Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, December 16 & Saturday, December 17

Wednesday, December 14, 2022

---

Selections for December 16

RACE 1

7-Bad MS Johnson – Finished a solid second with a :26.4 in her Big M debut two starts back, that kind of effort along with the class drop could spell rebound in a wide-open affair

 

4-Woodmere Harriet – Sports a 1:51.4 mark @ The Big M this season, ships back from Harrah’s Philadelphia where she was facing much tougher & draws well

 

6-Cash Roll – Just missed in her last two at the bottom condition level here with The Money Man, her latest was first time Lasix & that was a mighty fine finish from post eight

 

RACE 2

5-Hunting AS – Bounced back with a patient trip & solid rally for second last week, has a chance to launch closer to the pace from midpack & gets another shot at this reduced level

 

2-Fit Bitt – New Team Burke acquisition co-owned by Gingras, competitive at the Preferred level @ Rideau Carlton, his Yonkers qualifier was okay & gets a cozy inside draw

 

3-Bet Big On Blue – Shook loose late to score the upset against bottom condition foes last week, bumped up a notch, but no world beaters in here & draws inside again

 

RACE 3

2-Little Honeybadger – Persistent type always a threat when she draws inside & she’s able to sit close to the pace, just missed last week when the table was set perfectly

 

4-Dandy Idea – Added Dexter Dunn & promptly turned things around with a rousing score as the favorite, draws inside again for the step up while strong in the win column

 

6-Purameri – Was on a pretty good roll elsewhere & despite missing three weeks she delivered emphatically as the favorite, which gave her confidence to tackle slightly tougher in this one

 

RACE 4

3-Romantic Warrior – Almost pulled off a well-driven repeat, but was gunned down late, took a new mark of 1:54.2 before that & now draws better for a sharp trotting barn

 

1-Hockey Hanover – Hockey is back to the scene of past exploits, fresh off his ninth win of the season, lands the rail & always tough to overhaul when able to swell up on the engine

 

5-Deltasun A – 9YO returns after some needed freshening, qualified with plenty of vigor for his new barn, picks up Todd McCarthy & might be ready to flaunt his class

 

RACE 5

4-Jody – Beaten favorite had too far to come after a slow start, yet flew home with a :26.3 in her Big M acclimating mile, now gets some class & post relief for Team Burke

 

3-Bettor’s Heart – Despite missing three weeks off a sick scratch she took advantage of a class drop & stormed home off a hot pace to snap a skid, draws better for the bump back up

 

6-So Irresistible – Nosed out with a sharp late surge last week, had several tough trips before that & the right set up could put this fast-closing mare across

 

RACE 6

2-Scrappin Gold – 1:51.3 performer here this season had been knocking on the door in his last two GSY 1 events, draws a better post tonight & in line for a smooth stalking trip

 

9-Spectacular Sunset – 4YO came up with one of his best efforts ever, steamrolling first over to a decisive upset for Jim King Solomon, moves outside, yet still rates as a repeat threat

 

3-Ima Happy Fella GB – UK bred has taken a couple of qualifiers to gear up for Team Harmon over less than ideal conditions @ Monticello & draws well to make an immediate impression

 

RACE 7

7-Aussie Hanover – Just two for 25 & has missed a couple of weeks, but back-to-back solid seconds in both starts here, his latest from post eight & retains Yannick Gingras

 

9-Up The Creek – Has hit the board in six of seven so far this season, right there in the photo with Aussie Hanover last out & looms a sharp threat despite post nine

 

8-Ideal Beach – Lightly-raced 4YO by Somebeachsomewhere makes his second start of the year after flashing promise, tough draw for his Big M debut, but has license to surprise this group

 

RACE 8

4-Always A Panther – Has hit the ticket in two of his last three here at the TM 74 level, draws an improved post for Joe Lee & stalking close to the pace seems likely

 

2-Feelin American – One for 24 in 2022, yet despite missing a month Lee Morris fired hard & this 7YO just missed going wire-to-wire in a noteworthy Big M debut from the same post

 

5-Know Your Roll – On the board in three of her last four, fresh off an aggressive effort into strong headwinds, was rough up before that, this mare rates contender status

 

RACE 9

2-Nylander – Parlayed a close second by going all the way from post nine with plenty left, now he finally moves inside, an ideal trip likely & repeat certainly possible

 

1-Swan Trixie – Stakes player this season abruptly turned her game around with the mile of her life last week & lands the rail for the repeat attempt

 

10-King Alphonso – Former stakes performer has been off a long time, but his Big M qualifier was superb, slammed with post ten, but Per Engblom has him on his toes

 

