Ken Warkentin Selections for December 30 & December 31, 2022
Wednesday, December 28, 2022
Friday Selections
RACE 1
5-Ferdinand A – Almost went all the way from post eight @ Freehold & just missed here with a gutsy effort before that, 9YO horse-for-the-course launching midpack in revival mode
4-Spectacular Sunset – Steamrolled first over to a decisive upset two starts back, then got parked in the slop, 4YO draws better here while cycling in career form
6-Takemetothelimit GB – UK-bred battled bravely to win his lone qualifier here, tough to gauge off that mile, yet might be ready to tackle these
RACE 2
8-Kenogrami Rebel – Romped with plenty in his Team Burke debut @ Yonkers over a track rated slow with a two-second variant, stuck outside here, but has obvious upside to tap into
3-Create Mystique – Creatine filly has won six of 12 this season, held on to win her last two @ Yonkers against N/W 4 company & draws well in a field of question marks
6-Pencils Down – This filly owns a recent win here, equaling her lifetime mark of 1:55.2 & returns fresh off a narrow loss @ Harrah’s Philadelphia for Team Cullipher
RACE 3
6-Woodmere Harriet – 1:51.4 winner here this season off a no-chance mile in the slop, note how far she’s dropped down the condition ladder & makes her fifth start since a sick scratch
8-Lady Rocknrolla A – Rode in on a Cumberland form spree, took advantage of a perfect set up & reeled off a scintillating new mark of 1:51.4, tries to keep it going from post eight now
5-Purameri – Followed up an easy win from post eight with a hard-fought narrow loss in the slop last out, firing out from midpack again in sharp form
RACE 4
5-Don’t I Wish – 3YO Trixton gelding arrives in solid form @ The Meadows for Team Betts, freshened recently, tackles an easier task here & gets to launch midpack in a dartboard field
7-Crazy About Pat – In search of a bright spot in this bunch this 12YO with 51 career wins returns to The Big M fresh off an overdue score in the slop @ Freehold
6-Takato – 3YO had it going well recently over the smaller tracks in NY, ships in off another miscue, yet has had some experience over this track & this is the most wide-open field we’ve seen in awhile
RACE 5
5-Evas Sports Czech – Sparked something with a late surge to just miss last out, now has a positive line to build on & her back class may be resurfacing in a wide-open field
3-Milady Denver A – Trounced these for the upset three starts back, 12YO has had her share of success here & lands in a tailor made spot
2-One More Try – One for 16 this season, yet gave it an excellent try when she rallied to finish a close second two starts back & draws inside to trip out closer to the pace
RACE 6
2-Shecandance N – Ships here on a roll since arriving east into the Per Engblom barn, fresh off a perfect trip score @ Yonkers, she gets class relief & draws inside
8-Bettors Heart N – Nifty Norman-tuned 1:50.4 performer @ The Big M this season scored a mild upset fresh off a sick scratch two starts back, moves outside, but drops back down
6-Cash Roll – 5YO has fired up her game in her last three, her last two with Lasix added, fresh off a decisive score as the heavy favorite in the slop & steps up brimming with confidence
RACE 7
3-P L Oscar – Finished a solid third from post eight when last seen here, hasn’t raced in three weeks, but draws an improved post in a complete toss up field & switches to Todd McCarthy
5-Amador – 6YO has experienced a recent revival, after three straight upsets he stormed home to hit the board in the slop & might have the best form in this cluster of form challenged Yonkers shippers
7-Jula Muscle Pack – 4YO equaled his mark of 1:53.1, his lone win in 20 starts this season, a solid runner up over an off track in his second start off the bench & gets some class relief for Per Engblom
RACE 8
7-Its Mesmerize N – Not too strong in the win column, yet might be the dangerous class dropper in this wide-open affair, raced well in her last two against tougher over off tracks @ Yonkers
1-Thundra – Just missed with a strong effort in her second start off the bench, drops off a no-chance mile in the slop & has a chance to trip out from the rail with Yannick Gingras
2-Coolncalculating N – Not sure where that upset rally from post eight came from, but it came off an acclimating mile for her new barn & now she moves inside on a high note
RACE 9
5-Kenziesky Hanover – Team Cullipher mare with a solid summary & record @ The Big M, been knocking on the door in the Yonkers Open & logically looms large
7-Delayed Hanover – Vaulted off a solid acclimating mile with trotting hopples added by steamrolling first over to pay off the chalk players with a class drop n pop, big threat to repeat
4-Rich And Miserable – Capitalized on class relief, fired out & just missed to Delayed Hanover, draws a bit better to employ a similar strategy in a very competitive field
RACE 10
2-Shanghai Seelster – Won her first start for Team Burke wire-to-wire, then flashed plenty of late pace from post nine in a much-needed Big M acclimating mile & now draws better
4-Jody – Beaten heavy favorite was a hard-charging runner up to a gutsy Love Me Hill, may get a better speed target to shoot at in this competitive match up & part of a Team Burke triple threat
