Ken Warkentin Selections for Thursday, August 4, Friday, August 5 and Saturday, August 6
Monday, August 1, 2022
RACE 1
1-Bullit Train – Lightly-raced 3YO newcomer to the The Big M been chasing tougher NW3 company @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & lands the rail in a camera-shy opener
3-Papiamento – 0 for 30 season on view, but recent form @ Harrah’s Philadelphia has picked up & been acceptable against $10,000 claimers, draws better here
4-Shaving Mug – On a form spree recently, while winning here a couple of times this Summer, returns to the mile track off a dull effort & can rebound from an improved post
RACE 2
3-Purple Sky – Has been landing on the fringes, fifth here two starts back, finally draws a decent post & in line to trip out in a real soft spot at a price in a headscratcher
5-Some Power – One for 23 in 2022, drops to the TM 70 level here where he finished a solid third on July 7 & has a chance to snap a long losing skid
2-Ideal Tyson A – Back to The Big M fresh off a perfect trip win in an amateur event @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, his first in 19 tries this season, draws better & reunited with Tyler Miller
RACE 3
7-All Rise – Forced wide off cover & just missed from post eight last Friday, recent Edwin Quevedo trainee now well acclimated & looks for a speed target
1-Warrior Way – Turned things around with a strong rally to hit the board from post nine & moves inside with something positive to build on
2-Zlatan – Gets some much-needed class relief, draws better & has a chance to carve out his preferred stalking trip & end a long drought
RACE 4
2-Bellisima Hanover – $400,000 Captaintreacherous filly has progressed nicely for Team Alagna, was able to gain confidence with an easy win last Friday & draws inside again
3-Mind Blowing – Homebred daughter of Sweet Lou baby raced well, then chased Bellisima Hanover in a solid opener & certainly has license to step up for Team Toscano
8-Lisa Lane – Left alertly, avoided a fallen horse & finished a strong second to standout Ucandoit Blue Chip in the NJSS Final, moves outside, yet going in the right direction
RACE 5
3-Ship Wreck Beach K – Sharp Big M debut when he took a new mark of 1:52.1 for Team Estrada, then just missed, big inside threat with Dexter Dunn
5-Illini Duke – Two wins and a nose loss in his last three here, well rated from post eight & held off The Ship Wreck last Friday, once to knock off with our leading pilot
2-Holy Grail N – One for 27 this season, but this 11YO has cranked it up recently, a mighty surge & right there a close third in the photo, draws better off that encouraging effort
RACE 6
1-Ucandoit Blue Chip – Nearly flawless so far, she just completed a three-ply sweep of the NJSS Series for Team Toscano, stands out & has options on the rail
4-Caviart Davia – Captaintreacherous sister to Stay Hungry was a much better runner up to a big favorite Bellisima Hanover in her second start & draws well to show more
2-Falana Hanover – Always B Miki sister to Dan Patch Award winner Fire Start Hanover was pace compromised & finished an even fourth in a beneficial debut, draws inside with plenty of upside
RACE 7
1-Scrappin Gold – Remains on a long form spree for a hot barn, beaten favorite in three of his last four moves inside to set the tone & try to turn the tables on a suddenly revived Codys Knapsack
9-Codys Knapsack – The Knapsack shipped here with sketchy lines, yet it only took three starts for the recent Team Burke acquisition to turn it around big time, any semblance of that 1:51.1 upset & this 3YO can overcome post nine
4-Mckee Creek – Was able to move forward off a solid third two starts back with a career best of 1:52.1 at age nine & he’s rewarded with an improved post
RACE 8
1-Goldin Greatness – Huntsville gelding caught several eyes with his huge rally for second to Captain Batboy with a :53.3 back half, moves inside & Patrick Ryder patience could pay off
5-Captain Batboy – Captaintreacherous from a sister to 1:50 performer Nikki Beach live up to his tote hype with a decisive first score in a sharp 1:51.2, Team Alagna pupil figures to be the one to beat
3-Save America – $300,000 Captaintreacherous brother to a couple of good ones in O’Brien Award winner Stag Party & Hen Party, forced wide by an early breaker from post eight & closed in :25.4, much better draw here for Team Takter
RACE 9
2-Rigginswind – Fresh face to The Big M suddenly blew them away when well supported @ Harrah’s Philadelphia two starts back, that kind of aggressive effort might be coming again from post two here
1-Be Best – Big M lover one for 25 in 2022 & playing on the fringes lately, switches to a TM condition, draws much better here, picks up Dexter Dunn & play a stalker role
