Ken Warkentin Picks for Thursday, Dec 11 – Saturday, Dec 13, 2025
Tuesday, December 9, 2025
Race 1
4-Blue Jean Baby – Stormed home to a career best of 1:57.3 two starts back, then was no factor after a slow start from post nine, so she’s eligible to rebound with a better draw here
1-Cutting Humor – Tried to close from tenth/last to grab a check chasing Blue Jean Baby, now she moves inside to set up a closer to the pace stalking trip to snap an 0 for 25 this season
2-Mystique Girl – One for 75 lifetime & winless this season, yet we’re giving her deserved glimpse with that solid third two starts back & inside draw this time
Race 2
3-Drop The Mic – Took a mark of 1:55.3 here this season, acclimated with a pair of decent efforts & draws an improved post in a wide-open field
1-Immaculate Prayer – Showed no interest from post eight in his Big M debut after missing three weeks, was on a nice roll @ Vernon Downs before that, drops a notch & lands the rail
2-Swancredit – 12YO revived his form with three straight on the board finishes @ Monticello, this veteran knows his way around The Big M & draws well to trip out
Race 3
3-She Stings – Added Brett Beckwith & really came to life with a sharp narrow loss last week & draws inside again sporting a 1:51.4 mark @ The Red Mile
6-Cover The Crown – Closed stoutly from a tough spot after a slow start, now makes her second start after a long layoff with something positive to build on
2-Abbys Dance – Hard to believe she went from a vicious nose loss in 1:51.4 to fading to fourth as the beaten favorite, guess she didn’t favor those stretch headwinds & draws better to rebound
Race 4
1-Velociraptor – Back-to-back wins last month are nothing to sneeze at, toss out his last two in the nightmare trip category & this 1:54.4 performer here in 2025 now lands in a prime spot
6-Crazy Supersport – Certainly can’t call you crazy for backing this fella fresh off a strong second by a neck in his second try @ The Big M, so this one is going in the right direction
10-Get Some Cash – Lived up to the tote hype with a rousing score last Friday, steps up & slammed with post ten, yet trending right off two excellent acclimating miles here
Race 5
4-Dream Pillar – One for 17 this season, but fresh off an eye-catching rally to just miss in a much-needed comebacker, draws post four again & remains at a reduced level
7-Sweet Sandy – You had to shake your head the way she crushed a TM 68 crew from post ten in her second start for her new barn & faces another demanding task off that stunning score
2-HD Labbatoy – Couldn’t believe she was hammered down to 1-2 & how she destroyed a TM 68 bunch, okay now she can prove that was no fluke with an inside draw
Race 6
8-Rider Hanover – Captaintreacherous brother to 1:46.3 performer Ruthless Hanover romped in a sparkling career debut @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & worth a long look despite post eight
2-Watchfire – Team Alagna 2YO won his qualifier handily, a solid third to a 1:51.2 Laser Speed in the comebacker, then thwarted by a :58 half in that Big Ego mystery & draws inside again
6-Big Ego – Captain Crunch 3YO was somehow able to turn things around with an 8-1 upset in a series final, switches to another new barn, so the red flags are flapping wildly
Race 7
2-Sunburnt Silverado – Okay, here we go, Illinois-bred 3YO, ten for 15 record this season, mark of 1:53.2, arrives in the Chris Height barn & draws inside, 36-day layoff, jogola anyone?
10-Clear For Landing – Tactical Landing 3YO with a seven for 12 record this season, fresh off a new mark of 1:55 in a noteworthy Big M debut & serious contender despite post ten
5-Fiftyshadesofblue – Thrived on the qualifying trail before a second by a head two starts back & appears to have the talent & potential to rebound off an early miscue for Team Alagna
Race 8
6-Aardiebythehill N – Fresh off a narrow loss when she stepped up off a career best of 1:54.2 & this 8YO continues his revival season for Per Engblom in top form
8-Rock My Universe – 4YO with a mark of 1:53.1 here this season somehow managed to rebound big time with a dominant two-move score as the 4-5 favorite, so can we expect more?