6-Love Me Hill – 3YO filly has cycled forward for Virgil Morgan, Jr., that was a game uncovered score, while outsprinting Jody, gets Todd McCarthy & can’t rule out a repeat
RACE 11
2-King Alphonso – Former stakes player flashed some early life from post eight in the sloppy track comebacker, now a Per Engblom trainee gets class & post relief & retains Yannick Gingras
4-Elegant Dulupin FR – French import just missed fresh off the bench, then pace compromised from post nine in the slop, draws better with two strong miles to build on
3-Hall It Off – Okay, we missed the boat with the inexplicable 75-1 new lifetime mark, then he broke again in the slop, class & post relief improve his chances of bouncing back
RACE 12
4-Lyons Pride – One for 21 Ontario product off three weeks gets a big chance to wipe the slate clean in a soft spot for a new barn that’s been making some noise here recently
7-Aussie Hanover – Two for 26 beaten favorite fresh off another narrow loss from the same post, persistence pays & this is a prime opportunity for this sharp item
5-Up The Creek – Hit the board in his first two starts here with solid rallies, then squandered a second over trip in the slop, an improved post gives this lightly-raced 3YO a chance to rebound
RACE 13
3-Fix-It-Up – Sports a 1:53.2 mark @ The Big M this season, looking to rebound off some miscues in the slop & gets a needed class drop for Team Bongiorno
2-INXS – Two for four since the mid-November sick scratch, rallied for a new mark of 1:55 as the favorite two starts back, drops back down to that level & draws post two again
6-Blogmaster – Hit the board in both starts here, the almost went all the way @ Yonkers as the even money favorite, his two for 33 record this season is a concern
RACE 14
5-Cookiemansmanhardt – Finished a strong third from a tough spot in the slop off a blowout @ Monticello, retains Joe Bongiorno & gathering momentum for Team Harmon
7-Always A Panther – Has been landing on the edges in his last four, parked to the half in the slop last out, tougher post, but a smooth cover trip can put him in play
3-Mr Big Load – 11YO capping off a pretty productive season, arrives fresh off a solid surge to hit the board @ Saratoga, owns his share of back class & draws well to set up a stalk n pop trip
Saturday Selections
RACE 1
4-Dontlikeitleave – Fresh claim by Travis Alexander raced against Bythemissal in the Monument Circle, shows a career best of 1:52.3 @ Hoosier Park two starts back & draws well here
1-Boiler Maker – Scored a sharp repeat in his Big M debut & took a new mark of 1:51.2, then a beaten favorite with a solid third on a frigid day @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & back here on the rail
3-Aerosmith Hanover – 1:51.3 performer @ Hoosier Park this season romped all the way in his second start off the bench, fresh threat debuts here with an inside post in a very intriguing Claiming HDCP
RACE 2
4-Thndrfrmthethron N – Almost pulled off a post ten upset two starts back despite being pace & trip compromised, this steady veteran now draws much better & can outkick these late
1-Sports Hero – Unleashed a smashing Big M debut in the GSY 1 Series promptly going wire-to-wire in the slop for Nicole Diconstanzo, now rewarded with the rail in a suspect TM 74 field
6-Raptor’s Flight N – 1:51.1 performer here this season was on a quite a roll before the rare miscue, scored fresh off the recent claim & this nine-time winner in 2022 has license to bounce back
RACE 3
6-Fox Valley Carlin – Twice beaten favorite tripped out for a new mark of 1:52.2 three starts back, then failed to fire that same late pop, takes a slight dip in price here & stays on a roll for Team Harmon
7-Sharky Bear – 3YO has come to life in his last two since the barn change, almost wired them here two starts back, then got up by a nose @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, might be the one to knock off
5-Gotafoolishdesire – Just two for 33 this season is a major knock, yet this 4YO has been better in his last few @ Yonkers, sport’s a mark of 1:51.4 @ The Big M & launches a midpack stalking trip
RACE 4
1-Mind Hunter – Switched to trainer Per Engblom & abruptly blasted down the road to a new mark of 1:52.3 in N/W4 @ Yonkers, debuts here on the rail with a chance to trip out on the rise
3-Ario Hanover – Team Burke 3YO was able to steal a :57.2 half & romped in 1:51.2 with a :26.3 two starts back, then just missed @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside back here
2-Stonebridge Reef – 1:50.1 performer @ The Big M this season bumped into a standout Duke Of Cornwall N last time & this is a prime opportunity for him to stalk the speed in a very competitive field
RACE 5
7-Give Us Awave A – Got off to a slow start from post ten & flashed some late pace in his US debut on Lasix, now gets a big chance to show logical improvement in a much easier spot
3-Bechers Brook A – Classy 8YO just two for 31 this season, yet has thrived here in the past for Team Cullipher, returns fresh off a game uncovered second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside
1-Acton Hanover – Shipped from Plainridge into the Burke Stable & got parked through a :27 third quarter @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, shows speedy form before that & gets to fire from the rail here
