Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, June 7, & Saturday, June 8, 2024
Wednesday, June 5, 2024
Race 1
7-My Wish Came True – 0 for 16 this season, but has been forced to close from near impossible spots recently & re-united with John Calabrese
3-Lovethewayyoulie – Chased a sizzling 1:51.2 winner last out, just missed closing from ninth three starts back & finally draws inside for Team Chiodo
4-Yer So Bad – Has made some late moves for minor shares recently, lands in a softer division here & the beaten favorite two starts back draws an improved post
Race 2
4-Greystone Treasure – Was an encouraging runner up in her Big M debut for a new barn, then shuffled & outsprinted last week, now this is a soft spot she can exploit
7-Roll On Myway – Ships in fresh off back-to-back wins @ Northfield Park & this lightly-raced 3YO filly in career form finds a highly beatable field here
5-Rockford Peach – 0 for 14 this season, no factor again @ Yonkers this past Tuesday, yet perhaps she can spark something in this dartboard field
Race 3
5-Kingston Panic – Has been struggling against tougher claimers recently, tries the mile track from mid-pack & retains Yannick Gingras
2-Coin Flip – Has license to rebound off a no-chance mile, just missed two starts back, moves inside & picks up The Money Man
4-Gemini Express – Fresh claim regained form in qualifiers @ Pocono & has a big chance trip out from an inside post in a field without serious opposition
Race 4
7-Machlicious – Blasted down the road with the barn change two starts back, then bumped into Muscle Factory A, has a chance to turn the table if that rival gets roughed up
9-Muscle Factory A – Has won three of his last four, his last two in dominant 1:51 & change, assigned the outside here, yet might be just too good right now
8-T Dog – Regained his winning form two starts back, zipping home in :26.3, solid runner up from post ten last Saturday remains a serious threat
Race 5
5-Devastate – Second dam is Hall of Famer Solveig & out of a sister to Shake It Cerry, chased a 1:51.1 Hambo eligible in NYSS @ Vernon Downs for Team Takter & has major upside
4-Vehement – First foal from a Dan Patch Award winner, world champion & sister to Explosive Matter, solid second qualifier & draws well for his Team Alagna debut
1-Green Pastures – Greenshoe gelding finally stayed flat & finished a solid second to a big favorite For July & lands the rail for Per Engblom
Race 6
3-Parklane Terror – Left alertly from the rail & outsprinted by TM 80 stock, chased a 1:49.3 winner before that & upset TM 80 company three starts back, drops & draws inside again
1-Paduka N – Suddenly uncorked some sharp speed @ Harrah’s Philadelphia as the beaten favorite & has trip potential with the rail back here & long overdue
7-Ferragamo Hanover – Returns to the scene of a career best 1:52.1, recently wired N/W 6 @ Tioga Downs & that aggressive strategy could work out back here
Race 7
5-Valentina Ritchie – From the Hall of Fame dam Solveig, sister to Shake It Cerry just missed in her 3YO debut, then jogged @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & launches mid-pack here
4-Bikini Model – Set a rated pace from post eight & settled for second to St Pauli Girl, draws better & trending right as part of sharp Team Orange Crush trio
10-St Pauli Girl – Daughter of world champion Six Pack has reeled off three in a row, nailed Bikini Model with a nice late burst & tackles post ten with major upside
Race 8
2-Cocco Puff Power – 1:51.3 debut winner just missed to a 1:48.1 sizzler, makes only her fourth career start & draws inside for Team Toscano
5-Viki Hill – Sister to 1:47.2 performer Party Girl Hill flashed a :26.4 in a nice acclimating mile here last Saturday after winning two in a row @ Pocono
3-Where’s Larry – Bettor’s Wish filly stepped up with a solid second in the NJSS Final & draws better on the way up
Race 9
3-Warrawee Yankee – Paid the price for a slow start from post seven & still hit the ticket & now his superior closing power can be more effective from an improved post
6-Way To Close – Favored in four of last five he left little doubt with an emphatic wire-to-wire in a sizzling 1:51.2 last week & tough to go against off that effort
1-Sunshine’s Finest – Moves inside fresh off a no-chance mile from post nine, just missed before that & rallied to a mild upset three starts back & lands the rail in top form
Race 10
6-Periculum – Lived up to the tote hype & bounced back with a perfect trip rally in a nifty 1:51.1 & now pointing in the right direction for Team Melander
