Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, February 3 & Saturday, February 4, 2023

Wednesday, February 1, 2023

---

RACE 1

9-Always A Panther – Took a couple of weeks off after two straight narrow losses, his latest as the beaten favorite for a new barn, moves outside, yet may hold a slight edge in form for Joe Lee

 

4-Takeittotheface – On a decent roll recently for David Yarock, slow start/pace compromised from post nine last week, draws much & on the verge of another wining effort

 

8-Johnny Q – 11YO has definitely ramped it up in his last two, stormed home from an impossible spot with a solid :56.1 back half from the same post last week

 

RACE 2

3-Martaritaondarocks – Knocking on the door & one the edges with :26 & change final quarters chasing standout On The Money GB in her last two & draws better for The Money Man

 

10-Trans Meanie – Fresh item for Team Bongiorno went all the way for a win deadheat in her Big M qualifying debut, slammed with post ten, but has logical license to step up further

 

1-Rainbow Rising – Among the increasing number of Monti shippers trying it here, fresh off a solid qualifier chasing Trans Meanie & debuts for a new barn from the rail

 

RACE 3

4-Scrappin Gold – Sports that 1:51.3 mark @ The Big M last year, took plenty of tote action & finished an even fourth last week & now draws an improved post for a sharp barn

 

1-Marvalous One – Was much better in his second start off the bench, rallied stoutly to hit the board last Sunday & now moves inside to ramp it up further in his third start for a new barn

 

3-SD Watch Me Now – Beaten favorite made another early break last week, was rock solid in his previous two right after Juan Cano had taken over & draws inside again

 

RACE 4

9-Senna – Lightly-raced 4YO with a mark of 1:54.2 @ The Big M for Per Engblom, hasn’t raced in six months & draws post nine, but put forth a nice qualifier & gets Dexter Dunn

 

2-Big Christian – Swan For All 4YO, second dam Marita’s Victory & from the family of Mr Vic & Passionate Glide, decent qualifier for Team Miller & debuts in a real soft spot

 

3-Fashion Cantab – Another lightly-raced 4YO makes his key third start off the bench, draws inside again with a chance to get more aggressive

 

RACE 5

2-Mymonstersarereal – Just two for 32, but has displayed a strong closing kick on her best day, draws much better for the switch to the GSY 1 & can stalk n pop for Team Chiodo

 

3-Bilbo Hanover – Neil Glasser launched a well-timed late move & held off his brother David last week, classy 13YO off his 50^th career win lands the same post for the three-peat attempt

 

1-MV OK Palacio BR – Relentless closer has been on game recently, beaten favorite pace compromised & just missed to Bilbo Hanover, leaves closer from the rail this time

 

RACE 6

5-Pearl Harbour N – Team Harmon added Lasix & Joe Bongiorno for her third US start, got shuffled, in traffic & shook loose late in :27, big threat from mid pack

 

7-Kaitlyn N – Steady hard-trying 10YO mare was right there a close third with pace at both ends from post nine, draws a bit better & gets another shot at this reduced level

1-Gaitway Gal – Was hiked up off a new mark of 1:53.2 in her Big M debut, was pace/trip compromised & kicked home in :26.3, now lands the rail on a long form spree

 

RACE 7

2-Chiplosive – Solid runner up to a razor sharp Hockey Hanover two starts back, drops back down to that level, draws inside again, in line for the right trip & might too classy for these

 

1-Lucky Weekend – Just two for 23 last year, paying the price for slow starts in his last two, now class & post relief could pave the way for an ideal trip & overdue win

 

5-Mcmatters – More than ten lengths back at the half & stormed home in :27.1 to grab second last Saturday, now has something positive to build on from an improved post

 

RACE 8

4-Little Honey Badger – Switched to this bottom condition & turned things around with a sterling rally to just miss last week & now draws better to stalk the speed again at a price?

 

2-A Better Game – Sports that sparkling 1:50.4 mark @ The Big M last year, finished a close second two starts back, then got parked first over last week & draws better to rebound

 

1-Gottalovemyshadow – Dominant winner with sharp pace at both ends from post eight two starts back, shuffled with late pace last week, drops back down & back on the rail for The Buckeye

 

RACE 9

7-Adore Me – Finished a hard-charging second by a head to longshot Bully Boy Hill off three in a row, missed three weeks prior to that excellent acclimating mile for Team Orange Crush

 

4-Kelly’s Baby – Lived up to the tote hype with a lively new mark of 1:54.2 in her Big M debut for Team Burke, that was a month ago, draws better & barn change indicated on the proof

 

6-Bully Boy Hill – Erupted from the clouds to edge Adore Me, took a new mark of 1:55 & lit up the board in his Big debut despite missing 42 days, has a big chance to prove it was no fluke

 

