Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, April 12, & Saturday, April 13, 2024

Wednesday, April 10, 2024

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Race 1

4-Harry Hanover – Finished a distance third to a runaway Marty Monkhouser A with another improved effort & draws inside again in a field that is a combined two for 88 this season

 

6-Tidal Shark – Hasn’t been able to make much headway in his last two since the sharp narrow loss three starts back, yet lands in a prime spot for a form revival

 

7-Final Justice – Broken equipment last out, no chance @ Freehold before that, but note the rally & close third three starts back & looking for the right set up from a challenging post

 

Race 2

3-Private Scott – Twice beaten favorite returns to The Big M, revived his form for Team Estrada in early March, drops into a soft spot here & re-united with Dave Miller

 

2-Texas Miki – Took three starts for the claim to pay off with a perfect trip two starts back & looks for a major rebound effort from another inside post for our Driver of the Week

 

7-Dynomites Peak – No factor in his last two, but go back to that big rally & close third from post ten in the slop on March 9 & now he gets Hot Toddy

 

Race 3

2-Shake It Twice – Consistent mare & 1:52.4 winner @ The Big M this season finished well to grab a share behind Im Princess Bella A & lands post two again with Hit Toddy

 

4-Im Princess Bella A – Bounced back with a sterling rally & close third last week, draws a bit better with a similar effort in her fourth start for Richard Johnson

 

1-Eileen’s Wish – Flashed speed for the lead from post seven, then finished with pace in traffic last week, moves inside with a big chance stalk the speed

 

Race 4

7-Southwind Dredge – Beaten favorite faded on the lead in his last two, just missed with a big rally three starts back & this fresh claim retains Dexter Dunn

 

3-Pinebushdragonroll – Looks to rebound off a rare miscue, romped to a decisive score before that, returns to claimers & retains The Thunder

 

4-Mister Godro – Maintaining fringe player status since the claim & win back on March 1, lands in a prime spot here & re-united with Hot Toddy

 

Race 5

1-Rockabilly Charm – Pace & trip compromised after a slow start & still grabbed a board spot last week, now he lands the rail with a big chance to trip out

 

7-My Wish Came True – Winless this season, but fresh off one of his nice rallies to hit the board last week, draws another demanding post, yet picks up John Calabrese

 

6-Bionic – Prevailed as the heavy favorite three starts back, has thrived with aggressive handling & has license to turn things around that take-charge style

 

Race 6

4-Almost Karen – Beaten favorite brushed to the top & was barely outlasted by a gutsy Corsini A, remains at this reduced level & draws well to turn the tables

 

3-Corsini A – Was almost in a state of disbelief with this 10YO’s career best upset from post nine last week, now she finally draws inside to prove that was n fluke

 

6-Abuelita Hanover – Fresh off a perfect trip upset in the Open class @ Monticello & note she went all the way from post nine here back on March 15

 

Race 7

3-Just A Rocket Man – Has now gone two-for-two here for trainer Bryan Quevedo & draws inside to stalk close to the kitchen with Braxton Boyd

 

1-Bailey’s Rock – Beaten chalk just missed to Hunt You Down with a solid late charge, lands the rail off that big turnaround effort & retains The Buckeye

 

4-Lettuceriprita A – Ripped off two in a row with authority, then had no late pop as the beaten chalk, yet draws well to rebound for Hot Toddy

 

Race 8

2-Camlachie Chrome – Has been knocking on the door recently, well driven to a close second to Brazen Brazilian from post ten last week & draws much better alongside that rival

 

1-Brazen Brazilian – Lived up to the tote hype with a suddenly aggressive score from post nine & rewarded with the rail off that long overdue score

 

6-Whammer Jammer – Followed up a narrow loss with a rousing mild upset last week & moves to mid-pack with something big to build on in a very competitive division

 

Race 9

3-Interview Fra A – Came right back to repeat in crushing style & took a new mark from post seven, bumped up another notch, but draws inside a field ripe for the taking

 

6-Amador – Solid runner up again to a decisive winner last week & continues to regain form & momentum on the comeback trail

 

1-JL Cruze – The King took charge & gave way in his return to The Big M, yet gets further class relief & draws inside again to step up

 

Race 10

6-Gondolf The Black – That was some wake up call when he dropped out of tougher claimers & suddenly blasted down the road to a new mark of 1:51.1, so let’s see some more

 

2-Air Guitar – Beaten favorite was nailed late by a hard-charging El Yerno last week, draws inside that rival & his persistence could snap his 2024 winless skid

 

