Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, November 1 & Saturday, November 2, 2024

Wednesday, October 30, 2024

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Race 1
4-Jim Strikesitrich – Took a new mark of 1:52.1 in a big wake up win down at Oak Grove as the heavy favorite back in late May & draws well for a similar effort in his second try off the bench

1-Skyway Billy – Just two for 34 this season, but noting his latest exploits @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, display of vigor last out & lands the rail back at a track where he thrives

2-A B Collins – Pace & trip compromised last Friday, draws better off that effort, retains Anthony Verruso & gets a big chance to trip out & snap his 2024 winless streak in a toss up field

Race 2
1-Win Together S – Returns from a two-month layoff, still on Lasix, left off on a winning note, qualified in solid fashion & draws the rail for The Money Man

4-Chapalonia – Lightly-raced filly with potential, strong third from post nine in her comebacker on Lasix, trotting hopples have helped & draws well

5-Hobbs – Has struggled against tougher claimers recently & this is a more comfortable spot for him to possibly turn it around for Team Stratton

Race 3
6-Miss Chantilly N – Took a 1:51 mark @ The Big M this season, liking her solid third in the much-needed comebacker & she gets another shot at this reduced level

3-My August Moon A – Added Lasix just before a recent layoff, took a mark of 1:51.3 at this level back in late July, tuned up with two solid qualifiers & draws inside for Team Tritton

5-Our Shell Belle – 1:51.3 performer here this season returned from injury with a well controlled winning qualifier & returns in a cozy spot to assert herself fresh off the bench

Race 4
4-Firstup – 10YO mare winless this season, but fresh off a narrow loss @ Pocono she was forced to angle out in the stretch with a lively effort from post nine here & now draws better

8-Caviart Skipper – Pace & trip compromised & still just missed with a gallant effort as the beaten favorite, now his post is tougher, yet he could be on the verge of an overdue win

9-Hello Rocky – Keyed the first two Big M wins for Geovany Hernandez & his late double sweep with a grand saving 12-1 upset & has to prove it was no fluke from post nine

Race 5
5-Fashion Ken – Ken might be on the verge, just missed @ Pocono before the sick scratch, then came out of a shuffle with a solid second last week & finds a highly beatable field

4-Wheelzablazin – 3YO colt has racked up 10 wins this season in Ontario, debuts here for a new barn & draws well, yet the 35-day layoff makes him tough to gauge

10-Hurrikane Willie G – Just one for 18 this season, that lone score came with a lively effort two starts back @ Pocono & looks for a similar stalking trip from the rail here

Race 6
4-Muscle Factory – All six of his wins this season have come in this series, his best a 1:51.2 clocking & this prolific 9YO has been freshened & draws well

2-Music Hall – 4YO returns to The Big M fresh off a perfect trip upset @ Freehold, a solid second when favored here before that & draws inside for The Judge

3-That’smytype – Ships in fresh off a wake up wire-to-wire upset @ Yonkers, draws inside with a history of success here & similar aggressive tactics are expected

Race 7
7-Catch My Breath – 3YO filly arrives off a couple off decent tightening efforts against better @ Pocono, demanding draw here, but gets Todd McCarthy

8-Raise The Ante – Winless this season & tough draw, but makes her third start off a sick scratch & ships in off a lively effort @ Harrah’s Philadelphia

3-Phelgon –Returns to The Big M off some dull efforts, yet gets some class & post relief with a winning history here in very tricky pari mutuel puzzler

Race 8
3-Rock On Line – Beaten favorite stormed home to just missed to Captain Terminator in a rousing comeback & draws better on the cusp of another win here

5-Captain Terminator – Arrived on a decent roll @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, brushed to the top & held on for the upset last week to give Geovany Hernandez a late double sweep

7-Bloodhound – Forced wide from an impossible spot to hit the board last week, tricky post & just one for 20 this season, but figures to be better in his third start off a sick scratch

Race 9
6-Louis Litt N – Ships in fresh off a sterling rally & narrow loss @ Freehold, now makes his third start off the bench for Juan Cano & picks up Todd McCarthy

5-Perfect Promises – 4YO just one for 29 this season, but has been able to regain form & ships in fresh off a narrow loss @ Pocono for a midpack launch in a wide-open affair

7-See You Friday – Only one for 31 this year, yet arrives off a solid second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, picks up Andrew McCarthy & would benefit from speed target

Race 10
2-Uptown Hanover – Just missed with a two-move effort in a noteworthy Big M debut, now gets class & post relief for Team Cullipher & strong in the win column