RACE 10

2-Bet The Limit – Fresh claim by Richard Johnson looked like a new horse romping to a new mark of 1:52.1 with a barn change, draws well for the step up in price & keeps Dave Miller

 

4-Fox Valley Carlin – Just one for 23 last year, forced wide & raced better last Saturday from the rail, Dexter Dunn was listed on the proof & that could keep him trending right

 

3-Risky Buddy – Sat a more patient trip & rallied for a much-improved second chasing runaway Bet The Limit last Sunday, draws better & ramping up since the late-December sick scratch

 

RACE 11

4-JK Standingovation – Fresh off a sharp qualifier he stormed home from last to hit the board in a noteworthy comeback for Team Bongiorno & now draws inside for the anticipated follow up

 

3-Southwind Petyr – Raced much better just behind JK Standingovation when dropped to this level, gets another inside post & continues to go forward on the comeback trail

 

1-Springsteen – Classy 8YO nosed out by JK Standingovation in the qualifier, looks like he’s ready off the early-December sick scratch & scoots out from the rail

 

RACE 12

4-Speak Your Mind – Solid runner up to the heavily favored On The Money GB two starts back, then pace compromised & finished with a :26.4 & could be on the verge

 

3-Skateboard Chic – 11YO mare romped away from TM 74 types in a nifty 1:52.4 two starts back, then got parked first over & now draws an improved post with the Buckeye

 

2-One More Try – Steady mare has hit the board in her last two with smooth/patient trips, Dylan Huckabone-Miller now has a better post to work with no standouts in this one

 

RACE 13

1-Free On the Beach – Beaten favorite finished well to hit the board in a much-needed comeback last week & this newly acquired Virgil Morgan, Jr. trainee now lands the rail

 

2-Raptors Flight N – Has thrived since the early-December claim by Besim Odza, no chance after a slow start from post nine last week & has license to rebound drawing the deuce

 

4-Ferdinand A – 10YO on a long form spree for James Slendorn, parlayed a GSY 1 win into a TM 74 upset, with his lively form & smooth stalking trip likely he rates serious contender status

 

RACE 14

4-Fix-It-Up – Added Lasix & took advantage of another class drop with a strong second last week for Team Bongiorno, that came after missing a month, draws well & looms large

 

5-King Alphonso – Twice beaten chalk placed third @ Yonkers off a solid showing here, drops again & gathering momentum on the comeback trail for Per Engblom

 

1-Louis – Almost dropped & popped them two starts back from post seven, drops back down to this bottom condition & lands the rail to rebound for Team Orange Crush

 

Selections for Saturday, February 4

 

RACE 1

2-I’m J Bee N – Despite being off three weeks it certainly didn’t take him too long to re-acclimate to The Big M, stormed home from a tough spot to just miss & draws further inside

 

7-Machiavelli – Capped off his 2022 season with five in a row to give him 13 wins last year, missed 42 days prior to his last start, challenging draw here, but dips in price

 

5-Urban Renewal – After landing on the edges somehow this 10YO was able to shake loose with the mile of his life & has a chance to carve out a similar trip from midpack

 

RACE 2

3-Idiosyncratic – With only four starts this Team Burke homebred makes his 3YO debut, flashed a nice late burst in the qualifier & draws well against several beyond consideration

 

7-A Deal’s A Deal – Lightly-raced 4YO with some upside scored first time Lasix, then chased a runaway Ideal Beach last Sunday & continues to ramp it up in a wide-open affair

 

4-Might Be Right – 4YO making career start number 12 has been a consistent check earner & draws well to play a stalking opportunist roll

 

RACE 3

9-Concur – Shook loose late tracking Bizys Beatle, lunged at him & just missed last week, live item on the comeback trail a definite contender despite a much tougher post

 

5-Thanos – Came roaring back off the nose lose with a gutsy new mark of 1:51.4 from post eight & now moves to midpack for a barn off to a strong start this season

 

2-Bizys Beatle – Capitalized on a great drive by Jordan Stratton & thundered home for the upset last week, now a fresh claim by an unfamiliar name draws inside again

 

RACE 4

8-Double Account – Returns fresh off a strong season for Team Cullipher, solid qualifier chasing the formidable Lexus Kody, tough post, but his gate speed puts him in play

 

6-Eurobond – Nine-time winner last year freshened off breaks in consecutive starts, chased a good one in the qualifier, gets some class relief & retains The Money Man

 

3-Chapheart – Stakes player only took two starts to score for Team Burke, qualified evenly behind Eurobond, makes his 4YO debut & draws inside the main concerns in a headscratcher

 

RACE 5

8-Sporty M Three – Came to life with an alert start & all out :26.4 to finish a game second last week, tougher draw, yet this Team Burke 4YO is trending in a positive direction

 

10-Always Better – Grinded gamely for the deuce last week, stuck outside here, but makes his key third start off the bench for a sharp barn & Jordan Stratton driving lights out

