Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, May 24, & Saturday, May 25 2024

Wednesday, May 22, 2024

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Race 1

6-Machlicious – 0 for 14 in 2024, flashed some decent late pace @ Tioga Downs after missing a month, lands in a real soft spot & gets a barn change to Team Bongiorno

 

2-Chip Walther – 0 for 10 this season, but comes off a much-improved rally for second, retains Anthony Veruso & moves inside a severely form-challenged field

 

1-In Nevada N – Made up a lot of late ground to hit the board from post 10, albeit with a slow :58.1 back half, does moves inside & gives Team Chiodo a stalk n pop chance

 

Race 2

1-Woman Of Passion – Walner fourth foal from the stakes winner Womans Will tripped out to a post eight upset in a sparkling 3YO debut & stands out on the rail

 

7-Life On The Bluff – Walner foal #5 from world champion Bluff a solid third with strong back half of 55.4 in the slop, another challenging draw, but expect more in her second off the bench

 

4-Chasin Sunshine – First crop of 2019 Trotter of the Year Greenshoe, nosed out in her first try, then a beat favorite settled for second, draws well for sizzling Team Alagna

 

Race 3

3-Fox Valley Patriot – Rallied from a tough spot to hit the board again @ Pocono, 4YO with some upside draws inside & gets Yannick Gingras

 

2-Mister Spot A – Sub 1:50 performer here last season was a pretty decisive upsetter from post nine two starts back & draws inside off a no-chance mile for the Hot Toddy

 

5-Pinebushdragonroll – Tripped out to take a new mark of 1:51.3 three starts back, came right back to win again, this is another step up, yet note the barn change to Team Bongiorno

 

Race 4

4-Dark Horse – Stormed home from a long way back to grab the deuce @ long odds, just missed before that & draws well to push through in a wide-open division

 

7-Toto Hanover – Invaded from Freehold, switched to The Money Man, cashed in with the mile of his life & can’t rule out a repeat

 

3-Rose Run Uriah – Displayed sharp speed two starts back, then punched home with increased vigor last week & this serious contender lands post three again

 

Race 5

4-My Wish Came True – Beaten favorite 0 for 15 this season, landed on the fringes in his last two, finally draws inside & can outsprint this bunch

 

6-Select Friday – Dropped into a soft MADC division, unleashed a much-improved wide rally for third & now has something positive to build on

 

2-Rockabilly Charm – Squandered a perfect two-hole trip behind a well-rated winner last week, solid runner up in his previous two & draws better to rebound

 

Race 6

6-Sarasota Hanover – Bluegrass winner took a mark of 1:50.3 in the slop in a Kindergarten division here at two & now makes her second start off the bench for Team Toscano

 

2-Katies Up – Took a few starts to break through with a nice rally as the favorite from post seven against N/W 4 @ Pocono, draws inside here & The Big M’s top barn gets Yannick Gingras

 

5-Cocco Puff Power – Captain Crunch filly crushed her debut in a snappy 1:51.3, then finished a solid third in the comebacker last week & no doubt she’s got talent & upside

 

Race 7

2-Quicksilvr Bluechip – Winless in 13 this season, yet trending right @ Yonkers, gets some class relief, draws inside & note the barn change to Richard Johnson

 

1-A Majorsmackin – Reached a tad too high @ Yonkers last Saturday, solid runner up here before that, lands the rail & re-united with Brett Beckwith

 

5-Mr Knowitall – Regrouped with a career best 1:54.3 in a Big M qualifier, gets a mid-pack launch & tackles an easier group

 

Race 8

5-Coin Flip – Logical contender fresh off a hard-charging second by a head to Baileys Rock N, just one for 17 this season, but lands in a wide-open MADC division

 

1-Sunshine’s Finest – Shook loose late with a mild upset last week & draws inside again with a strong number in the win column

 

9-Lincoln Boulevard – Moves outside, yet sparked by a decisive score two starts back, then just missed last week & can get there with right set up

 

Race 9

3-Queen Sun Ryser – Moves inside off an impossible trip from post nine, grinded gamely for the show before that & makes her third start since switching barns off a lifetime best

 

4-Tesla Power – Solid runner up again to a big favorite, remains on a long form spree, draws inside again & retains Dexter Dunn

 

6-Santafe’s Appetite – Rallied to beat N/W 4 back-to-back @ Pocono last month, gets some needed class relief, but at the mercy of the pace here

 

Race 10

2-Betterinpinehurst – Took a mark of 1:51.4 in the slop here earlier this season, flashed a :26.4 last week, gets some class relief & chance to trip out for Team Cullipher

 

4-Barry Black – Has hit the board in three of his last four @ Yonkers, 13YO definitely has some back class, draws inside & gets Todd McCarthy