7-Johnny G’s Star – One for 21 this season, but note the much-improved second two starts back, not quite same punch last Friday, another tricky post & banks on some mayhem
Friday, August 5 Selections
RACE 1
6-Shellie De Vie – One of two mares taking on the boys in this one, only one for 22 this year, yet that lone win was here & looks like she’s getting some class relief
5-Bytheway Hanover – Posted a couple of GSY Series 1 upsets here this season, been playing on the edges @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & lands in a soft spot back @ The Big M
4-Bruce’s Magic – 0 for 20 record in 2022 not encouraging, but seems to have ramped it up a bit in his last few, draws well & certainly knows his way around this oval
RACE 2
2-Grand Fashion – Walner sister to two-time Dan Patch Award winner Broadway Donna & NJSS champion Fashion Schooner made a rare early miscue in the NJSS Final, her previous win was superb & she draws inside again
6-Heart On Fire – Father Patrick sister to a couple of $400,000 winners Fourth Dimension and Valentina Blu, was able to steal a soft :59 half & cruised to her first win for Team Alagna
7-Unicorn Blue Chip – $475,000 Chapter Seven sister to world champion Plunge Blue Chip has flashed some talent in her last two while staying flat, could surprise & world a long look despite the outside draw
RACE 3
3-Defacement – $500,000 Muscle Hill filly out of a sister to Muscle Massive, bounced back with a solid third behind Jim Doherty finalist Royal Filly & debuts in a wide-open division for Team Orange Crush
1-Quick Stop – Won her NJSS debut with a wire-to-wire upset & fourth in that final, now lands the rail in a field begging to be beaten
2-Pride N Joy – E L Titan filly finished an inspiring third in her Kindergarten debut at big odds & draws better to atone for an early miscue
RACE 4
4-Bond – First crop of Southwind Frank out of a sister to Bella Bellini, jogged in her debut off a sick scratch, then bumped into Jim Doherty standout Mambacita & leads a Team Svanstedt 1-2 punch
1-Totally Relentless – Hammered down to even money favorite & held third behind a runaway Heart On Fire, moves inside off that beneficial experience for Team Toscano
7-Fashion Annie – Donato Hanover sister to half million dollar winner Millies Possesion, just missed making it three-for-three in PA, Jim Campbell trainee one to fear with the right set up
RACE 5
8-Dream Out Loud N – 15YO has been amazing here this season, sports a season’s best of 1:51.3, while overcoming outside draws, look for The Judge Tony Beltrami to send
5-Ferdinand A – Returns to The Big M fresh off another wire-to-wire effort, launches midpack in top form with controlling speed & has the option of playing stalk n pop
6-Bronsons Delight – One for 20 this season, blitzed by a 1:50.1 winner last time, hinting of better in his previous two & could kick past this bunch with the right trip
RACE 6
1-Winner’s Bet – $200,000 Walner colt flashed a :26.3 in his debut, then a strong runner up to 6-5 favorite D’Apper, lands the rail & switches to Dexter Dunn
7-Up Your Deo – $100,000 Walner first foal from his Cantab Hall dam, runner up in the NJSS Final & take down for first turn interference, just missed in his debut before that for Team Svanstedt
4-Te Amo Lindy – Muscle Hill homebred stepped up to rally for third in a very encouraging opener & draws well to continue his progress with Yannick Gingras
RACE 7
3-Regal Escape – Exploded & crushed foes in the first leg, then forced wide from a tough spot & still paced home in :26.3, gets another inside post with Dexter Dunn
9-Beach Chief – 4YO has suddenly found new life in this series with two straight upsets, his latest a complete blowout, stuck outside, but blastoff expected
4-Our Third Rock – Just missed in round one, then bumped into a buzzsaw in Beach Chief & draws inside again to stalk the speed again
RACE 8
1-International Man – First crop of 1:51.4 performer International Moni & brother to Raised By Lindy, 1:51.1 tripped out nicely to a mild upset in his opener & moves inside
4-Purple Lord – First crop of 2018 Hambo elimination winner Tactical Landing & second foal from a sister to near $900,000 winner Phaetosive, was used pretty hard from post eight, solid rally for second before that
2-Once In A Lifetime – Father Patrick colt won at first asking, rebounded off a miscue with a close second in PASS & worth a long look from an inside post here
RACE 9
5-Pretender – 1:51.4 winner at The Big M this season with a steady string of thirds recently in top stakes company & had no chance from post ten in his Hambo elimination
1-Theresnolimit S – Thought he was turning the corner with that 1:51 lifetime best two starts back, then had a nightmare Hambo elimination trip & draws much better to rebound
