticket, stuck outside, but picks up Dexter Dunn
Race 10
7-Mask On Mask Off – The Mask was a little off last Saturday, yet was very sharp in his previous three & returns to the MADC 1 Series
8-Rock On Line – Has hit the board in three of his last four, beaten favorite last week draws a tougher post, but just needs the right set up
3-Aintnobettor A – Has been lean in the win column, but grinded gamely for the show from post eight last week & now moves inside
Race 11
5-Ima Diamond Babe – Braxton Boyd did a terrific job of trying to steal one on an easy lead last week & now she gets some class relief
8-Unique Kemp – Dropped to this level & rallied from a tough spot to just miss last week, moves outside, yet remains a threat
3-Blue Bayou Deo – Ventured to Freehold & finished a close second in the slop last week, draws inside here to maintain that positive form
Race 12
3-Lets Ryde Girl – Beaten favorite revived with a solid second to Suge & draws better with a chance to turn the tables
1-Suge – Came to life with a brush n crush last week, rewarded with an improved post & logically looms large
5-Bullville Karla – Suddenly went on a wire-to-wire mission from post seven & now launches mid-pack to prove that was no fluke
Race 13
5-Its Rockin Randy – Makes his third start since switching to Richard Johnson, dips to TM 71, draws better & gets Dexter Dunn
4-Yayas Hot Spot N – 1:53.4 performer here last season bounced back with a better second qualifier & draws well in a wide-open field
9-Transfer The Era – Went all the way at this level back on January 5, fresh off a solid third & his gate speed can overcome post nine
Race 14
5-Missile – No chance after a slow start from post ten last week, a strong second before that & remains at a competitive level
4-Oh Lina – Mark Herschberger broke through here as this mare rallied for the win deadheat last week & draws inside for the class hike
9-The American Eagle – The Eagle soared from out of the clouds in his Big M debut, then had a tough trip, stuck outside, but drops back a notch
Saturday, February 10 Selections
Race 1
3-Camlachie Chrome – Stormed home to just miss to the red-hot Odds On Boca Raton from post nine, dips back to TM 74 & finally draws better in top form
4-Way To Close – More than lived up to the 2-5 hype with a huge wake up romp in the MADC 1, continues to ramp up on the comeback trail & draws a bit better for The Judge
5-Oh Coffee Bean – Added Lasix for his Big M debut for Team Estrada gamely paid off the chalk players with a career best in his debut here & can’t rule out a repeat with The Buckeye
Race 2
2-Sneak On Bye – Recent claim for $7,500 followed up an easy romp by grinding gamely for the show spot behind Little Power, moves inside for the rematch & gets Dexter Dunn
3-Little Power – Bounced back big time off a loss with decisive score for the red-hot Team Estrada, jammed in for the same price & finally draws decent
1-Concur – Pace & trip compromised chasing Little Power, liking the strong finishes before that, this 11YO was claimed by Team Ginsberg & draws better
Race 3
7-Bizys Beatle – The Beatle has been left in the wake of a sizzling Marcus Seelster & tougher claimers, now gets some class relief for his key third start off the bench
4-Hereittiz – Recent claim flashed some late life when he switched to condition company last week, hits rock bottom here, finally draws inside & retains Jordan Stratton
2-Good Deal – Fired hard off the wings & got stung early in his last two, has dropped all the down the condition ladder & draws much better tonight
Race 4
4-Oakwood Ardan IR – Irish-bred 5YO has gone four-for-four since his arrival, hasn’t raced in three weeks, but lands post four again with more to prove
2-Gretzky the Great – Lightly-raced 4YO stickhandled his way to the mile of his life two weeks ago & draws better to tap into his upside in a tough match up
3-Sheer Terror – Took no prisoners in a sparkling wire-to-wire comeback in a career best of 1:52, this Joe Holloway trainee draws post three again & has license to show more
Race 5
3-Lite N Sweet –Draws a bit better fresh off a tough loss as the heavy favorite with sharp pace at both ends of the mile & logically looms large again
5-Heza Real Diamond – Bumped up a notch after he finally broke through for an overdue score last week & that might’ve sparked a form spree
