Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, September 6, & Saturday, September 7, 2024
Wednesday, September 4, 2024
Race 1
6-Makes Sense – First crop of Papi Rob Hanover & stablemate to Oakwood Ardan S tripped out to win his latest two of three career starts with plenty of energy late for a barn that rarely misses
2-Sugar Man – Here’s a Papi Rob Hanover first cropper who atoned for his opening loss with a rousing maiden breaker with a :26.3 & draws inside for Brett Pelling
4-Namaste Hanover – Papi Rob Hanover brother to 1:48.2 Nautical Hanover on board in five of seven, gathering momentum in PA & draws well here
Race 2
2-Flightline – Walner brother to Blonde Bombshell ($308,161) had no chance after a slow start from post ten in the comebacker, but now moves inside with talent & potential for TOC
1-Mr Walner Fashion – Fourth foal from world champion Cooler Schooner & brother to world champion Real Cool Sam, broken equipment in the comebacker after some inspiring lines
5-Sky Legacy – Walner colt hit the board in a couple of NJSS divisions, retains Dexter Dunn & lands in a soft consolation to flaunt his late kick for Team Melander
Race 3
1-Amazon Fashion – Walner third foal from a sister to 2006 HOY Glidemaster missed an upset out of a shuffle & lands the rail again in a wide-open consolation
4-Jersey Slide – Muscle Hill brother to Next Level Stuff ($847,970) & Take All Comers ($829,741) started off going in the right direction, freshened up & draws well for his second start off bench
5-Walspea – NJSS division winner in her career debut, made another early miscue last week, yet has a chance to rebound
Race 4
9-Reckless Abandon – Beaten chalk outsprinted third after missing a month, yet her previous NJSS conquests were impressive & rates highly despite moving outside
4-My Sweet Lily – Third foal from a sister to Papi Rob Hanover rallied stoutly to win her second start & draws well again to stand out in this rich final for Team Takter
6-Worklifebalance – Runner up in the NJSS Final almost went all the way despite missing a month & this Cattlewash filly could be on the verge
Race 5
5-Delaney Hanover – Sister to Darlene Hanover ($591,250) & Delilah Hanover $308,331) freshened after winning her Kindergarten debut & uncorked a sharp :26.4 to payoff the chalk & looks to go three-for-three for Team Wallin
1-Lady Landia – Lived up to the favorite’s hype & unleashed a mighty late surge to collar Kendra in her elimination, NJSS division winner with a :26.3 in her debut rewarded with the rail for Team Svanstedt
2-Kendra – Walner fourth foal from a sister to Gimpanzee set a rated pace from post nine & settled for second after missing a month & draws better off the tightener for Team Takter
Race 6
5-Captain Optimistic – Won his first three starts with speed & versatility before getting barely outsprinted by a wake up special in Papis Pistol, needed the race & looms large for Team Takter
2-Manolete – Just missed making it a three-ply NJSS sweep while attending a fast pace after a couple of explosive wins & draws inside to set up another stalking trip
4-Tom Horn – Team Burke-tuned son of Cattlewash has been on the board in five of six, just missed in the NJSS Final, shuffled third in :26.3 last week & draws better
Race 7
3-Warrawee Michelle – Hambo Oaks champ on a second half season roll, stormed home from a near impossible spot to nail longshot Tandem Hanover & draws much better for Team Svanstedt
4-Soiree Hanover – Fresh off a career best 1:52.2 in the Delmonica Hanover this Dan Patch Award winner grinded gamely to just miss to Chaparmbro & draws an improved post
6-Chaparmbro – Spotted them almost ten lengths at the start & still managed to deny a gallant Buy A Round in a gigantic display & has to rate highly in a wildly competitive final
Race 8
1-Reigning Jade – Finished a solid third behind Miraculous Deo in a much-improved effort last week, sport’s a mark of 1:50.1 @ The Big M & lands the rail to trip out for an upset
7-Rocket Deo – Flashed sharp speed in the Lynch @ Pocono & just missed making it four in a row, including a 1:49 career best in the Shady Daisy here & looks like the one to beat
8-Miraculous Deo – Just missed to a trip-sitting Sarasota Hanover with a :26 kicker, tougher draw here, but trending right for Noel Daley in a tricky puzzle
Race 9
1-Sig Sauer – 1:50 shocker in the Dancer, parlayed a very good fourth in the Hambo with a 1:51.3 wire job in the Beal, then left no doubt with a decisive 1:52 elimination & lands the rail
4-Tony Adams S – Beaten chalk got underway too late chasing Benny J, rocketing home in :26.2, consistent Team Svanstedt colt hasn’t missed the board this season & draws better
3-Benny J – 1:51.2 performer @ The Big M this season added Lasix & suddenly went wire-to-wire in a 1:52.1 elimination & draws inside again for Team Alagna
