Ken Warkentin’s Friday, May 13 & Saturday, May 14 Selections

Wednesday, May 11, 2022

Ken Warkentin’s Friday, May 13 Selections

RACE 1

1-Fernado – Just one third to show for in ten starts this season, but did kick home in a sharp :27.3 in the slop to hit the board last week & now moves inside

2-Kingofthejungle – Struggled mightily from post nine in the mud last Friday, but this is his second start off a sick scratch from a much improved post

10-Master Conrad – Somebody has to finish third, stuck outside, but owns a late move & could be a factor if they mix it up GSY style

RACE 2
6-Dresden – Exits a tougher class @ Pocono & actually beat them with a perfect trip on April 18, her barn is always live & Hot Toddy takes the lines

5-Greystone Natalio – 1:52.2 winner here back on March 18, returns off a couple of parked out trips @ Plainridge & she can take charge

1-Ideal Classic – I recall catching this gal @ 30-1 from post eight back on April 1, returns to the Big M in a wide open field with the rail

RACE 3
3-Misswalner Fashion – 2021 Kindergarten Classic champion won both qualifier with impressive authority, the latest in a brisk :26.2 & draws well for the hot Jim Campbell barn

2-Jiggy Jog S – 1:52.2 Bluegrass winner jogged in her qualifier & got nosed out by the standout Venerable in an eye-catching comeback & draws inside again for Team Svanstedt

4-Jaya Bae – Liked her first start as a 3YO, fired out to establish early command from post eight & sprinted with the top ones in :27, now draws better for a raging barn

RACE 4
5-Temporal Hanover – Angled with menacing late trot & nailed his NJSS 3YO debut in :27.1 last week, Grand Circuit player for a barn hitting on all cylinders

6-Frank The Elder – Frank was about as good as you could be in his opening romp for Team Burke & certainly has license to step up to this level despite the tougher post

7-Classic Hill – Off a one for 11 freshman season he just missed to stablemate Temporal Hanover with sharp trot at both ends, definite threat with a similar follow up

RACE 5
5-B A Superhero – Bright Lucas Wallin Hambo prospect pounced out of the pocket to go two-to-two for a potent combo & draws a better to keep it going in a serious match up

8-Periculum – Major stakes player stormed home from a tough spot to romp in his 3YO debut with, moves outside, but that was a powerful back half & his barn can do no wrong

1-Pretender – Team Takter Hambo prospect prepped as well as possible & broke as the heavy favorite in the Dexter Cup, second foal out of world champion Maven lands the rail to rebound

RACE 6
7-Majestic J – Took advantage of a good start from the rail, attacked late & right there in :27.3, tougher post here, but what can you say about the Team Alagna start to the season?

6-Looks Like Moni – Looked to brush n crush them from post eight & got nailed by the trip-sitting favorite B A Superhero, an excellent 3YO debut for this Team Takter contender

4-Senna – This Per Engblom trainee is off to a great start this year, all three on the engine & just missed as the beaten favorite again, draws well for Dexter Dunn

RACE 7
3-Jai Alai S – Was noticeably better in her second start back @ Pocono, third start off the bench for this promising Walner filly & draws inside for the raging Team Melander

2-Jolie Nevele – Libfeld-Katz homebred flashed competitive signs in both qualifiers, Team Takter trainee lands inside a soft N/W 2 affair & worth a long look

4-Ever Lovin – Pace compromised & finished a solid third fresh off the bench, Muscle Hill sister to You Know You Do ($510,257) draws well for an anticipated follow up

RACE 8
3-JK Victory – $115,000 brother to Little Rocket Man, 1:47.2 was sizzling in both qualifiers for Team Takter & has a big chance to exploit a soft spot

8-River Ness – Huntsville first crop gelding has transitioned nicely, sharp qualifier followed by a 1:49.4 sparkler under ideal conditions, major threat for Team Burke despite post eight

5-Fika Time – Confidence at an all-time high for this 4YO fresh off back-to-back walkovers, impressive 1:51.4 upset from post nine back on April 2

RACE 9
6-Casino Bags Anso – His barn went four-for-four last weekend & responded to a perfect drive by Tony Beltrami with a :27.3 surge & looms large again

4-Cecil Casanova – Rebounded with an overwhelming post eight upset last week for Mark Silva, draws better & logically rates as a possible repeater

