Ken Warkentin’s Weekend Selections: Jan 14 & 15

Wednesday, January 12, 2022

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Friday, January 14 Selections

RACE 1

1-Arrhythmic Surge – Solid surge & runner up to the inexplicable Air Guitar last week, now lands the rail while gaining momentum for his third start off a sick scratch

2-Air Guitar – Tough to explain that complete 180 turnaround & new lifetime mark last week, but did respond to a perfect drive by Yannick Gingras & draws better in same class

4-National Sport – Well-traveled gelding has had trip excuses in his last three since his latest win @ Hoosier Park, fresh face debuts here for a new barn & could surprise

RACE 2

3-My Delight – Beaten favorite has now missed a month, but was chasing much tougher claimers @ Yonkers before he shipped here, now gets class & post relief

2-Elysium Seelster – Just missed with a nice late move out of traffic in the GSY Final two starts back, hit the board while pace compromised last week & draws inside

5-Cecil Casanova – Beaten favorite in two of his last three faded on the lead last week, has been much more effective when launching a big move from off the pace

RACE 3

5-Boujee Girl – Came from far back to get within a length in a beneficial first start off the bench here, look for her to get within closer striking range with something to build on

8-Birdman – The Bird flew in from Ohio, hammered down to 3-5 & won again in his debut here for Team Cullipher, a threat to take another despite tackling a tougher post

4-Shezabarhoppinchic – One for 18 lifetime, but knocking on the door, rallied into icy gusts to be right there in the photo last week, an excellent acclimating mile from the same post

RACE 4

6-Opus Blue Chip – Went all the way off a sick scratch & three weeks away in a mind-boggling effort as the 2-1 favorite, might be the target in the competitive affair

3-DL’S Big Elvis – Elvis shimmied off cover to grab second in a much-improved effort, just one for 29 in 2021, but finally draws inside for his fourth start off a sick scratch

8-Sunshine’s Finest – Recent claim has been on a roll, draws a tough post, but dips back down in price, can fire off the wings & has a chance to go all the way

RACE 5

5-Little Sandy Toes – Was on a form spree @ Harrah’s Philadelphia before the recent claim, took a requisite post eight tour of oval & now lands in a highly beatable field

7-Be Best – Paid the price for a slow start, forced to close into strong headwinds & runner up to a runaway winner, 1:51.4 winner here in the slop last season

3-Cheers For Chips – This is the kind of mare that can jump up & bite you, off a sick scratch & 30 days away, but the barn change is duly noted & draws inside to surprise

RACE 6

5-La Bella Vita N – The whole planet saw when the 3-5 favorite sat in & shook lose late while her stablemate upset in her US debut, now gets a gigantic chance to atone

2-Demeter N – Rallied from the clouds to hit the board into the strong headwinds last week, gets another shot at this reduced level & look for a better start from an improved post

1-Itty Bitty – Won’t even attempt to explain that mind numbing first over from post ten upset off a sick scratch & 30 days away, now rewarded with the rail for the class hike

RACE 7

1-Seven Nation Army – Fresh off a very confident score @ Hoosier Park he was caught too far back from post ten here, now moves inside & back to scene of his 1:55.2 mark

3-Brigitte Bi – Still can’t believe she got off to such a slow start in her Big M debut, those were two sharp wins @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, big chance to rebound from post three

8-Wishing Barefoot – 4YO on a pretty nice roll, parlayed a wire-to-wire @ Saratoga into a gallant nose upset here last week, tougher assignment now off that lifetime best

RACE 8

5-Lyons Liberty – Stormed home for the upset in his debut here for Nik Drennan off a sick scratch & 31 days away, then clearly wasn’t himself, looking a big rebound effort

7-Burning Blaze – Aggressively handled & just missed in his second start here, now draws a more demanding post, but trending right in a wide-open field

10-Flow With Joe – Crushed down to 6-5 favorite & went down the road with a new lifetime mark, rejuvenated with the recent barn change & looms large despite post ten

RACE 9

3-Alumni Seelster – Fired off the wings & got nosed out by Silver Tail after a perfect trip, finally draws an inside post & kicks off a solid 1-2 punch for Team Burke

8-Divine Deo – Just missed from post seven here two starts back, then aired it out as the heavy favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, big threat for Team Burke despite post eight

2-Silver Tail – Set a pretty solid pace, held on by a nose & beat six mares in this field last week, moves farther inside & logically figures to be forwardly placed again

RACE 10

6-Benji’s Best – Suddenly everything isn’t just winning from this barn, they’re exploding, this 8YO was caught first over last out, that was 37 days ago, dips in price & looms ominously

2-Ballerat Boomerang – Another one that that defied logic off a sick scratch & 25 days away, steamrolled from post eight on New Years Eve for Team Bongiorno & draws better