RACE 10

3-Pearl Harbour N – NZ bred zipped home in :26.4 to win his lone Big M qualifier on a track allowing two seconds & draws well for his Team Harmon US debut

 

1-MG’s Best Era Eva – Beaten favorite unleashed a serious rally to hit the board in an eye-catching Big M debut & now this filly moves inside with plenty of upside

 

2-Let’s Ryde Girl – Stepped up to this level off the mile of her life & got a bit too rambunctious, has a chance to rebound with another inside draw

 

RACE 11

3-Raptor’s Flight – Fresh claim by Besim “The Dream” Odza sports a mark of 1:51.1 here this season at age nine, sharp item on the comeback trail draws inside & gets Yannick Gingras

 

2-Prince Galaxy – Shipped here fresh off a blowout win @ Plainridge & had no chance from post nine, chalk up an acclimating mile & draws better in a real spot

 

4-Chief Of Staff – Has done his share of damage @ The Big M this season, including a decisive score as the favorite last month, has a big chance to rebound in this wide-open affair

 

RACE 12

4-Sassy Cindy – Beaten favorite bumped into a standout in Sweet Phenomena, now has two excellent acclimating miles, draws well & reunited with Dexter Dunn

 

9-Mymonstersarereal – Closed from the clouds to just miss at long odds in her Big M debut, two for 28 lifetime & stuck outside again, but you have to give her a long look

 

2-Jagged Little Pill – One for 36 this season, yet did offer enough to hit the board in a solid acclimating mile last week, looms large as another stalking trip is imminent

 

RACE 13

7-All American N – $100,000+ winner in 2022 landed on the edges in his latest two here, nien-time winner this season now gets his fourth straight class drop

 

1-Wow Lester – Very consistent in his last three here, remains at the bottom condition level & lands in an ideal spot to take charge or trip out

 

5-Massive Matter – Added trotting hopples & made a quick adjustment to The Big M with a solid rally for third, 4YO makes his second start for his new barn & has license to improve

 

RACE 14

2-Gottalovemyshadow – Horse-for-the-course makes her second start since a barn change & returns to the mile track in a wide-open finale

 

5-Cream Virgin – Upset winner with a new mark of 1:55 fresh off the bench, followed up with a strong third & now drops back to the TM 74 level

 

8-Baci Baci – Give her points for that much-improved effort to finish third last week, her post is tougher, but she could be going in the right direction

 

 

Selections for December 17

RACE 1

1-Fox Valley Carlin – 3YO scored his first win of the season two starts back in a career best 1:52.2, then had no chance as the even money favorite, expect a better start from the rail

 

2-Instantaneous – Did the bulk of the work & held for a show deadheat last week, draws inside YS Do It Right, retains Todd McCarthy & in line for a smooth stalking trip in a very tricky opener

 

9-YS Do It Right – Was able to turn his game around with aggressive handling & hung on as the even money favorite, stuck outside here, but Mark Silva has him razor sharp

 

RACE 2

6-Maddox Hanover – One for 17 lifetime 3YO steamrolled first over & just missed in a sparkling comeback last week, has major license to advance in his second try for his new barn

 

4-Art Scaping – Added Lasix & rallied for the deuce at long odds in a much-improved mile, draws better here to set up a stalking trip closer to the pace

 

10-Thndrfrmthethrone N – Consistent 8YO was pace compromised & still closed from last to just miss last week, banking on a quicker pace target to shoot at from post ten again

 

RACE 3

5-Twin B Eagle – Has now had two much-needed acclimating miles on Lasix for his new barn & flashed some late pace from impossible spots, lightly-raced 4YO could get more aggressive here

 

2-Apple Valley Art – Almost went all the way in his first start under trainer Noel Daley, then scratched sick, yet lands in a prime spot to take charge in a handicapper’s headscratcher

 

8-Air Guitar – Nine-time winner this season with a mark of 1:51.2 @ The Big M returns to the mile track at the bottom condition level & rates a long look despite post eight

 

RACE 4

4-Texas Terror N – Rebounded with an ideal trip & just missed last week, 14YO sports a solid record here & draws well to stalk the speed again with a strong number in the win column

 

9-A Bettor Beach – Beaten favorite gave it an excellent try on the engine last week, versatile sort deals with post nine again in a competitive match up, yet remains on a form spree

 

5-Boiler Maker – 4YO has blasted down the road at two different venues in his last three & obviously had plenty left, would be no surprise to find him on the boiler in this tight affair

 

RACE 5

6-Duke Of Cornwall N – Fresh off a sizzling qualifier he started relatively slow from post eight & paced a :53.2 back half in his first American start, has a big chance to atone off that tightener

 

1-Jay Bracken A – Forced to endure a nightmare acclimating trip over a sloppy track in his US debut on Lasix, expecting a logical step up from the rail