4-Choco Charlie – Charlie shipped in off a Winter Series Final upset @ Pocono & made a rare early miscue & draws well to bounce back
Race 9
1-Scudo Hanover – 3YO has now had a couple of solid acclimating miles here, finished a solid third in a previous series final & that makes him a serious stalking opportunist from the rail
8-A Real Legend – The Legend shipped here on a form spree in Indiana, left hard & shot home in a sharp :27.2 to equal his mark of 1:53.4 & tough to go against despite post eight
7-Hey Porter – One for 17 in his sophomore season, a strong runner up to A Real Legend last week, career best 1:55 before that & major contender despite a more challenging post
Race 10
3-D’Wood – Tactical Landing 3YO has a big chance to rebound off a rare early miscue as the heavy chalk, was hinting strongly here before that & draws better
6-Bourbonista S – Almost went all the way on the engine in a Pop Up Final, this 4YO mare is gathering her sea legs here & looks on the verge for Noel Daley
5-You Don’t Own Me – 3YO has not only stepped up his game, but acclimated nicely to The Big M & looms a serious mid pack stalking threat
Race 11
2-Lyons Liberty – This Team Tritton claim has chased The Will To Play for minor spoils in his last two, draws inside & plays the prime opportunist role
5-The Will To Play – Has suddenly come to play with two straight convincing romps for this price & the chalk simply looks too tough to go against
1-Bizy’s Beatle – 1:53.4 performer here this season, just missed with a hard-charging second fresh off the bench, then bumped into a runaway Fasting & can easily rebound from the rail
Race 12
1-Brighten Your Life – Just missed as the beaten favorite with a two-move effort two starts back & lands the rail off a no-chance mile in a wide-open finale
8-Catch Some Sun – One for 32 this season, on the edges since dropping to this rock bottom TM 68 & banks on some sort of a speed set up
5-Girl Almighty – Looking to snap an 0 for 26 this season, she comes off a much-improved third & can set up another stalking trip from mid pack
Friday, Dec 12 Picks
Race 1
10-Rock The Captain N – Added Lasix & catapulted off a hot pace to romp as the betting favorite last week, slammed with post ten, but Joe Lee will surely have another handful
5-Hungryhungry Hippo – Certainly didn’t move like a hippo when coming off a sharp narrow loss he went all the way in a well-controlled career best last week & threatens to repeat from mid pack
4-Master Miki – Aside from his three for 40 record this season he’s yielded some positive results recently, solid runner up to Hungryhungry Hippo last week & could turn the tables
Race 2
1-Everybodyloveslou – Sweet Lou gelding attempts another comeback fresh off an adequate Big M qualifier & lands the rail to secure a smooth stalking trip in a supreme headscratcher
2-Backstreet Lawyer – 10YO shows 0 for his last 60, has had three weeks to rebound off a tenth/last-place finish & lands in a real soft spot to snap his long losing skid
9-Kid Did It – Only four starts to his name this season, struggled on the qualifying trail, flashed some late life after a slow start in the comebacker, stuck outside, so he’s trip dependent
Race 3
4-Tennis Queen – 1:51.2 winner here back in early November has maintained her momentum, while adding Lasix in her last two, stormed home from a tough spot last week & now draws better
5-MS Frances Assisi – With a 1:52.3 mark @ The Big M she has returned in a fine form as a solid runner up in her last two, has thrived on or near the lead & logically looms large from mid pack
7-Remy Brown – 1:51 performer this season, note the close second in 1:50.3 here back on November 13 & drops a notch for her second try off the latest sick scratch
Race 4
3-Rockabilly Charm – 10YO hasn’t been able to make much headway after slow starts in his last two, does know his way to the winner’s circle here & an improved post could pave the way
1-Seeuinnashville A – 11YO is making second start of the year fresh off a fairly encouraging third, has a history of success @ The Big M & lands the rail in another pari mutuel puzzler
2-Stolen Art – Winless this season & one for his last 71, flashed a hint of positive form with that solid third from post two back on November 13, yet coming off a sick scratch makes him a mystery
Race 5
1-Select Friday – Strong runner up to a revved up Yer So Bad as the beaten favorite last week, draws the rail again in top form & could be on the verge for Joe Lee
8-Yer So Bad – Bad was real good when he brushed n crushed them with the best mile of his season last week & logically ranks as a repeat threat despite a tougher draw
