Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, May 19 & Saturday, May 20, 2023

Wednesday, May 17, 2023

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RACE 1

1-Doc Semalu – Landing on the edges fourth in his last two, makes his fourth start off a sick scratch, long overdue & draws inside again to face a real soft division

 

2-Shorty’s Girl – Her Freehold form was good, was stuck too far back after a slow start from post ten & now moves inside off that acclimating trip

 

6-Somwherenbrookln N – 10YO has struggled elsewhere recently, but gets a barn change & chance to stretch out on the mile track in a field that is a combined four for 113 this season

 

RACE 2

2-Harry Hanover – Harry recovered from an early miscue & overcame a wide trip off a hot pace to take a new mark of 1:53 last week, draws inside & stands out with Dexter Dunn

 

3-T Dog – Lightly-raced 3YO took a new mark of 1:54 at 51-1 @ Tioga Downs, then came right back to just miss & draws well here to keep it going

 

4-Brazen Brazilian – The other Mike Kimelman trainee snapped a long losing skid with a big rally two starts back, then pace compromised last week

 

RACE 3

5-Callmequeenbee A – Arrives fresh off a much more lively effort & narrow loss @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, knows this track & gets some class relief for Team Cullipher

 

8-Firstup – Saddled with post eight again after kicking home in :26.4 last week, 1:51.4 winner here back in late March gets a double class drop

 

2-Dragons Revenge – Shook off his recent slump & stormed home to equal his lifetime mark as the heavy favorite & this fresh Team Bongiorno mare lands post two again

 

RACE 4

6-Nylander – Rallied stoutly from post ten to hit the board last Saturday, draws a bit better for his second start off a sick scratch & remains at this reduced level

 

7-Distance Learning – Overcame a slow pace & exploded home as the heavy favorite last week, more demanding post, but fresh n hot on the comeback trail

 

1-Skyway Kon Man – The Kon Man has revived his form with back-to-back seconds as the beaten heavy favorite, lands the rail back here & loves the Big M

 

RACE 5

7-Final Justice – Trounced these from post nine three starts back, fresh off a nice bounce-back effort last week & just needs some speed to shoot at

 

6-Jonah – Sat just off the slow early pace & just missed with a solid :27.2 last week, his lone win this season came in this series back in mid-April

 

4-Takeittotheface – Was allowed to steal a pedestrian :58 half & barely outsprinted in :27.3 last week, draws well in sharp form & could be on the verge

 

RACE 6

4-Christchurch – First foal from millionaire Darlinonthebeach romped in both qualifiers with plenty to spare for the raging Team Takter & tough to go against

 

6-Caviart Scotland – Returns fresh off a Plainridge track record of 1:50.3 going all the way in the Paul Revere Pace, pointing skyward & completes a formidable Team Takter 1-2 punch

 

2-Dupree Hanover – Nosed out his Team Alagna stablemate Hungry Angel Boy to go two-for-two in qualifiers, draws inside & looms large right off the hop

 

RACE 7

2-Chake – Lived up to the tote hype with a convincing score in her Big M debut, then just missed to Donato Patriot K, draws inside that rival & in line to trip out in a competitive affair

 

8-Donato Patriot K – Has won three of his last four @ The Big M, overmatched in the Open @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & can appreciate the long stretch back here

 

6-Lightfootedlegend – Scored with a well-time move as our $14.60 Price Play last Saturday, on a nice form spree right now & capable of handling the class hike

 

RACE 8

2-Diamondsnpearls – Three Diamonds finalist just missed in her second start back in the PA All-Stars, draws inside & certainly looks stakes bound for Team Takter

 

4-Odds On Hail Mary – Lightly-raced Team Toscano trainee has prepped well with nice qualifiers, then a pair of solid tighteners, her latest a narrow loss in the PA All-Stars

6-Mind Blowing – 1:51.3 performer @ The Big M last year geared up with two excellent qualifiers & this Team Toscano pupil has license to make an immediate impression

 

RACE 9

7-Rockin M – Beaten favorite severely pace compromised in his season debut after a long layoff, drops into this softer series for Team Bongiorno

 

3-Camlachie Chrome – Much-improved & knocking on the door in his last three since switching to Buzzy Sholty & looms large from an improved post

 

5-Guys In The Band – Really perked up with a gusty first over upset last week with a :27.3 to the payoff & repeat is not out of the question

 

RACE 10

4-I’m Burlington N – Beaten favorite hit the rock bottom condition & lacked the knockout punch, now tries a soft claimer with a better post

 