 

5-Supervisethemoment – 3YO making fifth start for Team Burke, racing aggressively on Lasix @ Yonkers, launches midpack here & may be looking to take control again

 

RACE 6

4-Catch Me Conrad – Ultra productive sort grinded gamely for minor spoils last week, draws a bit better for his fourth start with Team Harmon, retains The Buckeye & rates highly in this challenging start to the Early Pick 4

 

6-The Bird Dance N – Made a late move to the lead & just missed in the slop two weeks ago, aggressive tactics have been paying off recently & it’s the potent Brennan-Drennan combo

 

5-High Baller – Kept his every-other pattern going with a lively score as the heavy favorite last week, look for another alert launch from midpack with a strong number in the win column

 

RACE 7

3-Leon David – Twice beaten favorite nosed out two starts back, then parked over an off track, sub 1:50 performer @ The Big M lands post three again & remains sharp on the comeback trail

 

1-Twin B Heart Throb – Pretty consistent 4YO fresh off a solid rally for the deuce @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & expecting a smooth start from the rail for Team Cullipher

 

6-Adriano Hanover – Flashed a :26.3 from a long way back in a much-needed Big M acclimating mile, Maine invader drops a notch & could surprise with the right set up

 

RACE 8

2-Belmont Royale N – NZ import delivered the goods for the chalk players in a sparkling US debut & this Nifty Norman trainee draws inside again to tap his potential further

 

3-Baileys Rock N – 9YO is on a serious roll for Kelvin Harrison, just missed to Revolver N with sharp pace at both ends last week & draws an improved post

 

5-Revolver N – Rebounded big time off a clunker by exploding to a 6-1 upset last week, 8YO took a new mark of 1:50.1 in the process & continues on the rise

 

RACE 9

6-Major Fernco N – Beaten even money favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia drops a notch for his return to The Big M, sloppy tracks in his last two & makes his fourth start off a sick scratch

 

3-Toronto – Unleashed a speedy :26.3 rally to hit the board from post eight last week, now draws better for his third try off a sick scratch & only his fifth start off the year

 

4-On Accident – Caught too far back after a slow start from post nine last week, just missed with an ambitious effort from post seven before that, sharp item draws a better post

 

RACE 10

3-Covered Bridge – Sub 1:50 performer here this season has been slugging it out in the Yonkers Open, draws inside a fiercely competitive dash & his preferred stalking trip is imminent

 

9-Crunch Time A – Went three-for-three in the US with another dominant score over an off track, stuck outside a wicked field, yet not sure where his bottom is yet

 

7-Vettel N – Team Bongiorno stalwart left in the wake of Crunch Time A two weeks ago, tougher post, but can blast off the wings & remains on a form spree

 

RACE 11

1-Good Rockin – Had no shot after a really slow start from post ten last week, just missed with an aggressive effort before that & now moves inside

 

2-Paternity Suit A – Uncorked another nice rally to grab the show for the third straight time, draws better in a field of several question marks & could be on the verge

 

4-Virgin Storm – Just two for 30 this season, but had tough trips chasing better claimers in his last two @ Yonkers, draws well here to set up a stalking strategy & could surprise this bunch

 

RACE 12

3-Brigadoon – Switched to Dexter Dunn & promptly did a 180, going all the way at the TM 74 level, 9YO took a mark of 1:51.1 here this season & draws inside as a repeat threat

 

5-Doctor Butch – The Doctor got parked & cooked through a fast pace last out, only three for 39 this season, but this classy 12YO can rebound with a better trip

 

4-Party Boy – Parlayed a GSY 1 win as the favorite into a another solid rally to land in the photo last week, draws post four again to build on his sudden resurgence

 

RACE 13

6-Saying Grace N – Classy Team Cullipher 9YO has been landing on edges against tougher, now gets some class & post relief & long overdue

 

2-Southport Beach – Beaten favorite finished a strong second fresh off the Team Bongiorno claim & draws better with no serious standouts in this assembly

 

7-Livinthebeachlife – Not sure exactly what we’re going to get from this lightly-raced 4YO, qualified okay @ Yonkers, demanding post & makes his Team Burke debut here

 

RACE 14

4-Night Explorer – Paid immediate dividends with another barn change & tripped out to upset $7,500 claimers last week, has a big chance to build on that in a wide-open finale

 

3-JK’s On The Move – Makes his Big M debut in a real soft spot, this 3YO was overmatched against tougher @ Yonkers & draws well here for his new barn

 

10-Atta Boy Dan – Simply can’t ignore this 13YO millionaire with 85 career wins, clobbered cheaper in his last two @ Monticello & could be a factor despite post ten here