4-AVF Claire – Fresh off a narrow loss in her comebacker she bumped into a classy Sweet Amira & this twice beaten favorite remains a serious contender

7-Dixie Dream – Tripped out to collar the favorite AVF Claire in a nifty 1:51.2 fresh off the bench, tougher post here, but remains a rejuvenated Team Burke trainee

Race 11
6-Santafe’s Appetite – 1:50.3 performer @ The Big M this season has flashed some late life in her last two, drops into a likely spot, retains Scott Zeron & owns a big late move

5-Lady Wishes – Rallied for a big upset & new mark of 1:52.4 two starts back @ Pocono & ships into a softer spot for her third start in a new mark

7-High Fashion Star – Trying to find her way since switching to Mark Silva off the late September sick scratch, gets some more class relief to deal with a challenging post

Race 12
3-Century Komodo – With a mark of 1:50 @ Mohawk this Bettor’s Delight gelding chased Nijinsky in ONSS action, draws inside in an easier spot & makes his second start for Team Cullipher

4-Oakwood Heymiki IR – Another promising Irish-bred stablemate to Oakwood Ardan IR paced a back half of :54.4 to romp in his Big M qualifier & has to be feared

8-Its Saturday Night – Ships in fresh off the mile of his life @ Pocono, draws outside, but gets a serious dose of class relief for Nifty Norman

Race 13
7-Little Expensive – Very expensive $260,000 yearling launches an anticipated comeback fresh off an energetic qualifier, tough post, but gets class relief for Team Orange Crush

5-Kinesiology – 3YO Walner filly took a mark of 1:54.2 here this season, perfect trip winner two starts back @ Freehold, serious contender on best behavior for Team Burke

4-Labyad Bros S – Interesting European bred qualified with good energy here, draws well in a real mixed bag field & could make an immediate impression in this wide-open match up

Race 14
5-Sunshine’s Finest – Has been very effective in the amateur series here this season & gets a big chance to end a drought with a stalk n pop scenario

3-Katana – Gelding has been very consistent @ Shenandoah Downs recently & draws inside fresh off a narrow loss in a dartboard finale

4-Bolt The Court – Snapped a long losing skid with a big rally & best mile of his season two starts back @ Vernon Downs & draws well here in a total stab

Saturday, November 2 Selections

Race 1

4-Fashion Cantab – Eight-time winner this season, including a 1:55 speed badge here, flashed some late life in a much-needed comebacker & draws well for Anthony Verruso

 

9-Massive Matter – Took a mark of 1:54.1 @ The Big M this season, tough post, yet fresh off a narrow loss @ Pocono, regaining form after an early September sick scratch & faces easier

 

10-Blue Devil – Ships from Ontario with solid form on view into a new barn, stuck outside, but appears to have the wheels to get involved

 

Race 2

3-Champagne Problems – Grand Circuit winner in a prolific season, appeared primed for the BC & made a rare late miscue, lands post three again to rebound for Team Takter

 

8-R Lady W – Lindy Farms bred ships in off a three-ply sweep of the MASS Sires Stakes Series, fresh off a new mark of 1:54.2 she’s brimming with confidence to tackle post eight

 

2-Sonmar Pond – Lived up to her tote hype with a game score here last Friday, took new mark of 1:54 & gets post two again to tap into her potential further

 

Race 3

1-R Dutchess – Red Mile Grand Circuit winner in 1:52.1 just missed here as the beaten chalk last Friday & obviously has the talent to atone with a smooth trip from the rail

 

2-Voguish – $535,000 Gimpanzee sister to millionaire Venerable, suddenly uncorked a wicked :26.3 to leave R Charm & company in the dust & draws inside again

 

6-R Charm – Stormed home in :26.2 to upset a NJ Classic Final, then was left in the wake of Voguish last Friday, tough post, yet still has the gate speed to be a threat

 

Race 4

4-Cheers Hanover – Has come around in his last three for Team Burke, tripped out to a confident upset with The Buckeye last Friday & stands out with post four again

 

1-Durante Hanover – Was somehow able to turn his game around here with a better start & runner up finish at better than 42-1 & lands the rail in a soft division

 

8-Frank Leahy – Strode in here off back-to-back wins & bumped into his Team Burke stablemate Cheers Hanover, tougher draw, but remains a serious contender

 

Race 5

7-Gemini Express – Tackles post seven again while on a three-race form spree, fully capable of leaving alertly & doesn’t face any standouts in this wide-open affair

 

3-Sinatra Hanover – Sports decent form @ Saratoga where he failed to get involved in the Gary Kamal Final last out, 3YO draws well to regroup & transition to The Big M mile