3-Blue Collar Man – The Man is just one for 34 this season, yet he came to life with a solid rally for third two starts back, then got off to a slow start from post nine & moves inside
Race 6
3-Usurp Hanover – Strong runner up to a dominant favorite last Thursday, gets another shot at this reduced TM 71 level & draws a bit better off a pair of acclimating trips
5-Perron – Has hit the board in both starts here, just missed to Im The Muscle two starts back, very lean in the win column, but acclimated & rates highly from mid pack
8-Im The Muscle – Drops back down to TM 71 level of his two recent wins, the latest was a game effort from post nine & his barn has been a late-season bright spot
Race 7
3-Jonah – Has been repeatedly trip compromised recently, gets a dose of class relief & draws inside a soft MADC division that is ripe for the taking
5-A B Collins – Shows a lone win here in 23 starts this season, was knocking on the door before the recent layoff & raced much better in his second try off the bench
8-Duck Into The Nite – Just two for 36 this season, has attempted some wide/late moves, while continuing to pick up steady shares, yet post eight is no picnic
Race 8
2-Help Dust – One for 22 in 2025, yet parlayed a close second @ Plainridge with a game grind for the deuce here chasing a well-rated Northern Skyway & draws better off that excellent acclimating mile
4-Northern Skyway – 10YO lived up to the favorite role by suddenly taking charge & went all the way, holding off Help Dust & gets an improved post off that sparkling Big M debut
5-Champa Bay Hall – Came to life in her last three with two wins sandwiched around a solid second, tough to gauge her off a sick scratch, yet we’re still expecting another strong finish
Race 9
1-Hold My Tiara – Took advantage of an improved inside draw, displayed speed & finished second to a big favorite in Loot last week & looking for a similar effort from the rail
4-Sprout – Sat a pocket, appeared to be coming on through, hooked wheels late & awarded the win last out, steady sort figures to handle the class hike from post four again
8-Staycation – Lightly-raced filly somehow came up with a lively/close second by a head @ 50-1 just before the sick scratch & now she tackles post eight after missing a month
Race 10
3-Costa Diva – Twice beaten favorite just missed in both starts here, both in very determined fashion & draws inside after almost going all the way last week
2-St Lad’s Bijou – Very productive mare ships south from Rideau Carlton fresh off back-to-back seconds there & draws inside a bottom TM 68 affair to make an immediate impression
4-Targaryen Empress – Drops back down to the TM 68 level of her big blowout three starts back & draws better to get within closer striking range
Race 11
3-Fix-It-Up – 1:54.4 winner @ The Big M this season tried it on the lead to no avail last week, yet now draws better in a bottom condition & the Bongiorno barn has been on a roll
2-Roger Rabbit – Just three for 33 this season, not much on the NY half milers recently, hits rock bottom here & draws inside to play a stalking opportunist role
1-Fashion Forever – 10YO is only one for 29 in 2025, no chance from post nine last Thursday, but did hit the board in his previous two, while showing some versatility
Race 12
1-Ourmomentntime – 4YO mare shipped into the Per Engblom barn & qualified well here, makes her second start of the year & lands the rail for her Big M debut
4-Supreme Rockette – 3YO filly rebounded nicely off an early miscue with a sharp narrow loss from post seven last Thursday & draws better to follow up
3-Vanguard – Greenshoe gelding has an energetic pair of Big M acclimating miles under him & figures to part of the speed equation with another inside draw
Race 13
7-Tough Laz – Twice beaten favorite with an 0 for 24 record, rallied prematurely in his last two & that sharp narrow loss at the TM 71 level three starts back stands out
4-Cole On The Beach – Upset MADC winner back on November 7, pace/trip compromised & still held the show last Thursday & draws well again to play his stalk n pop game
3-Flying Tiger – Twice beaten favorite on a three-race form spree, albeit all with tough trips, moves inside this one & things might go his way as a result
Race 14
7-Skyway Masterpiece – Raging Plainridge shipper arrives a winner in two of his last three there, eight for 26 this season with a season’s best of 1:50.4 & might take no prisoners here
4-Big Jack Hammer – Added Lasix & scored his lone win in 27 starts this season wire-to-wire as heavy favorite three starts back, then had no chance trips in his last two & draws much better
3-Hunt For Cash – One for 31 in 2025, yet this 1:50.4 winner @ The Big M last season dips in price off a pair of tightening miles & draws inside while possibly heading in the right direction