7-Lifeonthebeach A – Draws outside off a no-chance mile, hasn’t raced in 37 days, now drops further & remains tough to gauge in a very tricky puzzle

RACE 11

7-Captain My Captain – Outsprinted a good mare & Dontpassme Hanover to win his qualifier with a :26.4 despite broken equipment, fourth career starts & lots of upside

6-Dontpassme Hanover – Sports a 1:51.2 mark here at two, lightly raced 4YO qualified twice last month with strong late pace & looks ready to roll

10-Beantown Sporty – Beaten favorite squandered a perfect second over trip, just missed from far back before that & will need that big kick from post ten

RACE 12

4-Ev’s Girl – Beaten heavy favorite committed to a late lead & sputtered late, now makes her second start off the bench & draws well again in tighter form for Team Burke

6-Henderson Seelster – Barely lost a heartbreaker from post nine last week, trending in a positive direction, steps up a notch, but finds a soft spot

1-Marveloustrix – Steady mare offered her usual late surge into the icy gusts & came up just a head shy last Friday, now she can ride the rail & trip out

RACE 13

5-Milady Denver A – Caught first over into a quickening pace last week, a close second from post ten before that, classy 12YO horse-for-the-course drops again in solid form

4-Gottalovemyshadow – Had absolutely no shot after a very slow start off the recent claim, remember she was a 1:50.3 winner here last season & now drops dangerously

9-Darkrshadeofpale N – Exploded out of a shuffle into the strong stretch headwinds & just missed last week, moves outside, yet remains down in class

RACE 14

2-St James Gate – The Gate was just one for 22 last season, but finished well to hit the board in both starts since coming back & draws inside a field begging to be beaten

8-My Big Kadillac – GSY Series winner in early December closed very well into the headwinds last Friday, stuck outside, yet just needs the right set up

4-Trixie Dust – The Dust is looking to bounce back off a dull mile & sick scratch, she knows her way around this oval & draws well carve out a smooth trip

RACE 15

1-Thndrfrmthethron N – 1:50.4 winner here last season was left in impossible spots in his last two, gets big time class & post relief & makes his third start for his new barn

5-Brother James – Nine-time winner last year has struggled with slow starts since the early December claim & now drops into the rock bottom condition here

4-Urban Renewal – Only three for 37 last year & landing on the fringes recently @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, class & post relief, plus barn & venue change could make a difference

Saturday, January 15 Selections

RACE 1

1-Yacht Seelster – The Yacht fired too hard & made a rare early miscue & disappointed many at 2-1 last week, has a big chance to atone from the rail for Brennan & Drennan

2-Delightful Terror – Team Burke trainee was doing well for this price @ Yonkers, beaten favorite got hung out to dry, now reunited with Gingras & draws inside

7-Odds On Delray – 8YO has raced well in both starts here, rallied from a tough spot to grab second last week, post is more demanding, but can threaten with the right set up

RACE 2

7-Parklane Jet – Bounced back nicely to chase a raging Chicken Nugget given a more patient drive, that’s the key to this live item who makes his third start off the claim

1-Gibus – Continues to regain form with a pair of solid finishes sandwiched around a post ten debacle, moves inside to save ground & note the late surge on December 17

6-Casino Bags Anso – Gingras left hard with him off a lame scratch & he picked up a small piece, only two for 33 last year, but figures to have more stamina this time

RACE 3

7-Passa-Grille Beach – Forced wide & got underway too late in his first try off the claim, challenging post, but drops further & has a big chance to show his class

4-Rollinwithambition – Has taken a few starts to regain his best stride since the late November sick scratch, runner up to the runaway De Los Cielos Deo last week

1-Lear Seelster – Early December claim drops into an easier condition fresh off a solid rally for show, steady sort going in the right direction with the rail

RACE 4

4-Dirt E Rock – Put together a pretty strong back half to hit the board in his Big M debut, finds a softer spot to build on that encouraging effort with Mark MacDonald

1-A Stud Named Sam – Banged out back-to-back blowouts @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, then finished well here in a solid acclimating mile, trip out candidate from the rail

5-Missile Seelster – Ships in here on a nice roll, just missed going all the way in the Freehold Preferred, has experience over this track & part of the speed equation

RACE 5

2-Dull Roar – Stepped up to this level off a blowout score & got parked first over from post eight, finally draws inside & this 10-time winner in 2021 has a big chance to rebound

10-Mindtrip – Fan favorite has burned some serious cash recently, faded on a well-rated lead off the Dylan Davis reclaim, stuck outside, yet we know he can unleash a big rally

7-BNGS Express – Was simply too far back in his first try off the claim, among several fringe players in this tricky match up, yet his barn has suddenly caught fire