8-El Yerno – Sat patiently off the speed, put together a late surge & took a new mark of 1:52.1, consistent 4YO looms as a repeat threat despite post eight

 

Race 11

4-Pencil’s Down – Beaten favorite right there a close second with a strong finish last week, remains at this reduced level & draws well again

 

1-Chase Mateo – Addition of trotting hopples has led to a close third, then a career best romp in 1:56.2 @ Pocono against N/W 4 & lands rail to take charge in top form

 

2-I’ll Owe You One – 4YO’s form has cycled forward, just missed with an aggressive two-move effort & draws inside to employ similar stalking tactics

 

Race 12

4-Paige Perfect – Has executed two straight sterling rallies from post ten, easily lowered her mark to 1:53.1 last week & rewarded with an inside draw

 

6-Our Shell Belle – Lightly-raced filly stepped up to break her maiden in that key third start off the bench & continues to ramp it up, while looking for a speed target

 

5-Miss Italia – Offered a noteworthy late surge to be right there in the photo with Our Shell Belle & that makes here a mid-pack stalking threat

 

Race 13

2-Fashion Cantab – Not sure where to start in this one, but this gelding was razor sharp here before that mid-March sick scratch & draws inside a wide-open dartboard field

 

4-Fashion Cantab – Let’s toss out last week’s no-chance trip from post eight & this is a much softer spot form him to set up a stalking try in a complete toss up

 

1-Dwight Hanover – Forgive the rare early miscue @ Pocono in his first start for his new barn, ships into a much easier spot & lands the rail to trip out

 

Race 14

1-Lets Ryde Girl – Has been dropping positive hints, made up a lot of ground after a slow start from post ten & moves inside on the verge

 

2-Bette Tina – Just one for her last 37, but three inspiring races on the comeback trail, gets a better post & has stalk n pop potential

 

3-Firstofanera – Exits a couple of fading efforts against tougher N/W 4 @ Pocono & ships into a tailor made spot here for Team Miller

 

Saturday, April 13 Selections

Race 1

5-Mask On Mask Off – Just one for 13 this season, but on a form spree against tougher TM types & rates highly as a serious mid-pack stalking threat

 

9-Yer So Bad – Has been on quite a roll for Anthony Verruso & Symon Spicer, came right back with a strong repeat rally from post seven again & logically looms large despite post nine

 

8-Its Rockin Randy – Solid runner up in a TM Final last week, blew away lower level TM company with a brush n crush before that & picks up Joe Lee

 

Race 2

3-Handlelikeaporsche – Was a multiple Grand Circuit stakes winning freshman, missed all of his sophomore season, but returns in a real soft spot

 

1-Lite N Sweet – Just one for his last 29 & winless this season, but gathering momentum since the early March sick scratch, plus gets class & post relief

 

4-Montana Storm N – Winner here two notches above this back in mid-December & draws well for that key third start off the bench for The Crocodile Man

 

Race 3

6-Hunt For Cash – Took a 1:50.4 mark @ The Big M this season, flashed speed & faded to eighth two weeks ago, just missed from post eight before that & dips slightly in price

 

4-Concur – Followed a steady improving trend & snapped his season skid with a slick-driven score, 11YO lands post four again in a tricky puzzle & retains Hot Toddy

 

7-Homestretch Wes – Whatever went wrong two starts back his new barn corrected in a sharp bounce back effort @ Freehold & this recent Edwin Quevedo claim looks to keep it going

 

Race 4

5-Tenacious Hanover – Stay Hungry 3YO from a productive family got nosed in a serious second career start & could be on the verge of breaking through for Team Toscano

 

6-Crush Kill Destroy – Finished a close second in a OSS Super Final last year & two energetic qualifiers for our leading barn indicates he’s ready to roll

 

2-Cereal Assassin – Captain Crunch brother to millionaires Heston & Sunfire Blue Chip, flashed a :26.3 in his first qualifier & this intriguing prospect draws inside for Team Toscano

 

Race 5

8-Oh Look Magic – Held off the favorite Chapercraz & took a new mark of 1:52.2 in a sparkling 4YO debut, on a roll since the Team Burke acquisition & post eight might not matter

 

6-Outside The Fire – 5YO has cycled to top form, took a couple of weeks off after a wire-to-wire from post seven, just a fifth off his lifetime mark & his barn is a major trotting force

 

4-Sidd Finch – Often all it takes is an easy score in a softer spot to spark something more, Sidd draws better & retains The Bionic Man

 