 

2-El Parrandero Q – Interesting newcomer just won a Minnesota Sired Championship @ Running Aces, draws inside, yet the 42-day layoff makes him tough to gauge

 

Race 6

8-Railroad Station – Slammed with post ten in the BC after he just missed in his elimination, draws outside here again, but this Team Burke son of Sweet Lou has the talent & upside to overcome

 

3-Manolete – Solid first season so far for this son of Cattlewash, bounced back with a well-rated wire-to-wire last Friday & draws better to assert himself once more

 

2-Attaboychet – Suddenly came to life with speed & almost went all the way @ 21-1 & now moves inside for his second start off the bench to lead a Team Alagna trio

 

Race 7

5-Stellar Yankee – Dismiss the slow starts from outside posts in his last two @ Yonkers, took a mark of 1:50.1 here this season & drops to a dangerous level for Team Stratton

 

4-Mindtrip – Has done well slugging it out against tougher claimers in PA & returns to The Big M in softer spot to play his preferred stalk n pop game

 

1-Haggard – Fired up his form @ Freehold recently, kicked home with noteworthy late pace here last week at long odds, finally moves inside & could surprise

 

Race 8

1-Shes A Streaker – Just missed in a Bluegrass division, bumped into a revved up Chakra here last Friday & lands the rail again while on the verge of breaking through for Team Burke

 

7-Chakra – Lather Up filly came to life with an astounding wire-to-wire new mark of 1:50.3 for Team Alagna & now launches from a tougher post third time Lasix

 

3-Simply Perfect – Runner up in a Bluegrass division, unleashed a big qualifier here, then left in the wake of her stablemate Chakra, yet she likely has more in her second start off the bench

 

Race 9

5-JK Black Gold – Unfurled a solid rally for the deuce chasing the classy Mad Max Hanover & gets class relief off that strong acclimating mile

 

6-Dance Partner – Dropped into a prime spot & well-driven by Scott Zeron to a sharp upset last week & looks like he can handle the bump up in class in top form

 

9-Beach Vibes – His energetic rallies have paid off recently @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws a tough post here, but gets a class drop

 

Race 10

2-Turn The Page N – Reeled off five straight in the Open @ Plainridge, then wasn’t heard from @ Yonkers last Friday, yet draws inside here to rebound & take charge for Team Cushing

 

3-Elektra A – Nailed her Team Cullipher stablemate with the switch to Harrah’s Philadelphia & she’s a big threat to employ that same strategy from an inside post here

 

4-Talk Curdy To Me – 1:49.3 performer here this season has stepped up into the Open ranks recently, seeks revenge on Elektra A & figures to be forwardly placed again

 

Race 11

8-Prominence – First foal from O’Brien Award winner Evident Beauty, put it all together in her most recent Big M qualifier for Team Svanstedt & deserves consideration despite post eight

 

1-Halfadozen – Bounced back from a rare miscue in her BC elimination with a lively effort in the Simpson @ Pocono & gets to zip out of there from the rail

 

9-Sassy Zaza – Just two for 30, but this Walner filly has been knocking on the door in MASS Sires Stakes & switches to Noel Daley, while dealing a tough draw

 

Race 12

8-Fallout – Metro winner capping a lucrative first season, just missed from post eight in the BC Final & looms large for Team Alagna despite another outside draw

 

5-Papi’s Rocket – PASS champion rallied stoutly to give Ronnie Wrenn, Jr. his first Big M win last Friday & gives Team Burke a strong 1-2 punch in this division

 

6-Tom Horn – A distant runner up to Fallout in Lexington, then barely outsprinted in sizzling :26.2 here last Friday & deserves a long look for Team Burke

 

Race 13

5-Alta Blues A – 8YO took a new mark of 1:51.3 here this season, liking the solid third two starts back & looking for a similar effort in his third start off the bench

 

4-Ynotthishos – Struggling to regain form since the early September sick scratch, yet has license to respond to some class & post relief in a toss up field

 

7-Albert A’ Scootin – 11YO veteran has been a steady customer @ Freehold, picked up minor spoils last week, challenging post, yet remains at this bottom condition

 

Race 14

3-Monserrate – Unleashed a career best 1:54.4 romp in this series last Friday & draws better fresh off that confidence-building performance

 

5-Tactical Dynasty – No factor from post nine in the BC, yet look for this Bluegrass winner to be more aggressive in this softer spot for Team Burke

 

2-Safe Talk – Has caught fire with his first three wins @ Freehold, draws inside with that new-found confidence & draws best among the Team Burke trio