RACE 6

5-As Always – Hip #64 in Monday’s Mixed Sale has been on a serious roll for Per Engblom, fresh off an emphatic romp last week, his brush n crush style suits this competitive field

2-Twin B Tuffenuff – Almost got there with a perfect trip & improved effort last week for Team Burke, now draws better to stalk the speed & pounce late in a very snug affair

4-Bettors Donttell – Gotta love the way this Better’s Delight 4YO is going, nosed out by Walknafter Midnite last time, has now missed a month, but draws well for Team Burke

RACE 7

3-Wings Of Speed – Was on a nice form spree before the late miscue over an off track @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, knows this track & draws inside to set up his stalking style

10-Double Account – Drops back down to the level of the convincing win as the favorite three starts back, moves outside, yet gives Team Cullipher a strong 1-2 punch

1-Stormont Ventnor – Took his mark of 1:53.2 here back in mid December before the miscue @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, pace compromised last week & finally moves inside

RACE 8

4-Sonny Weaver N – Dropped & popped with a slick, well-timed drive by Jason Bartlett, bumped back up in class, but razor sharp & draws well for Team Cullipher

8-Mr DS Rock – Uncorked the mile of his life & ran up the score two starts back, came right back to crush them again last week for a barn that can do no wrong at the moment

3-Rockin The Aces – Horse-for-the-course never takes his work boots off, just missed to Sonny Weaver N with a :26.3, draws inside for his fourth start off a sick scratch

RACE 9

2-Typhoon Stride N – Just missed against the high-priced claimers before the sick scratch, that was a much-needed tightener last week & draws inside a drop down derby

4-Trump Nation – The classy Trumpster was off a long time before his last three on the comeback trail, beaten favorite in his last two draws well again for Team Burke

5-Italian Delight N – Flashed a :26.2 last week but out of striking range, steady 9YO drops back down & lands in a prime spot to stalk the ample speed in this headscratcher

RACE 10

6-Crystal Fashion – Double millionaire returns to familiar stomping grounds after sharpening his sword in the Dover Downs Open, love his stalking tactics & worth a swing here

8-Chin Chin Hall – Beaten favorite got off to a really slow start & towered up late to just miss, constant threat for Nifty Norman gets there with the right pace & trip

9-Get Legs – Stepped out, stole a :57 half & held on for the mild upset last week, moves outside, which complicates matters, but remains in top form for Team Orange Crush

RACE 11

3-Wrapper’s Delight – Joined the Brett Pelling barn & took a couple of starts on Lasix to erupt with a career best from post eight, 9YO with a new lease on life draws better

4-Bechers Brook A – Wasn’t particularly strong in the win column last year, but this is a class drop that can’t be ignored, plus he draws well for Team Cullipher

8-Decision Day – Beaten favorite in his last two was used pretty hard, steps back up a notch & draws a tough post, but remains a serious contender with a sharp closing move

RACE 12

5-Backstreet Shadow – Millionaire Team Burke trainee has been right here in his last two  with strong rallies & continues to gather momentum on the comeback trail

1-Save Me A Dance – Three-for-three since the pricey claim, tripped out to a new mark of 1:48.4 two starts back, then all the way in the Yonkers Open, prime time player from the rail

3-Let It Ride N – Bounced back to score with one of his typical late surges, lands post three again, sets up in stalking mode & looms large to repeat

RACE 13

4-Hammer Time – 8YO finally signaled a turnaround with a solid second to a revved up Hockey Hanover last week & draws better in a very light match up

5-Kings County – Was knocking on the door a notch above this late last Fall, third start for his new barn & big chance to regain form in a field that lacks much spark

1-Meadowbranch Ricky – Continued to climb the condition class ladder & rallied for second, just three for 33 last year, hasn’t raced in 29 days, but a good start is likely from the rail

RACE 14

6-Hurrikane Emperor – 1:47 performer here a few years ago has now had two tighteners, displayed some speed last week & drops to make his key third start off the bench

1-Dina Bolt N – Team Bongiorno claim in late November freshened off a Yonkers blowout, draws the rail off solid qualifier here & lands in softer condition

3-Im A Gigolo N – Fresh off a solid season & needed acclimating mile from post ten, Team Burke trainee drops further & moves inside & that might be enough

RACE 15

8-Mickey’s Spirit – Overmatched last week, took a mark of 1:51.3 here in 2021, coming around after a December 10 sick scratch & has speed to overcome post eight

4-Captain’s Reign – Just one for 31 last year, makes his first start of the season dropping out of tougher claimers & draws inside a wide-open finale

1-Sadiq Hanover – Dropped to the bottom condition, brushed to a late lead & settled for second into strong headwinds, 8YO continues to regain his form from the rail