6-Pour Mea Double – Stablemate to Rebuff winless this season, but hit the board chasing Joviality S in the Yonkers Trot, big chance stretch out on the mile track here
RACE 10
3-Jims Perfect Ten – Just missed to a revved up Tuxedo Bay in the first leg, then lacked the knockout punch off perfect cover last week, but his post improves & he might be on the verge of snapping his 0 for 24 this season for Team Bongiorno
4-Atomic Blast N – Lived up to his tote hype with an aggressive score last week, just a fifth off his lifetime mark & draws a bit better as a logical threat to repeat
6-Tuxedo Bay – After two big upsets he was right there battling to the wire with a well-meant Atomic Blast N, remains a razor sharp item & gate speed always puts him in play
RACE 11
6-So Irresistible – Has been hinting of an overdue win, rallied from far back to hit the board last week & gets another shot at this reduced level
7-Cousin Mary – Classy Mary has the talent to bounce back off a rare miscue, she was on a roll before that, took a mark of 1:50.1 on July 8, then nosed out by Hot Mess Express
5-A Better Game – We know her game has been better, while noting her mark of 1:50.4 here this season, but breaks in her last two elsewhere obviously make her a question mark
RACE 12
7-Finn Palema – Late-blooming Muscle Hill colt finished third to Hambo favorite Rebuff in the Reynolds, then just missed with a :26.3, tricky post here, but has major upside for Team Svanstedt
8-Speed Away – Ships in fresh off three in a row on the comeback trail, tackles an outside post, but eligible to ramp it up in this relatively wide-open affair
6-Wild Oats – Lightly-raced Team Alagna 4YO has been eager to please on the engine, beaten heavy favorite might go further with those needed tightening miles
RACE 13
7-Timestorm – Came to life with a pace setting effort & just missed @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, challenging post, but gets a double class drop & owns a mark of 1:52.4 here this season
4-Fix-It-Up – Romped to a career best of 1:53.2 fresh off the bench for Team Bongiorno, then cruised to repeat @ Pocono & draws better for another step up
3-Shinkansen – Sports a mark of 1:52.1 @ The Big M this season, gets some class relief & better post after setting the pace & finishing third @ Harrah’s Philadelphia
Saturday, August 6 Selections
RACE 1
8-Speedy Dominic A – Has been on a form spree for Team Bongiorno, yet unfortunately bumped into the raging Billy Clyde in his last two, has the speed to overcome another tough post & play a prime stalking opportunist role again
5-Billy Clyde – Billy is still one of the hottest horses @ The Big M, a nose away from winning his last five in a row, fresh off a new mark of 1:48 he simply blew them away in 1:48.4 last week, let’s see Billy air it out in the daylight
9-South Beach Star – Real serious Brett Pelling-tuned 4YO with a nose for the winners circle, recently added Lasix & toyed with foes two weeks ago, moves outside, so now he looks to rev it up some more in a real competitive opener
RACE 2
7-Keep Rockin N – Back from a successful stint @ Hoosier Park where she took a mark of 1:48.3 for team Cullipher, she’s often eager to please, switches to Andrew McCarthy & we may find her on engine today
6-Drama Act – Has certainly gotten her act together with two straight blowouts @ Pocono, her latest a 1:49.4 sizzler, could be the sharpest mare in this field & might try to go down the road for Team Burke
5-Watch Me Now N – 1:49 Open winner here back in late May has struggled since, yet her latest qualifier indicates Team Alagna might’ve solved her issues & picked the perfect day to shine
RACE 3
2-Bella Bellini – Last year’s Dan Patch Award/Oaks champ was on a roll recently winning five of six, including the Six Pack, Graduate Final & Hambo Maturity, didn’t quite have the same late punch last week & draws better to unleash her usual flurry within closer range
1-Atlanta – 2021 Steele winner in 1:50.4 fresh off a vintage 1:50 romp in the Miss Versatility, it simply wouldn’t be Hambletonian Day without this ultra classy queen of trotting, who has been very steady so far this season for Team Burke
6-When Dovescry – Not sure why she was so sluggish off the gate from post eight last week after trotting the mile of her life two weeks before, this Dan Patch Award/Oaks champ certainly has the class to rebound
RACE 4
3-Testing Testing – Squandered a perfect second over trip & outsprinted in his Hambo elimination, yet did rebound off a rare miscue, beat King Of the North in the Zweig consolation, draws inside & retains Todd McCarthy