RACE 6
1-Brackley Beach – In field full of Yonkers shippers this one is polishing off a fine season, has been stellar for this price, picks up Jordan Stratton & lands the rail to trip out in a tricky start to the Early Pick 4
6-Ballerat Boomerang – Warhorse with 56 career wins capping a solid season, recently switched to trainer Per Engblom, fresh off a solid second @ Yonkers & knows this track quite well
2-Ostro Hanover – Gradually regaining his form & flashing positive signs for Team Bongiorno, got parked in his Big M debut, takes on a more reasonable tag & draws inside to be forwardly placed
RACE 7
2-Gentlemanjim II IE – Just missed in his last two @ Yonkers, his latest a close second to Brackley Beach, Irish-bred now debuts here as a fresh claim for Team Bongiorno with an inside draw
3-High Baller – 1:50 performer @ The Big M this season leads the Travis Alexander 1-2 punch, bumped up off a solid 1:51.1 score as the heavy favorite & finished a strong third & draws well again
1-Hopnroll Heaven – On a recent roll @ Harrah’s Philadelphia where Per Engblom leads the trainer standings, lands in ideal spot here to keep it going with speed from the rail with Yannick Gingras
RACE 8
2-Shvaiko – Sports a mark of 1:49.1 @ The Big M this season, came out of a shuffle with a sharp :26.4 rally to hit the board, now moves inside for his second start after a six-month layoff for Team Pantaleano
5-Speedy Dominic A – Dominic has been flashing speed & landing on the edges against tougher recently for Team Bongiorno, this looks like a prime spot for an overdue win in a drop down derby
3-Twin B Heart Throb – Has been pretty consistent for Team Culllipher, shuffled fourth here two starts back, draws inside for his return to the same level @ The Big M & a patient trip could pay off
RACE 9
3-Diamondbeach – Steady 5YO always in the hunt, finished a solid third here back in early November, draws inside fresh off a strong second at this level @ Yonkers & gets Todd McCarthy
2-Whitecookie – Took a 1:49.1 mark @ The Big M this season, drops into a softer spot here for Team Burke & an inside draw facilitates his preferred stalking trip
10-Dontpassme Hanover – Just missed a huge upset fresh off the bench, then had a no chance trip, stuck outside again, but there’s a motor under this hood & could surprise with the right set up
RACE 10
1-Ultimaroca – 4YO capping another productive season with eight wins & over $100,000, this is a class drop we simply can’t ignore & the trip figures to be smooth from the rail
5-The Bird Dance N – The Bird flew home in a sharp :27.2 with a decisive score as the favorite in 1:51, has been on a roll for the Brennan-Drennan combo & looks poised to step up further
7-As Always – Steamrolled to a convincing score in his first start for Team Burke fresh off the bench, seven-time winner this season with a mark of 1:50.1 @ The Big M responds to aggressive handling
RACE 11
3-Texas Terror N – 14YO was a 1:50.2 winner here this season, caps his career in sharp form, runner up in three of his last four, just missed in his last two & draws inside to stalk n pop one last time
9-Secrecy – Steady 9YO makes his Big M debut on a form spree @ Yonkers, makes his fourth start since the mid-November sick scratch & look for a blast off with Yannick Gingras
4-Keystone Steam – Recently reeled off three straight @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, claimed off a narrow loss there, got to like his relentless style & gets an inside draw here
RACE 12
2-Letsgotobrazil A – Have to dismiss the first start for his new barn @ Freehold, just missed in 1:51 here before that, took a mark of 1:50.3 here back in mid-November & has a big chance to rebound
1-Game Of Change – Has struggled at this level since that dominant 1:51.4 tally in late-November, but this ten-time winner this season moves inside for Brennan & Drennan & nothing stands out in here
3-The Wall – Classy 8YO looking for his 40th career win has tumbled down the condition ladder, offered a late bid last out, finished up in :26.4 before that, faces easier & draws inside again
RACE 13
10-Whole Lotta Lou – 1:49.3 performer @ The Big M this season regaining form with class relief @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws outside here, but hits rock bottom
4-Bet On Blake – Tried speed @ Yonkers & was pressured on the lead after missing 24 days, now this Team Burke-tuned 4YO ships into a real soft spot to exploit
8-Rifleman – Beaten favorite fired his best shot & came up third last time, tougher draw, but trending right, gets another shot at this basement condition & long overdue
RACE 14
2-Melanie’s Nick – Blew up the toteboard with a tremendous rally from post nine two starts back, solid runner up before that & returns to The Big M with an inside draw
1-Kimani N – Kept his every-other pattern going with a wire-to-wire fresh off the claim @ Yonkers, 10YO makes his debut here from the rail for a favorable transition
4-Ali – Tough to get a bead on this new Per Engblom acquisition, hasn’t raced in seven months, didn’t show much in the Big M qualifier, but this is a soft spot to launch his comeback
Track Conditions
Updated
11/16/2024
Fast
Variant:
37°F