1-Raptors Flight N – Lands the pole fresh off a perfect trip upset, 10YO equaled his lifetime mark of 1:51.1, so no doubt sharper than most in this group

 

5-Bank Sea – Appeared overmatched in his last two @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, was facing tougher TM types here & finds a prime spot to turn things around

 

RACE 11

5-Cash Roll – Tried it on a well-rated lead & came up just a buck shy last week, drops another notch, launches midpack & thrives @ The Big M

 

4-Lets Ryde Girl – 1:52 performer @ The Big M last season returns fresh off a well-driven score @ Tioga Downs, gets Yannick Gingras & draws well in a tricky handicapping puzzle

 

8-The Turning Point – Moves outside, but this improving 4YO has won two of her last three, fresh off the mile of her life with a :26.4 punctuation point

 

RACE 12

8-Kobe’s Gigi – 1:48.3 Lady Liberty shocker from Hambo day 2022 assigned post eight for her 5YO debut, Indiana qualifiers were solid & now Nifty Norman takes over

 

6-Mcmarkle Sparkle – Fortunately escaped from a bad shuffle with a mighty :26.4 late burst to upset as our $14.80 Price Play in a superb acclimating mile

 

5-Jody – Beaten favorite in two of her last three nailed late by Mcmarkle Sparkle last week, fresh threat could be poised to break through for Team Burke

 

RACE 13

3-Congress Hill Eva – Was a Send It In Special two starts back, came right back with another solid rally for second to an inexplicable Swan Carol last week & draws better

 

6-Wow Lester – Lester was a strong runner up to heavily favored Distance Learning last week, consistent sort looks like a threat with the right set up

 

5-Pivotal – Two-for-two @ Monticello since coming back & switching to Team Tritton, not sure how he’ll measure up here on the mile track, but has license to step up

 

Saturday, May 20 Selections

RACE 1

7-Mambacita – Back-to-back Red Mile Grand Circuit winner at two, runner up to standout Special Way in a much-needed comeback, looks like the one to beat despite a tougher post

 

1-Secret Volo – Walner filly qualified second to Special Way, was too eager to please with fast fractions in her 3YO debut & now moves inside to settle down for Team Melander

 

5-Tactical Mounds – Almost went all the way with a well-rated effort two starts back, then made a late miscue, she could be dangerous on the rebound with her arrow pointing up

 

RACE 2

6-Diamond Official – 0 for 12 this season, yet maintaining good form @ The Meadows, ships to The Big M with a barn change & lands in a camera-shy field

 

4-P L Portia – Her form spree on NY half milers translated into a solid second to a big favorite here last week & draws well with that nice acclimating mile to build on

 

3-Wiggle My Cookie – Beaten favorite got stung in a MADC 1 division, solid rally to hit the board before that, draws better & gets Dexter Dunn

 

RACE 3

7-Special Way – Exceptional Walner filly brushed n crushed in a sparkling 3YO debut to make it eight in a row, Dan Patch Award winner is rated #2 on the Road to the Hambo

 

4-Walner Payton – Last year’s Breeders Crown runner up came charging home off hot fractions in a sizzling 1:51.4, ranked #4 on the Road to the Hambo & faces a marquee match up

 

6-Blonde Bombshell – Liked the way she held off Gigi Hanover in her 3YO debut, then bumped into Walner Payton, now she has to figure out a two-pronged attack

 

RACE 4

3-Mindtrip – 10YO Big M lover has struggled mightily this season, yet grinded gamely for the show spot in a beneficial re-acclimating trip & draws post three again to follow up

 

4-Boiler Maker – Stormed home from post ten to score fresh off the claim two starts back, then made a rare miscue, strong in the win column & can rebound from a better post

 

5-Good Rockin – Rock steady gelding has won two of his last three, took last week off after a perfect trip win as the heavy favorite & looms large once more in a tricky puzzle

 

RACE 5

7-Sadie Hanover – Flew past Blonde Bombshell in her latest qualifier here, then made shambles of the opposition in the Lady Suffolk & now brimming with confidence for Team Toscano

 

2-Tactical Takeoff – Stayed flat & finished a strong second to huge favorite Gigi Hanover & draws inside to continue her progress for Team Orange Crush

 

5-Royal Filly – Had a taste of Red Mile Grand Circuit action at two, finished well in both qualifiers here & launches a midpack stalking trip for Team Alagna

 

RACE 6

2-Southwind Gendry – Bounced back with a more familiar aggressive effort & gutsy nose decision over Lochinvar Art A two weeks ago & finally draws inside for the Team Burke 1-2 punch

 