1-Justice – EBC winner bounced back off a final turn break in the Yonkers Trot, but had some traffic issues after a slow start last week, now has license to step up from the rail for Team Svanstedt in much softer match up
6-Castle House – This colt seems to be heading in the right direction for Per Engblom, recorded a lifetime best of 1:54.4 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia recently & arrives off a narrow loss in NYSS & might appreciate the mile track stretch out
RACE 5
1-Kilmister – Fresh off his first two impressive NYSS wins he rallied to make it three-for-three with decisive elimination score, also an excellent acclimating mile, Sears has won this event five times
8-Oh Well – This Muscle Hill colt accepted the bye into this final after a pair of gutsy wins NJSS, a relentless rally from post nine and took a mark of 1:53.1 in the final, Tetrick won the 2010 edition with The Lindy Reserve
4-Upstaged – Another talented Muscle Hill colt, runner up in last week’s elimination, completes the Team Melander power trio, this NJSS winner continues to improve
RACE 6
2-Monkey Queen – The $450,000 sister to Gimpanzee hasn’t raced in three weeks, but she’s been good in just three lifetime starts, finally draws inside & faces a bulky field filled with question marks
6-Palermo Hanover – Pace compromised when picking up a piece of the pie chasing Gracelyn Hanover last out, steady sort benefited from that acclimating mile & retains Dexter Dunn
1-Gracelyn Hanover – Managed to steamroll first over to a career best upset in 1:52.3 two starts back, but then regressed into another break last week, moves inside to ease away & avoid traffic
RACE 7
7-Boudoir Hanover – Has been on a nice roll for Team Alagna since taking a mark of 1:48.3 in the Nadia Lobell, just missed in her last two to Max Contract, challenging post here, but has a big chance to turn the tables
6-Max Contract – Lightly-raced Huntsville filly has come a long way in a short time for Team Orange Crush, 1:48.3 Mistletoe Shalee upsetter came right back to nail Boudoir in 1:49.1
3-Galleria Hanover – Team Burke-tuned filly ships in brimming with confidence, tripped out for a new mark of 1:49.2 in The Stallion Series two starts back & draws inside here to stalk foes
RACE 8
3-Mad Max Hanover – Max has been pretty steady this season, but sharpened his sword recently with a bang up second in the Pace & comes into this fresh off a sizzling new mark of 1:47.4 & draws inside again
6-Beach Glass – The Pace champion is back after getting stung by hot fractions & gunned down in the Adios, his 1:47.2 score here was exceptional, wheels right back & will be tough to overhaul if he maintains his current form
5-Early Action – High quality freshman last season might be finally turning the corner with that distant second to Mad Max last week, yet not sure if he’s ready to crank it up another notch
RACE 9
7-Test Of Faith – A tip of the cap to the defending HOY for her terrific season so far, fresh off a world record 1:47 in the Dorothy Haughton & 1:48.1 romp in the Graduate Final, her relentless speed makes her tough to hold off
5-Racine Bell – Has not finished up as strong in her last two since the 1:47.2 wire-to-wire in the Perfect Sting, can rebound by taking control & might try to get the jump on Faith
9-Lyons Sentinel – Dominated the 2021 Lady Liberty & connections won three in a row with Shartin N before that, she’s stuck outside again here, but that first over crush in the Clara Barton is no doubt a positive sign
RACE 10
9-Rockyroad Hanover – Rocky has been brilliant this season for Team Alagna, while chasing the incomparable Bulldog, this 1:46.2 Roll With Joe winner was an excellent runner up in his last two from post nine & tuned up with a nice qualifier for another big mile today
6-Catch The Fire – Took his mark of 1:47.2 in a Sam McKee division last year, no factor in the 1:45.4 Bulldog Hanover devastation, but bounced back with a 1:47.4 take-no-prisoners blowout @ Pocono & could be setting the tempo
4-Backstreet Shadow – Owns a second & third in his last two Sam McKees, this classy warrior nailed the red-hot Billy Clyde for a new mark of 1:47.2 before getting nosed out by that rival two weeks ago & draws well again as part of the imposing Team Burke quintet
RACE 11
2-Amigo Volo – Dan Patch Award winner & world champion gelding returns to The Big M on a nice roll, winning two of his last three, draws inside to be forwardly placed, stalk the speed & avoid traffic in this bulky field
3-Storm Is Raging – Notched his seventh win in 12 starts this season when aggressive handling paid off with a new mark of 1:51.4, draws inside to be part of the speed equation & gives Team Burke a strong 1-2 punch