 

1-Purple Lord – Bounced back fresh off the hop with a surprising career best two weeks ago & draws the rail in a less than inspiring field

 

Race 11

5-Entrench – Lightly-raced 3YO was gaining momentum @ Saratoga recently, got parked into a :27.2 third quarter @ Pocono last out & now makes his second start for Per Engblom

 

6-Xmarkxthespot – Fresh off a solid second after making a premature move to the lead, that was three weeks ago, trending right, while long overdue in a dartboard field

 

8-Bullvillespandemic – Ships in fresh off a nose loss with a decent rally @ Tioga Downs, tougher post here & continues in the right direction in a field that is a combined five for 126 this season

 

Race 12

2-Pick Pocket – Grabbed the show in his NJSS debut, then had the misfortune of chasing Karl, draws inside again with a big chance to ramp it up further

 

1-Lockheed Martin – Off a decent rebound effort, setting the pace, then fading to fourth behind the incomparable Karl & lands the rail for Team Alagna

 

4-Andover Contessa – This mare ships in on a nice form spree @ Pocono, winning two of her last three, draws well can either stalk the speed or dictate the terms

 

Race 13

5-A Better Game – Big M lover landing on the edges against tougher elsewhere & now drops into a more likely spot for her third start since a lame scratch & garners Hot Toddy

 

8-Twin B Echo – She’s come around in her last few @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws outside here, but the significant class relief might be enough

 

3-Blank Cheek – Took a mark of 1:52.3 @ 36-1 against better back in mid-March, just missed in a surprisingly good comebacker & draws better in a field of question marks

 

Race 14

5-Greystone Treasure – Has been pretty consistent against lower end claimers @ Mohawk, lands in a real soft spot here for a new barn & gets The Money Man

 

3-Phelgon – Well driven by Mark Herschberger to a decisive upset when she dropped to this level last week & draws better in a similar match up

 

1-Hers Hungry – Dipped to this level & landed on the fringe fifth again, seems to be trending in the right direction & has a chance to trip out from the rail in a wide-open finale

 

Saturday, May 25 Selections

Race 1

6-Rock On Line – Just one for 17 this season, yet stormed home from tough spots to just miss in his last two & seeks to turn the tables on Whammer Jammer

 

4-Muscle Factory A – Beaten favorite got parked into a quickening pace, game post eight win before that & lands post four again to bounce back

 

8-Whammer Jammer – One of two Slendorn-Harrison wake up specials last week, rebounded off a sick scratch & came within three fifths of his lifetime mark, can he repeat from post eight?

 

Race 2

3-Tennessee Smooth – Red hot Pocono invader ships in fresh off the mile of his life, improving 4YO strong in the win column & draws inside to set up a stalking scenario

 

8-River Ness – Beaten chalk tried to give them the slip with a :27.1 third quarter & got nailed late in a brisk 1:49.3, beat these from post eight back on May 4

 

4-Good Rockin – Yielded to River Ness two starts back, then bumped into a raging Random Hanover two weeks ago, draws better with controlling speed or can flaunt his big kick

 

Race 3

7-Fulton – 1:48.2 NA Cup elimination winner & third in that final last year, makes his key third start off the bench from an assigned post seven & might be ready to show his class

 

6-Stonebridge Reef – Steady sort has chased some sizzling winners recently, including one of the season’s fastest 1:48 last week & his latest win came at this level

 

3-Dean B Hanover – Went all the way at this level in 1:50.2 back in mid March, joins the class droppers in his return to The Big M & draws inside for Team Cullipher

 

Race 4

5-Hello Rocky – Returns to The Big M where he rallied to win two races this Spring & lands a mid-pack starting slot while facing a highly beatable bunch

 

7-Thatswhatisaid N – Shows a couple of nice efforts on the comeback trail @ Pocono recently & continues to sharpen his sword in a wide-open field from post seven again

 

8-Southwind Dredge – Hasn’t raced in two months & draws a tough post, but makes his first start off a re-claim & won here back-to-back in February

 

Race 5

6-Concur – Just one for 18 this season, yet has been a pretty steady check earner against tougher claimers recently, long overdue & figures to get some speed to shoot at

 

4-Ferdinand A – Here’s the other Slendorn-Harrison surprise turnaround last week, suddenly wired them with the best mile of his season & now draws better to prove it was no fluke

 

7-Lovethewayyoulie – Has definitely come around for Team Chiodo, stormed home from a real tough spot to just miss last Friday & banks on a hot pace

 

Race 6

7-Pulp Fiction – Dominated last year’s 2YO final from post eight, ramping up on the comeback trail & has the speed to turn the tables on Steno in a battle of the McCarthy brothers

