Ken Warkentin’s Selections For Friday, May 20 & Saturday, May 21

Wednesday, May 18, 2022

Ken Warkentin’s Selections For Friday, May 20

RACE 1
6-Know Your Roll – Been making noise at the bottom TM level recently, bumped into a 1:51 winner last week, second by a neck in :26.4 on April 15 & this figures to be more to his liking

3-Final Justice – Fell off form & overmatched in last Saturday’s finale in the slop, only one for 18 this season, but note the sharp second back on April 16 & has a big chance to regroup

4-Bilbo Hanover – 0 for 14 this season, was first placed second two starts back @ Pocono, 12YO draws well here & might relish the change of scenery

RACE 2
1-Better Take It – Beaten favorite somehow caught first over & still held third last Saturday, back on the rail & could be on the verge for Team Cullipher

5-Imaginary Line – 4YO has been landing on the fringes while dropping back down in class & regaining form & looms large for Team Bongiorno

7-Decision Day – Beaten favorite off a gallant nose loss last Saturday, moves outside, but has regained his top form for a barn that always has them well spotted & ready

RACE 3
3-Gotwuteverittakes – 1:52.3 performer here last season back freshened with a few weeks off, qualifier with a sharp :26.3 surge, retains Hot Toddy & draws inside for the comebacker

9-Hammer Time – Qualified against Cutler favorite Ecurie D DK, then finished a solid third in his comeback last week, moves outside, but double drops in better shape now

4-Keystone Blade – Scored a surprising wire-to-wire upset off a sick, followed by a solid second, returns off a miscue @ Yonkers & draws well in a wide-open field

RACE 4
6-Elver Hanover – Former undefeated world champion 2YO gradually coming around, paced home a strong :26.2 to finish a solid third last Saturday for Team Burke

1-Sweet Truth – Outsprinted fifth in :26 over another off track last week, second start off the Team Cullipher claim, long overdue & lands the rail in a camera shy field

8-Tyga Hanover – Beaten favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia finished a solid third, tougher post back on the mile track, but has faced tougher & might be trending right

RACE 5
6-Magnolia Volo – Walner filly was runner up to a standout Jai Alai S after dropping out of NJSS, this filly is gathering momentum since the late April sick scratch

8-Disclosure – Trixton filly was competitive in both divisions of NJSS, forgive the late miscue in the sprint home last week, lands outside again, but has license to step up

10-Penelope J – This $160,000 Walner filly flashed some talent at two, has added Lasix & finally stayed flat & just missed in her third qualifier, stuck outside, but rates a long look

RACE 6
5-Svengali – 4YO with a mark of 1:54.2 @ The Big M this season exits a no-chance venture to Pocono, returns to the GSY Series as a midpack stalking threat

4-Kingofthejungle – The Jungle King was somehow able to turn things around with a decisive score in his third try off a sick scratch, draws inside again with a big chance to repeat

6-Fernado – 0 for 11 this season, but has improved to hit the board in his last two, beaten favorite gave it a game effort on the engine last week & draws a tougher post

RACE 7
2-Rattle My Cage – 1:51.3 performer at three romped in his qualifier, just missed despite a parked out trip from post nine over an off track in the Graduate & now moves inside

1-Delayed Hanover – 1:51.1 mark @ The Big M in 2021, beaten favorite stormed home from an impossible spot to be right there in the comebacker & gives Team Svanstedt a 1-2 punch

9-Fast As The Wind – Valley Victory, Kindergarten champion & Hambo hopeful won his second qualifier with authority, draws outside, but Team Alagna is on fire

RACE 8
2-Cecil Casanova – Hooked wheels with Doc Semalu around the first turn & still paced home in a creditable :27.2 for minor spoils, easy winner before that in the slop, big threat to bounce back from an inside post

5-A B Collins – Fired out, got parked by the favored winner & still held third last week, draws a bit better, retains Joe Lee & knocking on the door

4-Preppy Art – Preppy has been noticeably better in his last two, draws a much better post & banks on speed target to set up his stalk n pop style

RACE 9
6-Ambassador Hanover – Breeders Crown elimination winner in 1:51.2, left alertly & caught in stretch traffic in a Graduate Series comeback, chance to light it up for Team Svanstedt

5-Chiplosive – Team Cullipher gelding was all out to beat a so-so field last Saturday, did trot home in :27.1 with best mile of his season & now looks for his third win in four starts

4-Mostinterestingman – Made a terrific mile track transition, steamrolling first over & was right there in the photo with Chiplosive, draws inside again as a major contender