1-Ferdinand A – That was some bounce back upset two starts back, solid pace setting effort in the mud last week, back on the rail & still a fresh threat

RACE 10
6-Beyond Words N – Managed to advance her way from the fringe fourth to mild upset over well-rated Fox Valley Exploit, a repeat is certainly not out of the question

7-Annabelle Hanover – Just one for 12 this season with five seconds, but exits the Open & has a chance to turn things around for Team Cullipher

4-Fox Valley Exploit – Beaten favorite has been on a form spree, had things her own way & just missed to Beyond Words N & looks like the one to knock off again

RACE 11
4-Colonial AS IT – Took full advantage of a big chance to exploit a real soft spot, tackles a triple class hike, but draws better in a field ripe for the taking

6-Shinkansen – Looked to be on his way to his second straight upset but tired in the slop last week, forced up another notch, yet remains a fresh threat

1-Skyway Kon Man – The Kon Man always fires his best late, nosed out with an aggressive effort two starts back, moves inside & long overdue for Team Cullipher

RACE 12
1-Fashion Schooner – Follow up her emphatic 3YO debut romp with a hard-charging third to Venerable in :26.4 last week, has big time pedigree & upside

6-Peyton Hanover – Lived up to her tote hype with an aggressive score in her 3YO debut complete with a sharp :27.2 finish, look for a similar effort & possible repeat

2-Gracelyn Hanover – Beaten favorite controlled the pace & edged out by trip horse Peyton Hanover last week & in line to be forwardly placed again

RACE 13
5-Hurrikane Georgie – Tuned up for this with a very strong second @ Pocono on Tuesday, winner here back on March 25 looks like the one to beat for Peter Kleinhans

7-A B Collins – Hit the board in his last two, strong third from post ten in the slop last week, reunited with Joe Lee & has a chance to keep form surge going

8-Dream Out Loud N – 15YO warhorse suddenly regained the fountain of youth with a commanding score as the betting favorite to boot & another blastoff is expected

Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, May 14 Selections

RACE 1
7-Cool Blues Man – Everybody jumped on board & he uncorked a mighty :26.1 to explode past them all last week, fresh claim by Team Bongiorno seeking a similar set up

8-Mindtrip – Has rallied stoutly to win two of his last three, hasn’t raced in three weeks, tackles an outside assignment, but always dangerous, especially when it goes his way

4-Raptors Flight N – Was used pretty hard to gain a short late lead & tired in the slop last week, two tough trips before that, draws better & needs a smooth stalking scenario

RACE 2
1-Sonny Weaver N – Liked him as a Price Play last week & somehow got stuck first over, now drops a notch, lands the rail again & long overdue for Team Cullipher

4-Captain Barbossa – 1:47.1 track record setter here last June faded as the heavy favorite in most recent @ Yonkers, was competitive in the Borgata Series & can flaunt his class

3-DA Delightful – Twice beaten favorite left alertly, shuffled & raging late in :26.4 over an off track in last Saturday’s opener, draws inside again to try another stalk n pop

RACE 3
4-Spirit Of Deo – Unleashed an impressive :26.4 & took a new mark of 1:53.2 here two starts back & she beat Great Unknown, lands post four once more to rebound off a rare miscue back on the mile track

5-Great Unknown – Runner up to Spirit Of Deo three starts back, just missed with a strong rally in the slop last Friday, draws midpack again, while going in the right direction

2-Chiplosive – Beaten favorite got locked in behind a fading leader, stole one on the engine before that, moves inside to possibly take control for Team Cullipher in a headscratcher

RACE 4
2-Elver Hanover – Undefeated nine-for-nine world champion at two, beaten favorite tangled with Borgata foes recently, beaten favorite drops a notch & draws inside to lead the Team Burke trio

1-Decision Day – Workmanlike gelding hit the board in his last two on his slide down the condition ladder, now moves inside a field full of question marks

8-Bayfield Beach – Was noticeably better when he shot home for third in :26.3 two weeks ago, stuck with post eight again, but faced tougher this season for Team Burke

RACE 5
3-Fabrizio N – Surprised how aggressive he was handled last week off a sick scratch, continues his class descent, post three again, prime spot & overdue

1-Better Take It – Dropped to this level & stormed home to just miss in :26.1 two starts back, no chance from post ten last week & moves inside for Team Cullipher