Race 6

2-Needham Hanover – Beaten favorite finished well, but outsprinted third two weeks ago, remains on a form spree & finally draws inside to play a stalking role for The Dream

 

3-Shoobee Doo A – 9YO caught fire since the switch to Team Estrada, has won two in a row flaunting his versatility, takes on a reasonable claiming tag & draws well

 

4-J M Mandamin – 1:48.4 performer @ The Big M hasn’t raced since September of 2022, wire-to-wire in a modest qualifier @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & remains a mystery

 

Race 7

4-Sling Shock – Suffered an early shuffle & came back on to hit the board last week after getting bumped up off a wire-to-wire win with a :26.4 & lands post four again

 

6-Battlefield – Thought he’d make a big impression last week & just missed with an superb effort, remains at this reduced level for a mid-pack launch

 

1-Mr Matt Major N – Tripped out to take a new mark of 1:51.3, lightly-raced 6YO ramping up & rates the double class hike from the rail in a competitive affair

 

Race 8

9-Zanatta – Last year’s Jugette runner up & Breeders Crown elimination winner finished a solid third in her 4YO debut, moves outside here, but has the class & upside to overcome

 

5-Miss Chantilly N – Very consistent mare for Team Stratton fresh off a narrow loss to the favorite Beach Cowgirl with pace @ both ends & remains a sharp item

 

6-High Fashion Star – Stakes caliber filly cruised all the way over In The Spotlight N in her second Big M qualifier back on Lasix & looks ready to fire fresh off the bench

 

Race 9

7-Jack’s Shadow N – Shipped from tougher ranks @ Dover Downs, brushed & was decisive in an eye-catching 1:50.4 last week & this classy 10YO rates top billing in a tight call in a wicked final

 

4-Colossal Stride N – Came right back to edge Stonebridge Reef again by mere inches & on the engine, draws inside that rival & he’s logically a sharp prime prospect to sweep

 

8-Stonebridge Reef – Twice beaten favorite suffered two straight heartbreaking defeats to Colossal Stride A, remains @ a reduced level & Dexter Dunn can find a way from post eight to atone

 

Race 10

6-Combustion – Opened up his season for new connections with a gritty score over Binge On Yankee, then just missed to standout Red Right Hand & now makes his third start off the bench

 

9-Binge On Yankee – Bounced back off that wake up narrow loss to Combustion with a perfect trip score & new mark of 1:49.2 two weeks ago & continues to step up for Team Burke

 

3-Congressional – Was able to swing the 180 with a pocket ride shocker last week, sub-1:50 performer draws better & in line to employ a similar stalk n pop strategy

 

Race 11

2-Saranac Blue Chip – Switches to the mile track here off a no-chance mile in the slop, been competitive against tougher @ Yonkers & now gets class & post relief

 

1-Adam Crocker A – Shot home to upset in a career best of 1:49.3 two starts back, then a nice rally to hit the board when favored @ Yonkers & back @ The Big M with rail & Bionic Man

 

5-Warrawee Total – Drops a notch after a post eight tour of the oval & note the amazingly gutsy effort before that, any semblance of that effort makes him a player in this headscratcher

 

Race 12

7-American Dealer N – Returns to the scene of a sloppy track score back on March 2, gets some class relief & tries to reignite his season in a pretty tough spot

 

4-Stellar Yankee – Solid runner up to big longshot Congressional last week & draws better to give him the option of taking charge while in top form for Team Stratton

 

3-Brutallyhandsome A – Completes a strong Team Stratton 1-2 punch in this one, chased a 1:49.2 sizzler two weeks ago & now moves inside on a form spree

 

Race 13

2-Heza Real Diamond – 1:50.1 performer @ The Big M in 2024 on a continuous class descent & moves inside a field that is a combined two for 61 this season

 

3-Mindtrip – Got parked & paid the price last week, distant runner up to a runaway BB Lucky Boy before that, drops back down to the rock bottom condition & lands post three again

 

6-Always B Billy – Has hit the board in two of three since coming back, dropping into a softer spot here & needs the pace & trip to go his way

 

Race 14

4-Ferragamo Hanover – Rallied for a new mark of 1:52.1 to upset a TM Final last week & lightly-raced 4YO draws inside to take another step up in revival mode with Tyler Miller

 

6-Shipsaway – Makes his Rob Harmon debut here after missing more than three weeks, yet this lightly-raced 4YO does show those inspiring back-to-back wins @ Dover Downs recently

 

7-Abel De Vie – Badly beaten favorite failed to fire from the rail two weeks ago, made some positive moves in the right direction before that & could rebound