RACE 10
6-William Mcwhiskers – William was hammered down to 3-1 & simply crushed first over from post eight, continues to progress after missing a long time, but faces a competitive division

8-Rockabilly Charm – Fresh off a big bounce-back win last week, complete with a :26.4 kick away, draws outside, but on his toes & can outkick these

5-TJ Blast – The Blast is back in the GSY Series as a twice beaten favorite, owns dangerous controlling speed & might be the own to knock off

RACE 11
3-Kathy’s Moment – Kathy exploited a much softer spot when she shifted to Harrah’s Philadelphia & romped to a new lifetime mark, this actually looks even easy here

2-Ideal Classic – The Classic was a much-improved third from the rail last week, draws inside again with even further class relief & retains The Buckeye

6-Be Best – Came away with minor spoils after a shuffle over an off track, just one for 16 this season, missed a couple of weeks & plays the opportunist roll

RACE 12
10-Tachyon – Excellent runner up to Periculum in round one of NJSS, then chased a 1:51.4 winner last week, stuck outside, but this Hambo hopeful can capitalize on this softer spot

7-Chulo – Hambo eligible from the first crop of What The Hill beat B A Superhero in his latest qualifier here, then grinded gamely in his Ohio Sires Stakes comeback, Per Engblom colt picks up Yannick Gingras

5-Zappa – Strode confidently in his latest qualifier & finished a decent third in his 3YO debut, finds a prime spot to launch forward for the potent combo of Sears & Melander

RACE 13
7-Wickedly Innocent – Pelling trainee has blossomed at three to go three-for-three, arrives fresh off the mile of here life, yet draws a challenging post in a very competitive finale

6-Dresden – Fresh off a firm statement wire-to-wire lifetime best of 1:51 in a sparkling Big M debut last week, pointing skywards for The White Knight & sharp barn

4-Just Divine – Kicked home in a lively :25.4 in her second qualifier for Team Burke, major stakes playing 3YO looks ready for a serious test & draws well to stalk the speed

Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Saturday, May 21

RACE 1
2-Stonebridge Reef – Lightly-raced brother to 1:48.2 performer Stonebridge Soul zipped a back half of :53.2 & outdueled a sharp favorite JK Victory in :25.3, draws inside off that sparkling comeback

7-Pebble Beach – 1:48.4 major stakes player at two added Lasix to win both qualifiers with late vigor, demanding post, but looks ready right off the hop for Noel Daley

6-I Did It Myway – Pace prospect went five for eight as a freshman, finished with a flurry in both qualifiers, the latest with a :26.1 in the slop & looms large for Team Alagna

RACE 2
5-One Eight Hundred – Has missed a couple of weeks off a no-chance post ten Graduate mile, now adds Lasix for Team Takter & owns a wicked late move

2-Southwind Gendry – Rallied off cover to be a solid third in his Graduate comeback, draws an improved post in a competitive field & leads a strong Team Burke 1-2 punch

3-Bettors Donttell – Added Lasix & aired it out wire-to-wire in 1:49.4 last week, draws better & continues to gather steam on the comeback trail for Team Burke

RACE 3
7-Atlanta – The great mare committed to a late lead & it took a :25.4 in the slop to gun her down, moves outside, yet still stands out for her second try off the bench

2-Yanks Dugout – The other Team Burke trainee gave way under pressure over an off track a few weeks ago, draws post two again & can set up his preferred stalking trip

1-JL Cruze – The King returns fresh off a confidence-boosting romp as the heavy favorite @ Pocono, lands the rail, can take charge or play an opportunist role

RACE 4
3-Machdavid – Stormed home with the mile of his life three starts back, solid runner up in :26.3 last week, takes on a claiming tag, retains Dexter Dunn & draws inside again

5-Rockin M – Rallied for second to a well meant Grand Cayman here two starts back, returns to the Big M for a midpack launch with a hefty claiming tag for Team Bongiorno

8-De Los Cielos Deo – Team Burke stalwart almost never takes a night off, second to a decisive favorite last week, stuck outside, yet seems to mostly thrive when he’s involved

RACE 5
6-Cool Blues Man – Beaten heavy favorite was simply too far back off a rated pace last week, explosive win before that, now makes his second start off the Team Bongiorno claim

8-Mindtrip – Pace compromised & picked up fourth in :26.2 last week, tackles post eight again, remains in renewed form & just needs the right speed target to shoot at