3-Nelsonbriteeagle NO – Norway import with a strong number in the win column, finished a close second in her lone qualifier & draws inside for Team Svanstedt
4-Outside The Fire – Returns to the scene of a career best 1:52.2 fresh off a tough loss as the beaten favorite @ Pocono, draws well & re-united with The Money Man
Race 11
4-P L Portia – Stormed home from a tough spot to just miss to Roma Amor & draws better for her second start off the bench
5-Roma Amor – Has been on major form spree, came charging home from post eight to take a new mark of 1:52 & draws better
7-Our Shell Belle – Beaten favorite tried to get in repeat mode, rallied stoutly & settled for minor spoils & she’s a threat with the right set up
Race 12
5-Betterinpinehurst – 1:51.4 performer here this season gets further class relief & look for more speed from a mid-pack launch for Team Cullipher
6-Lindy’s Coyotito – 3YO Hambo eligible came right back to romp in the NY Excelsior Series @ Vernon Downs off a game score & new mark of 1:53.1 here
8-Donato Patriot K – Fringe player against much tougher @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, drops to a competitive level here, but post eight & one for 17 this season a concern
Race 13
6-Rose Run Uriah – Trip compromised in his last two against Starter Allowance types, drops into a blank TM 72 affair & long overdue
4-Xmarxthespot – Was significantly better last Saturday, that solid second three starts back is worth noting, hasn’t won since July 4, 2022, yet draws well
1-Doctor BB – The Doctor showed signs of coming around recently, will get a chance to float away from the rail in a wide-open toss up
Race 14
5-Kingpin Hanover – Sports a 1:56 mark here this season, on the edges against N/W 6 in his last two @ Tioga & drops into a prime spot here
7-Shinkansen – One for 18 this season, but always in the mix, a close second with trot at both ends last Saturday & factors in despite post seven
9-Swan Captain – Gradually regaining form on the comeback trail, a solid third from the rail & worth a long look despite post nine
Saturday, June 8 Selections
Race 1
5-Final Justice – Forced wide chasing a 1:52.4 winner last out & has a chance to stalk n pop from a mid-pack launch in a field that is a combined four for 126 this season
1-Harry Hanover – Harry is 0 for 13 this season, yet steadily grabbing shares, the beaten favorite finally moves inside & lands in a field begging to be beaten
3-Manhattan Beach – Showing some encouraging signs @ Freehold recently, only making his fifth start of the season & draws well to make the mile track transition
Race 2
1-Apertif – Almost converted a perfect trip with pace at both ends against the red-hot Toto Hanover, drops into a wide-open claimer & lands the rail
4-Bettor At Hightide – Ultra consistent gelding hit the board again in a Play Meadowlands Final, gets away from Toto Hanover & draws well again
2-Concur – One for 20 this season, landing on the edges in his last two & plays the stalking opportunist role again from an improved post
Race 3
4-Pull Me Through – 0 for 18 this season, no factor from the rail in her Big M debut, but her previous lines @ Harrah’s Philadelphia make her threat in this toss up field
6-Phelgon – Apparently pronounced “Felon” has followed up her first win of the season three starts back with not much in her last two, yet this is a scenario where she can turn things around
1-Hold My Tiara – Wasn’t heard from after a slow start in her Big M debut, seemed to come around a bit in her previous two & lands the rail in wide-open TM division
Race 4
6-Pinebushdragonroll – Has won his last four @ The Big M & Team Bongiorno have really found the key this one, going two-for-two since the barn change in emphatic style
7-Rau Ru – Well driven to repeat in his Big M debut, then had too far to come from post ten, post is still challenging, yet remains in prime form for Team Cullipher
5-Mister Spot A – Sat the pocket & was just a length off Pinebushdragonroll in Leg 1, then got stung early last week, a more patient bounce-back effort is possible
Race 5
2-Landia – Pace compromised & forced wide to hit the board in an inspiring Big M debut acclimating mile, lands post two again & could be on the verge
8-Fashion Cantab – Bounced back off an early miscue with a well-driven score as the favorite, tougher post here, yet can’t rule out a repeat
5-Zlatan – Parlayed his first win of the season @ Freehold into a narrow loss here & gets a chance to stalk mid-pack again with something positive to build on