2-Machdavid – Still don’t know where that explosive upset came from two starts back, forced wide out of striking range last week, back inside to stalk a wide-open field

RACE 6
6-Bettors Donttell – 1:48.4 Team Burke trainee was runner up to Red Right Hand in the season’s fastest mile, all out fourth in a Graduate division last week & this should be more to his liking

1-Hail Christian N – 8YO is on the rise on a form spree right now for Brett Pelling, nailed by a flying Vettel N last week & lands the rail against several question marks

5-Jack’s Shadow N – Flashed a :26.4 in only his second start of the season, nine-time winner last year might now be ready to fire his best & figures to get the speed target he needs at a price

RACE 7
3-Stone Hanover – Liked him last week & was too far out of it from post seven, drops another notch, draws better, makes his key third start off the bench & switches to The Bionic Man

4-Motive Hanover – Took a 1:50.2 mark here this season, fresh off a lively effort from post eight, now gets class & post relief for Team Bongiorno

1-Mayhem Hanover – Solid runner up to favorite All Hands On Deck last week, remains at this reduced level & draws better to trip out again for Team Cullipher

RACE 8
1-Bella Bellini – Dan Patch Award winner & Hambo Oaks champ just a neck shy to Next Level Stuff in a sharp comebacker, draws inside again & faces some promising gals

7-Herculisa – Bright 4YO prospect for Virgil Morgan, Jr. capitalized on a two-hole trip & uncorked a herculean :25.4 to nailed the great Atlanta last week, draws outside, but still no telling how good she is

5-Katie’s Lucky Day – Right there third from the pocket chasing Next Level Stuff in the slop last week, that was an excellent acclimating mile & she rates highly

RACE 9
9-Hot Mess Express – Nobody better than our man Sam Bowie, The Express took her mark of 1:48.3 (stakes record) in the Mistletoe Shalee & tore up Indiana, looks ready to tackle post nine, never forget her amazing post ten rally here last May 15

1-Mikala – Cruised through the two-ply NJ Maturity , took a new mark of 1:49.4 in her latest romp, lands the rail & towers over several of these

7-Always B Laughin – Twice third to Mikala in her first two starts for Jim King, Jr., 1:48.4 performer makes her third start off the bench for the 2019 HOY Shartin N connections

RACE 10
6-Let It Ride N – Beaten favorite was charging hard in :25.4 from a tough spot two weeks ago, dominant winner before that on his toes right now for Nifty Norman

7-Backstreet Shadow – Added Lasix & chased standout Charlie May in his second start off the bench, classy Team Burke millionaire draws a tougher post, but could be on the verge

1-Ignatius A – Reeled off three in a row, stepped up to the Open & rebuffed first over by Workin Ona Mystery last week, still a gallant effort & rewarded with the rail

RACE 11
2-Test Of Faith – Defending Horse of the Year sat back from post nine & flew home in :26 flat to start her campaign, with that trip under her it’s time to bear down against some serious foes

1-Oakwoodanabella IR – Has promptly comeback going two-for-two in Indiana for Brian Brown, the latest a 1:49.4 air out mission from post eight, now has the rail alongside the standout mare

3-Blue Diamond Eyes – 1:47.2 performer at three for Team Burke was finishing well from way back in her 4YO debut, draws better & this millionaire has license to step up

RACE 12
5-Betterrock – No chance from post nine in the Graduate last week, chased 1:48.1 Red Right Hand before that, rallied to beat a similar group here on April 16 for Team Bongiorno

4-Truffle Dog – The Dog reeled off back-to-back wins against this kind before taking a month off, now this Team Cullipher trainee returns to The Big M for his second try off the bench

1-Whole Lotta Lou – Shot home to repeat with a sharp upset two starts back, fired a :26 flat from post eight last out, moves back inside to set up a smooth stalking trip in a tricky affair

RACE 13
2-BNGS Express – Note the stark improvement with the barn change in his last two as the beaten favorite @ Freehold, 10YO owns his share of back class & draws inside a wide-open finale

7-Atomic Blast N – In what might be a battle of the Blasts, this one was caught first over from post eight, noteworthy rally for third before that, now a third try off the bench could be key

8-TJ Blast – Beaten favorite just missed going all the way again, now ramps up the TM Rating & draws outside, but retains Dexter Dunn & can blast off with the best in here