3-This Is The Plan – Pace & trip compromised & just missed in the Wizard Invitational @ Miami Valley, sharp win the Borgata Series on April 17 & controlling speed makes him a danger

 

5-Lochinvar Art A – Brushed to the top from post eight & fought right to the wire with Southwind Gendry, relentless type open up his season with a win here & rates serious contender status

 

RACE 7

6-Oh Well – Rated #5 on the Road to the Hambo, got underway too late when Tactical Approach stole away, NJSS champion & Mohawk Million winner primed for his second start off the bench

 

8-Tactical Approach – Has matured into a top flight colt for Team Takter, excellent qualifiers & confident back-to-back wins, his latest outsprinting Oh Well, tougher draw this time

 

2-Kimmeridgian – Valley Victory runner up chased Oh Well in the qualifier, then had too far to come in his 3YO debut, now draws much better off the tightening mile

 

RACE 8

1-Nandolo N – Won two Preferreds here this past Winter, including a 1:48.3 in the daylight back on January 22, revived recent form @ Yonkers & lands the rail here for Team Tritton

 

4-Jilliby Dynamite A – They slipped this one by us off a nondescript qualifier, he was shot out of cannon in a sparkling 1:49.4 US debut, was only 4-1, so now the widely anticipated follow up

 

3-Stonebridge Reef – Snapped his seconditis with that powerhouse performance two starts back, nailed in the final strides last week & draws better to trip out again on a roll

 

RACE 9

5-It’s Academic – Zipped right by stablemate Hillexotic in a nifty 1:51.2 two starts back, then romped to repeat @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & has just started to heat up for Team Burke

 

6-Pretender – NJSS champion has really come back strong, going three-for-three for Team Takter, fresh & improving 4YO looks ready to tackle a vicious group of older foes

 

10-Hillexotic – Stuck outside, but has been a serious roll for Team Burke, went all the way in a 1:50.2 track record two weeks ago & gate speed always puts this classy gelding in play

 

RACE 10

6-El Rey – The dazzling Governor’s Cup winner in 1:49.2 appears adequately revved up for a stellar stakes season by Team Alagna fresh off an exceptional qualifier

 

1-For Once Inmy Life – Lightly-raced Noel Daley trainee on the rise, lands the rail again fresh off resounding new mark of 1:50.1 in Ohio Sires Stakes

 

7-Blue Hunt – Runner up in the track record Paul Revere Pace just missed to standout It’s My Show here last Friday & figures to get plenty of speed to shoot at

 

RACE 11

4-Keg Stand – Hambo finalist & runner up in the PASS Final last year, now three-for-three as a rejuvenated 4YO, including back-to-back success @ Oak Grove for Team Takter

 

3-Harry Knows IR – Harry owns a mark of 1:52.4 @ The Big M this season, turned his game around with a gutsy narrow loss last Friday & draws inside third try off the bench

 

7-Inaminute Hanover – Twice an Open winner here, beating Hillexotic & It’s Academic in the process, three weeks off & tougher draw after an even fifth in the slop

 

RACE 12

1-Hammering Hank – Has taken three starts to sharpen his sword for Team Pelling, just missed with a :25.3 in his 4YO debut here back on April 29, gets some class relief & the rail

 

3-Whole Lotta Lou – Blitzed by Jilliby Dynamite A last week, gets his third or fourth straight class drop, draws well again, overdue & looms as a stalking threat in handicapper’s headscratcher

 

4-Belmont Royale N – Took a 1:50.4 mark @ The Big M this season, slugged it out in the Borgota Series, re-acclimated last week, gets a double class drop & draws inside

 

RACE 13

5-Captain Cowboy – Bumped into the fresh n hot Mad Max Hanover last week, still an excellent try, he’s acclimated now & drops another notch for Team Burke

 

2-Rockin the Aces – Just one for 15 this season, yet draws better off a solid second as the beaten favorite & remains at his competitive level

 

3-Exotic Sand – Dropped back to this level & somehow got parked first over from post two last week, gets another chance to redeem himself with his preferred stalking style

 

RACE 14

5-JK Standingovation – Solid runner up to a raging Whitecookie in his return to the Big M last week, was chasing much tougher @ Yonkers & looms large for Team Bongiorno

 

10-Lyons Pride – New lease on life in his last two with a barn change to Nicole Diconstanzo, parlayed a nose loss into a MADC 1 blowout in a dazzling 1:50.4, threat despite post ten

 

4-Aussie Hanover – Has been markedly better in his last two, while re-adjusting to The Big M, now drops a notch & draws inside again