Race 10
4-Arbitrage Hanover – Took a mark of 1:49.1 upsetting Better Is Nice in the NJSS Final, shot home in :25.3 in an ideal tune up qualifier & draws well for Brett Pelling
2-Swimwiththecurrent – Made a triumphant return to The Big M with a career best 1:50.3 last week, & draws inside again for Team Burke & Dexter Dunn
5-Wish You Well – Just missed with a thunderous rally in the Adios Final & tuned up with a commendable fourth against older foes
Race 11
4-Go Ahead Makemyday – Uncorked quite the turnaround second time trotting hopples & draws inside fresh off a that career best 1:54.4 upset with trot at both ends
1-Hidalgo – Bounced back big time off his NJSS double debacle with a wrapped up new mark of 1:54.3 & stands out on the rail for Team Burke
2-Onajetplane – Just missed to Hidalgo in the recent qualifier, then runner up to that rival with a solid comebacker last week & now draws better
Race 12
5-Tactical Mounds – 1:49.4 Miss Versatility winner here in an excellent season so far, jogged in her Big M qualifier & The Money Man could try to steal this one
8-Special Way – Dan Patch Award winning millionaire, nosed out in the Graduate Final, runner up in the Steele Memorial, stuck outside & now you must somehow gauge a 34-day layoff
6-Nelsonbriteagle NO – Has hinted of breaking through here in the Miss Versatility Series, switches to Dexter Dunn, but a 41-day layoff makes her mystery
Race 13
6-Cocktailwithakick – Six Pack filly has been forced to kick home from tough spots in her last two & just needs some speed to shoot at for Team Svanstedt
3-Tactical Lori – Shuffled out in her elimination, strong in the win column this season & draws inside to trip out in an absolutely wide-open consolation
2-St Pauli Girl – Took a mark of 1:54 @ The Big M this season, faded in her last two, finally draws an inside post to rebound in a field ripe the taking
Race 14
8-Fast Approach – Walner colt from the maternal line of Fool’s Goal, 1:51.3 ($3,057,070) won three of his last four @ Grand River & debuts here fresh Team Burke from a tough post
4-Gap Kronos S – Added Yannick Gingras & suddenly ripped through in his third career start for Team Svanstedt & draws well here, second dam is world champion Check Me Out
6-Cabello – $125,000 Muscle Hill colt settled down & tripped out to win his Big M qualifier with a sharp late burst for Team Wallin & he could be anything
Saturday, September 7
Race 1
2-Magic Melvin – Lightly-raced 3YO has been ramping it up elsewhere, ships in fresh off a new lifetime mark @ Tioga Downs & draws inside for our Trainer of the Week
4-Love This Bar – Beaten favorite tried to close from a slow start & tough spot chasing Buzz, runner up in his last three here draws inside that rival to possibly turn the tables
10-Buzz – Classy 12YO has really come to life since switching to Andrew Adamczyk, repeated in style with the best mile of his season & has a chance to triple up despite post ten
Race 2
7-Build The Wall – 3YO Huntsville colt now with Maria Reid, added Lasix for two solid qualifiers, his latest chasing a major league colt in Gem Quality & doesn’t face much in here
3-Harry Hanover – Capped off July with back-to-back mild upsets here, note the barn & driver change, which could spell wake up with an inside draw
9-Kissinbythebeaches – Paid the price for a slow start after missing more than a month of action, draws a tough post to rebound, yet reunited with Dexter Dunn
Race 3
7-Talk Curdy To Me – Shows a third to Sylvia Hanover in the Clara Barton, she’s also been tangling with the top mares elsewhere, her gate speed can put her in play & she knows this track
8-Easy To Please – Trending in the right direction in her last three @ Yonkers, nosed out two starts back, then runner up to a heavy favorite, rates top contender status despite post eight
4-Blood Moon A – Rallied to hit the board chasing a dominant 1:49.1 Beach Cowgirl last week & draws inside her classier Team Cullipher stablemate to play a serious stalking role
Race 4
1-Captain Terminator – Failed to live up to the favorite’s hype in his Big M debut, yet with the benefit of that acclimating mile he finally draws inside, while facing a soft MADC division
8-Hurrikane Ironhead – The 4YO Ironhead almost pulled off a shocker from the rail last week, now moves outside, but certainly deserves a long look off that wake up effort
6-Golden Gesture – 11YO suddenly regained winning form, going wire-to-wire in his last two @ Monticello & picks up the very capable Yogi Sheridan
Race 5
1-Ignatius A – Continues to descend the condition ladder, top pick & solid third last week, drops another notch, now stands out on the rail & long overdue