Race 6
5-Churchviewfrankl IR – Exploded home to a new mark of 1:49.3 first time Lasix, then finished a solid third, now drops off a rare miscue @ Pocono as the heavy favorite
3-Lite N Sweet – Just missed a huge upset off a recent sick scratch, then got off to a slow start from post eight & was out of striking range & now moves inside
1-Whole Lotta Lou – Lou Stepped up to this level & surged late to just miss after a post seven romp & career best 1:49, steady gelding on the rise & the rail
Race 7
5-Captain Bazinga – Distant runner up to the raging Mccrunch last Friday, this Captaintreacherous homebred makes only his fifth career start & learning his lessons well
6-The Dragon Reborn – Royally bred colt won his career debut with a nice late burst, back from making a miscue in OSS @ Mohawk & returns to N/W 2 for Team Alagna
8-Way To Go Captain – This Captain rebounded with a sharp narrow loss in The Stallion Series @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, tough draw, but has some upside for Team Burke
Race 8
2-Sword Of The Spirit – Roughed it first over & held second behind runaway Machlicious, draws inside again with a chance to trip out, long overdue & retains John Calabrese
8-Thndrfrmthethron N – 10YO suddenly blasted to the top & took no prisoners last week, moves outside, yet can’t imagine he won’t employ a similar strategy
5-Kissinbythebeaches – Thwarted by a couple of sick scratches recently, finished a much better second to Thndrfrmthethron N last week & has license to follow up
Race 9
4-Dontkarenifido – Both of her recent wins here have come when she’s forwardly placed, career best 1:50.3 with a :26.3 two starts, so no reason not to leave from inside post
6-Absolute Power – Fired out from post eight, got shuffled & never had a clear lane, solid runner up before that gets another shot at this level
7-Miss Chantilly N – Brushed & shrugged off heavy pressure & just missed to AVF Claire as the beaten favorite, post a bit tougher here, yet remains in top form for Team Stratton
Race 10
6-Voukefalas – Two-time NJSS champion has been chasing Open company in his last few, gets some class relief, still ramping up & owns a vicious late move
7-Nicholas Beach – Flashed plenty late in a much-needed start after a long layoff & with a dose of class relief he might be ready to fire a serious shot for Team Bongiorno
2-Joemikiyoursofine – Uncorked a wickedly game first over upset last week & took a new mark of 1:49 in only his second start of the season & moves inside for the class hike
Race 11
7-Wise Thinking – Won his first two fresh off the bench & took a new mark of 1:51.3 @ Pocono, exits tougher claimers & figures to have speed to shoot at for Team Bongiorno
6-Twin B Seamonster – Lightly-raced 4YO arrived here on a roll for Team Ryder & finished a solid third behind Divine Right, draws inside that rival & faces easier
8-Bet A Bundle – Fresh off a blowout win in 1:50.3 he just missed in 1:49.3 as the beaten favorite, look for another blastoff to capitalize on current top form
Race 12
4-Hers Hungry – Hard-charging runner up from post nine off a lifetime best upset in 1:53.1 & draws better in a competitive division
7-Queen Sun Ryser – Lived up to the tote hype by steamrolling to a new mark of 1:52.3, draws another challenging post, yet she has cycled to the top
5-EA Mushu – She’s won three of her last four, rallied with the mile of her life in a sparkling Big M debut & logically looms as a stalk n pop threat
Race 13
2-All About The Hunt – Grand Circuit stakes winning freshman, now on the comeback trail for Team Ryder at age five, looks ready & draws inside a prime spot
8-Kootenay Santanna – Dropped to this rock bottom condition & crushed first over in a career best 1:51 while hammered down to 2-1 & repeat certainly possible despite post eight
6-Straight Talk – Set a rated pace from post seven & settled for second to the gallant Kootenay Santana, makes that key third start off the bench & owns some back class
RACE 14
3-Vandalism – More than lived up to his tote support with a convincing first over & took a new mark of 1:51.3 in a dazzling Big M debut, remains at this reduced level & draws inside again
6-Thatswhatisaid – Parlayed a perfect trip to payoff the chalk in 1:52.2 last week, just missed to Better Than Some in Leg 1 & gate speed puts him in play
7-Keep Us Happy – Overcame the second tier & shook loose late for second to Thatswhatisaid last week, post seven no picnic, but figures to get a speed target in a competitive final