4-Raptors Flight N – Needed every inch of that perfect trip to edge Undertaker in a stretch battle of longshots, lands post four again to carve out a similar stalking trip

RACE 6
6-Test Of Faith – Defending HOY was more ambitiously engaged & outsprinted Oakwoodanabella IR in :25.4 in the slop last week, 4YO draws outside some seasoned mares, but her talent is only beginning to resurface

3-Amazing Dream N – Downunder wonder came right back to go two-for-two @ The Big M, holding on gamely for a new mile mark over an off track & faces another serious test

2-Racine Bell – Nosed out in the Blue Chip Matchmaker Final, then was all out from the pocket chasing Amazing Dream N on a nasty night, draws better & figures to be forwardly placed again

RACE 7
1-I’m A Big Deal – Has flashed a few positive hints recently, one of several drop down candidates, went all the way in 1:49.3 back on March 26 & lands the rail in a wide-open field

6-Jack’s Shadow N – Jack certainly knows his way around here, makes his fourth start after a long layoff, drops a notch & can roll home with the top ones in this very tricky puzzle

5-Stone Hanover – We nailed The Stone when he went down the road as the heavy favorite last week, bumped back up brimming with confidence & still fresh on the comeback trail

RACE 8
1-Ecurie D DK – European import was impressive in both US starts last Fall, including a Breeders Crown romp over stablemate Back Of The Neck, breezed through his qualifier & lands the rail for three-time winners Team Svanstedt

7-Lovedbythemasses – Gelding has enjoyed a stellar season here winning six of seven for Team Cullipher, brushed n crushed them from post seven two starts back, can do it either way with his relentless style

2-Bella Bellini – Dan Patch Award winner & Hambo Oaks champ second best in both starts this season, draws inside in better shape now with a big chance to play a stalking role

RACE 9
3-Saying Grace N – Missed three weeks prior to shipping here & was finishing well with no chance chasing a well-rated heavy favorite, finally draws inside for Team Cullipher

1-Ana Afreet N – Last time he faced this kind he romped all the way from post nine in 1:49.2 as the favorite back on April 9, now he draws the rail to give Team Cullipher a 1-2 punch

4-Rockin The Aces – 1:49.3 performer here back on April 16 returns to the Big M with an inside draw, always dangerous with the right stalking set up for a sharp barn

RACE 10
7-Workin Ona Mystery – The Mystery was a decisive wire-to-wire winner on May 7, equaling the 1:48.1 season’s fastest mile under less than ideal conditions, Team Burke 6YO still gearing up for a big campaign

6-Nicholas Beach – Has done well in only five starts this season, recently added Lasix, solid runner to Workin Ona Mystery two weeks ago & has a big chance to ramp it up further for Team Bongiorno

3-This Is The Plan – Has missed almost a month since getting hung out to dry in the Borgata Final, classy Team Burke world champion draws inside to rebound

RACE 11
2-Rockin On Venus – Former Indiana Sires Stakes star & eight-time winner in 2021 was much better in his second try here for his new barn, gets some class relief & draws inside again to stalk n pop

5-Sonny Weaver N – Beaten heavy favorite bumped into a 1:48.3 buzz saw last week, drops another notch & has a chance to atone for Team Cullipher, who have a 1-2 punch in this one

4-Tookadiveoffdipper – Dipper got parked through a searing pace on a crappy night two weeks ago, this Team Alagna trainee has been acclimating to The Big M drops a notch & draws inside

RACE 12
4-Treacherous Dragon – Major stakes player prepped well beating Niki Hill in her latest qualifier, then dominated her 3YO debut @ Pocono & draws well with lots to build on

3-Off The Record – With a mark of 1:51 here last season she’s had a few starts since the mid-April sick scratch, re-familiarized herself with The Big M in last week’s Graduate & draws inside with The Money Man

6-Queen Of Success – Breeders Crown elimination upsetter in 1:50.3 last Fall, finished well in both qualifiers & looks ready to contend fresh off the bench for Team Alagna

RACE 13
1-BNGs Express – We gave him a chance as a longshot & he got shuffled in the slop last Friday, has improved since changing barns, acclimated now, owns some back class & draws the rail to stalk a wide-open finale

8-Hurrikane Georgie – Fought off steady pressure on the engine & cruised to a new mark of 1:52.4 in the GSY Series last Friday, stiffer task here, but likely the one to knock off in his third start off the bench

7-Bourbons Courage – Fresh claim has revived his form in his last three since coming back @ Yonkers, challenging post here, but can fire off the wings & be put in play