3-Stellar Yankee – Recent form no doubt hasn’t been stellar since the late July sick scratch, but this 1:50.1 winner here this season gets more class relief & draws better for Team Stratton
5-He’s Half Naked – Interesting shipper arrives fresh off a solid second against $20k claimers @ Harrah’s Philadelphia first time Lasix & could threaten with a similar follow up
Race 6
6-Stop Staring – Richard Johnson claim flashing positive signs of speed in PA, owns a couple of wins here this season against $20k claimers & continues on the comeback trail
5-Its Showtime – Launched a wide, menacing late bid after a slow start from post ten, nice rally @ Freehold before that, just one for 19 this season, but might be on the verge
10-Yayas Hot Spot N – Responded to a perfect drive by Yogi Sheridan & polished it off with the best mile of his season & now makes his second start off the bench from post ten
Race 7
5-Tesla Power – Has come around with three straight on-the-board finishes, offered more late energy from a tough spot last week & gets to stalk from mid-pack
6-Fun With Flags – Lightly-raced & consistent 3YO filly promptly went all the way for a new mark of 1:52.1 in a sparkling Big M debut & looks like the one to knock off again
2-Darlin’s Dream – Beaten favorite was forced to grind uncovered & still held third to Fun With Flags & has a chance to rebound from an improved post
Race 8
6-Oregon Trail – Was facing some top stock @ Saratoga, kicked home in a sharp :26.2 here in a nice acclimating mile last week & now drops a notch
5-Passe-Grille Beach – Big M horse-for-the-course ventures back from Tioga Downs, gets some class relief, fires from mid-pack & often responds to aggressive handling
2-Uriel Blue Chip – 1:52.4 winner @ The Big M this season finished a much better third against $15k claimers @ Yonkers last week & draws inside a wide-open affair
Race 9
1-Captain Crusader – Pace compromised & flashed a nifty :25.4 here last week, sub 1:50 performer @ The Big M this season drops a notch & lands the rail for Team Cullipher
3-Strengthfromabove – Bumped back up in class fresh off a wire-to-wire wake up mile with a :26.3 & draws an improved post for Besim The Dream
10-Brutallyhandsome A – The Handsome One bounced back with a solid runner up finish to a 1:49.2 chalk winner last week & he’s worthy of strong consideration despite post ten
Race 10
1-Mirage Hanover – 3YO was left in the wake of two Legendary Hanover track records here this season, bounced back with a sharp second by a neck @ Yonkers & lands the rail
9-Ruthless Hanover – World champion has the 1:47.2 Joseph Auger to his credit this season, scratched from the CPD after romping in a Pocono Invite & assigned post nine
6-Chimichurri N – Responded to the favorite’s hype with a well-controlled & decisive wire-to-wire new mark of 1:50.1 last week & now brimming with confidence
Race 11
8-Raptors Flight N – Only took a few starts back with Besim Odza & some class relief to regain his winning ways, faces a class hike & tougher post, but he’s on his way back up
9-Hound On The Beach – Drops out of N/W 6 @ Tioga Downs where he was pretty competitive, tackles post nine here with a one for 23 record this season, yet capable of firing out
10-National Sport – Overcame a severely pace compromised trip, forced wide & kicked home in a much-improved :26.3 last week & rates contender status despite post ten
Race 12
6-Knock Twice – Lightly-raced filly has come around recently against N/W 3 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & can capitalized on her form spree in an a cozy spot here
1-Firstup – Classy 10YO regaining form on the comeback trail, arrives fresh off a solid second @ Pocono, lands the rail & knows her way around this oval
2-American Silks – Draws post two again off a well-driven rally for the deuce behind standout Raptors Flight N & this lightly-raced filly continues to trend right
Race 13
1-Santafe’s Appetite – Added Jason Bartlett & took full advantage of some class relief to steamroll the opposition & now moves inside off that big turnaround
2-Paige Perfect – Solid season so far with a mark of 1:52.3 @ The Big M, shuffled second to Santafe’s Appetite last week & draws inside to somehow turn the tables
4-Madam X – Rallied to beat N/W6 @ Tioga Downs back-to-back, took a mark of 1:52.1 in the process & draws well while making her second start for Team Cullipher
Race 14
5-Mr Knowitall – Took a mark of 1:53.1 @ The Big M earlier this season at this level, he’s been landing on the edges @ Pocono & ships into a softer spot here
3-I’ll Owe You One – Left alertly from post seven & emerged from a shuffle with the show just behind Hobbs last week & now draws an improved post
2-Hobbs – Draws much better off a sudden display of speed, also gets some class relief, retains Jason Bartlett & expected to be forwardly placed again