 

8-Odds On Steno – Second to Pulp Fiction in last year’s 2YO final has come back with a vengeance, easily going two-for-two with a vicious 1:50.4 romp for Team Alagna

 

1-Quick Fire – Another strong member of the Michael Hall trio, clearly third best in both legs of this series, yet draws inside while trending in the right direction

 

Race 7

4-Stellar Yankee – Took a 1:50.1 mark here back in early February, beating N/W $14k, draws well with sharpening form & just missed to the classy Mad Max Hanover last Friday

 

8-Bounty Hunter – Can’t expect a lot for his first start of the year, tough to gauge off those qualifiers, post eight hurts, but faces a so-so field & his barn is on fire

 

3-Loorrim Lake – Has struggled in his last three @ Yonkers, gets class & post relief, equaled his lifetime mark of 1:52.2 here back in January & has a chance to regroup

 

Race 8

8-Caviart Belle – Exploded home in a breathtaking :25.3 to blow these mares away in a stellar 3YO debut for Team Takter & rates highly despite the stiffer task

 

5-Beach Cowgirl – Has caught fire for Team Burke with a game score here three starts back, a narrow loss @ The Meadows, then a wire-to-wire jogola @ Pocono

 

7-Rockn Philly – Arrived here on a long form spree for Noel Daley & bumped into the fresh n hot Caviart Belle last week, she can fire off the wings & play a stalking opportunist role

 

Race 9

1-Churchviewfrankl IR – Added Lasix, rocketed home from never-never land & took a new mark of 1:49.3 in his first start for Robert Cleary & now gets the rail for the class hike

 

5-Binge On Yankee – 4YO took a mark of 1:49.3 here back on April 13, steady stalking type gets some class relief & works from mid-pack for Team Burke in a handicapper’s headscratcher

 

4-Mirage Hanover – That was no mirage, but a real 1:49.3 career best 3YO debut with a :25.1 late shot two weeks ago, this Pace prospect steps way up, but draws inside again

 

Race 10

1-Mr Three O Five – Lightly-raced colt was a much more threatening runner up to heavily favored Endofstory & lands the rail to take another step up for Team Takter

 

10-Arbitrage Hanover – Dominated both legs of this series & has easily gone three-for-three this season, this Brett Pelling pupil was slammed with post ten, but has clearly found his best stride

 

6-Endofstory – Took the aggressive route as the heavy favorite to go two-for-two in his new barn & fresh off a 1:50.4 mark picks up Dexter Dunn in a very competitive final

 

Race 11

2-Donkarenifido – Went wire-to-wire for a new mark of 1:52.1 three starts back, near impossible trips in her last two & draws inside to revert back to her aggressive mode

 

4-Miss Dottie Mae – Has been pretty steady against comparable mares @ Yonkers, owns a mark of 1:52.2 here, draws well in top form & rates contender status in a very tricky puzzle

 

5-Blood Moon A – Tripped out to upset & took a new mark of 1:51.2 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia off a sick scratch, no factor chasing Caviart Belle here last week & can rebound for Team Cullipher

 

Race 12

6-Remember The Alamo – Another bright prospect in the Team Alagna quartet, fresh off a sharp qualifier against Captain Albano he followed stablemate Captain Luke last week

 

10-Captain Luke – Solid runner up to a 1:49.4 Mccrunch last week, Governor’s Cup winner makes his second start off the bench for Team Alagna & has the talent to overcome post ten

 

2-Atoughnuttocrack – Flashed a nifty :25.4 chasing Arbitrage Hanover in NJSS action, lightly-raced homebred draws inside the main concerns, retains The Buckeye & could surprise

 

Race 13

2-Buckeye Emery – Took a new mark of 1:52.1 as the heavy favorite from post six two starts back, then chased a runaway Bet A Bundle from post nine & now moves inside

 

1-Parklane Terror – Drops back to the TM 80 level after getting blitzed by a 1:49.3 winner, tripped out to score a 16-1 upset before that & lands the rail to rebound

 

4-Passa-Grille Beach – Has cranked up his game in his last two, just missed to Parklane Terror with a rally from post seven on May 10, then finished a solid third behind Buckeye Emery

 

Race 14

7-Fulsome – Drops to the bottom condition after chasing a 1:49.1 winner last Friday, draws a demanding post, yet his back class could resurface in a toss up finale

 

1-Interest Free A – 0 for his last 28 & winless this season, drops again & moves inside off a couple of eye-catching rallies with Todd McCarthy, yet you must factor in his three-week layoff

 

3-Cahoots – Struggling here & elsewhere recently since taking a new mark of 1:53 here back in mid-April, however class relief, inside draw & Andrew McCarthy could spell revival