 

6-Phoenix Of Fluzzy – Beaten favorite two weeks ago caught fire in his last three, just missed with a gallant first over grind & looms large to Team Burke a solid 1-2 punch

 

RACE 6

5-High Baller – Simply paid the price for a slow start last week, thundered home to score the upset before that, draws a bit better & figures to have plenty of speed to shoot at

 

2-Balleratboomerang – Exploded in emphatic style off a rated pace last week, classy 10YO draws inside on a serious roll & likely an aggressor again in a competitive dash

 

1-Mysweetboymax – Max has proven that upset back on January 7 was no fluke, lowered his mark again to 1:50.3 last week with sharp pace at both ends & now moves inside

 

RACE 7

4-Don’t Fence Me In – Stakes caliber filly came to life with some speed in her second start back for Team Alagna & now she draws inside for that key third start off the bench

 

9-Always B First – Took a mark of 1:49.4 when last seen here in late November, won an Open event @ Dover fresh off the bench & can overcome post nine with her gate speed

 

8-Jody – Beaten favorite in the Yonkers Open returns to the site of back-to-back wins, the latest a new mark of 1:50.4 for Team Burke, a major danger despite post eight

 

RACE 8

2-Bettor Memories – Took his mark of 1:48.4 @ The Big M last year at age nine, exits the Open @ Dover Downs, draws inside here & leads a strong Team Burke 1-2 punch

 

1-Seriously Hanover – That was a serious bounce-back effort, blasted down the road in a sparkling 1:49.3 last week & looms large from the rail

 

3-Livinthebeachlife – Relatively new acquisition for Team Burke, took a mark of 1:50.4 when last seen here in a lower condition, improving 5YO draws well to rebound off a miscue

 

RACE 9

4-Linnycalledfrankie – Put together a serious :53.4 back half & kicked home in :26.1 as a solid runner up last week, just missed before that & draws well on the verge for The Money Man

 

1-Undrthsouthrnsun N – Has been knocking on the door for Team Bongiorno, lands the rail fresh off a pair of solid seconds & logically figures to be on or near the lead in a competitive field

 

5-Toronto – Capitalized on his strong recent form, got more aggressive from post eight & managed to trip out for a long overdue score, now moves to midpack for another class hike

 

RACE 10

5-Belmont Royale N – Just missed with a mighty late surge in the Preferred, won his previous three here with his big kick & lands midpack to set up an ideal stalking trip

 

8-Nicholas Beach – Took a mark of 1:47 here last year, took his requisite post eight tour of Yonkers, draws outside, yet now might be ready to get serious for Team Bongiorno

 

3-Carbine – 1:47.4 performer @ The Big M last year has come back with two straight wins as the favorite, draws inside & Team Alagna has him primed to step up

 

RACE 11

3-Baileys Rock N – Fresh off the narrow loss & turnaround two starts back thought he was sitting on another big one & was out of striking range, drops another notch & draws inside again

 

1-Mister Spot A – Picked up Yannick Gingras & pulled off a class drop n pop upset from post ten, 9YO took a sparkling new mark of 1:49.3 in the deadheat & now moves inside

 

2-Rifleman – Added Dexter Dunn, left alertly, shook loose late & jostled in tight quarters near the wire, dropping positive hints & looks capable of stepping up a notch from another inside post

 

RACE 12

3-Andres Hanover – Reach a bit too high from post eight last week, his previous two indicated a positive trend, class & post relief make him tough to ignore

 

9-Rockin Marty A – Moves outside, yet surely needed his US debut on Lasix against tougher foes for Team Miller & now has a chance to assert himself with rising form

 

7-Real Peace – Last week’s comeback was much-needed, now makes his second start for Team Burke at a slightly lesser TM Rating with two other lively stablemates in this one

 

RACE 13

2-Sundown Kid – Got seared first over in a fast pace & 1:49 mile last week, continues his descent down the condition ladder, lands post two again & retains Jason Bartlett

 

1-Duddie’s Lor – Flashed suddenly speed two starts back, then stormed home from the clouds in :26.1, his form is cycling right, finally draws inside & drops a notch

 

6-Dealer’s Table – Team Cullipher broke through with a pair of wins last Saturday, this sub 1:50 performer gets another class drop & adds Dexter Dunn

 

RACE 14

3-Keystone Steam – Took a few starts off the claim to pull off the upset with aggressive handling, now acclimated, brimming with confidence & draws inside again to repeat for Jason Bartlett

 

4-Homestretch Wes – Took full advantage of the entire stretch to get there two starts back, game grind on the step up last week, that’s two straight strong efforts since the barn change

 

9-Sports Advisor – Hard-charging runner up in two of his last three, just missed with a solid :56.2 back half last week, stuck outside, but now a fresh claim with a shot to swoop these