1-Hillexotic – The other Team Burke charge has been a constant threat in the Yonkers Open, took a mark of 1:51.2 here this season, gets a chance to push off from the rail & possibly trip out
RACE 12
3-Warrawee Xenia – Walner sends out three Oaks finalists and this Ontario-based invader closed like a rocket to win her Big M debut in dramatic style, despite going off Lasix, fresh off the mile of her life she puts her seven-race winning streak on the line for 2019 Hambletonian upsetter Bob McClure, who said she’s as fresh as any filly in the race and we will see an better version of her week
5-Venerable – 2021 Dan Patch Award winner by Walner also won the Mohawk Million last year & continues to regain top form for three-time Oaks winner Nifty Norman, the 1:52.4 elimination winner has Hall of Fame driver Dave Miller, who teamed up with Nifty to win the 2012 upsetter Personal Style, Nifty thinks she’s been getting a little better all the time
4-Manon – Bar Hopping sired last year’s Oaks champion Bella Bellini, this filly won her first five starts this season, took a mark of 1:51.1 here and just missed in the Del Miller Memorial, trainer Lucas Wallin has today’s Hambletonian favorite and was looking to make some equipment changes on this filly after a tough trip last week
RACE 13
6-Mambacita – Accepted the bye into this final fresh off her second as the heavy favorite in the NJSS Final, romped in her two previous starts, has already shown speed, versatility & progress, Dave Miller won his fourth Jim Doherty with division champion Venerable, setting the stakes record of 1:52
1-Una Madonna – Coming off a miscue @ Oak Grove & sick scratch before that, she regained winning form with a slick ground-saving rally & elimination upset for the Alagna Armada, looks for a similar set up closer to the pace to prove that was no fluke
2-Royal Filly – Adds to the Team Alagna fearsome foursome, elimination favorite appeared home free, yet settled for second with a nice bounce-back effort & more Dexter Dunn patience could pay off
RACE 14
4-Alrajah One IT – Simply rocked the trotting world with his 1:50.4 upset rally in the Crawford Farms, then steamrolled to a 1:50.3 track record in the Spirit of Massachusetts, Team Svanstedt have a stranglehold with this formidable quintet & we sure don’t know how good this one is yet
5-Ecurie D DK – Breeders Crown champion equaled the all-age track record of 1:49.1 in a stunning 2022 debut in the Cutler, wasn’t able to sprint with his stablemate Alrajah One IT in the Crawford Farms after missing 42 days, freshened with an excellent qualifier
1-Rattle My Cage – Easily made it four in a row with his romp in the Graduate Final, got too fired up in the Hambo Maturity & this 1:50.2 performer here this season has a huge shot to rebound from the rail
RACE 15
1-Rebuff – Muscle Hill has three shots at his fourth Hambo winner, and this Breeders Crown champion made it three-for-three this season with his decisive post eight elimination score, equaled a track record of 1:49.4 on Pace Night, Tim Tetrick won the 2012 edition with Market Share, 28YO Lucas Wallin sends out his first Hambletonian finalist, says he’s been very confident since Day One, this will be only his fourth start of the season and that was the plan
2-Joviality S – Along with Jiggy Jog S she looks to become the 16th filly to win the Hambletonian, six-for-six this season before her close third from post ten last week, won the EBC in 1:51, beat the boys in the Yonkers Trot and took a mark of 1:50.3 in the Del Miller Memorial, Marcus Melander and Anders Strom looking to strike gold for the first time, Hall of Famer Brian Sears seeks a Hambo grandslam, rewarded with an inside draw to stalk the favorite
7-Temporal Hanover – An ultra consistent colt from the sensational first crop of Walner & the powerful battalion of 2019 Trainer of the Year Marcus Melander, a strong second in his elimination, won the Zweig Memorial in 1:52.2 and just missed in the NJSS Final, Sweden’s great Orjan Kihlstrom seeks that elusive feather in his Hall of Fame hat
RACE 16
10-Wes Delight – Has picked it up & been racing well for Team Alagna, third to a 1:47.2 winner three starts back, then a solid second from post nine to a fired up South Beach Star, post ten hurts, but the class drop helps
1-Imaginary Line – Has caught a slight case of seconditis on the comeback trail, but that was another solid finish chasing a decisive Lou’s Pearlman last week, remains at the right level & has options from the rail for Team Bongiorno
4-Whitecookie – The Cookie had a right to crumble as the even money favorite, attacking first over into a quickening pace, now the class relief & inside draw gives him a big chance to rebound for Team Burke
Track Conditions
Updated
11/16/2024
Fast
Variant:
36°F