10-De Los Cielos Deo – Fresh off a rousing return to The Big M in a new barn, tackles post ten & double class hike, but owns plenty of back class
Race 6
2-Incredible Badger – Raced better & finished well chasing the fiery Odds On Boca Raton last week, draws post two again & long overdue in a prime opportunist role
5-JK Lucky Charms – Has experienced a three-race form revival since arriving here for Team Estrada, just missed to Desire’s Captain last week & seeks revenge
6-Desire’s Captain – Nailed a mild upset & repeat with another strong late move last week, classy 10YO going well right now & retains Jordan Stratton
Race 7
4-Homestretch Wes – Dropped to $15,000 claimers & just missed out of a shuffle last week, now a fresh claim for Richard Johnson gets post four again & Dexter Dunn
2-Throwing Copper – Stormed home off a hot pace & just missed a huge upset with a vastly improved performance, moves inside & switches to Jason Bartlett
6-King Of Aces – Closed from the clouds to finish a close second last week, if pace & trip work in his favor he could be the King of the Hill in this one
Race 8
3-Revolver N – The Revolver has fired hard in spots, just missed against $40k claimers three starts back, drops again & lands post three again
1-Love Your Work A – Blasted down the road in a sharp 1:51.3 as the favorite two starts back & returns to that winning level with the rail
6-Beach Vibes – Has been landing the edges a notch above this, beat these in a career best 1:51.1 back on December 30 & strong in the win column last year
Race 9
9-Blazing Banner – Sizzled home in an eye-catching :26.3 to hit the board as the beaten favorite last week, just missed before that, remains a sharp item capable of handling post nine
4-My Pal Joe – Joe was on his toes to beat these two starts back, then faded behind Stonebrdge Reef last week, yet now draws inside that rival to possibly turn the tables
7-Stonebridge Reef – Has regained his form while moving back up in class, picked up Dexter Dunn & fired a well-timed late move & upset last week
Race 10
1-Bicorne Hanover – Draws inside again off a significant bounce-back effort, finished third behind Marcus Seelster, beat these back on December 16 & might be just starting to rev back up
8-Marcus Seelster – Marcus has caught fire winning back-to-back, equaled his mark of 1:50.2 in the process, now a fresh claim with plenty of speed off the wings to deal with post eight
2-Odds On Boca Raton – Sharp claim back in late-December has suddenly reeled off three in a row, continues to rise in price, yet finally draws inside
Race 11
2-Lyons Pride – His last two close seconds are certainly something to be proud off, taken out of claimers & draws inside on the verge
3-Better Than Some – Dropped to the $7,500 level & promptly trounced them last Friday & draws well to go two-for-two for Edwin Quevedo
6-Lovethewayyou lie – Bumped up to this level off a last-to-first upset, was forced wide & still hit the board with loads of late pace
Race 12
3-Gentle Giant – The Giant has now had three starts on the comeback trail to get tight, 1:49 performer last year draws better & has a bit of back class
4-Yer So Bad – Off the board in four starts so far this season, but gets enough class relief & draws post four again to set up a stalk n pop
5-Majorly Sexy A – Returns from a long layoff, won his latest qualifier with a sharp late burst & sets up another stalking trip from midpack
Race 13
3-Ignatius A – Wasn’t heard from in his 2024 debut, but gets class & post relief for Noel Daley & this 10YO with plenty of back class can fire home with the best if ready
2-Tito Rocks –Tito drops another notch after getting roughed up, finished a solid third before that & draws inside again for a high percentage barn
6-Decision Day – Was expecting a bit more from him when he closed for minor spoils last week, now drops further & this Big M lover has too much class to ignore
Race 14
2-Mornin Captain – Lightly-raced Captain Crunch colt was a tad overwhelmed in his 3YO debut for Per Engblom, yet lands post two again & has ample potential
4-Barrier – Beaten chalk squandered a perfect two-hole trip last week, but draws well again to avenge that narrow loss in top form with The Buckeye
5-No Words – Finished a solid third behind Barrier last week, lightly-raced 4YO now makes his third start here & has license to crank it up further