Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Friday, June 2, & Saturday, June 3, 2023

Thursday, June 1, 2023

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RACE 1

7-Congress Hill Eva – Eva caught fire with that huge rally & upset back on May 5, just missed in her last two, won’t be far off the pace & Jacob Stillwell just needs to time it right

 

5-Wow Lester – Very consistent sort paying his way in the lower condition ranks, shows a rousing score as the heavy favorite back on April 28, that kind of effort would work here

 

2-Ifnotmewho – 0 for 14 this season, yet has been a pretty steady checker earner recently, gets a new unknown pilot & draws inside to trip out in a wide open MADC division

 

RACE 2

6-Colt Fourty One – Newcomer here ships from Harrah’s Philadelphia for Team Burke, dull recent form a concern, but he dives into a prime soft spot to exploit

 

1-Ultimate Flyer N – 9YO is a fresh new Team Bongiorno acquisition, just two for 40 last year, started sharpening his sword @ Freehold & lands the rail trending in a positive direction

 

3-Bruce’s Magic – 0 for 16 this season, yet Bruce has been better hitting the board in his last two, almost went all the way as the beaten favorite last week & draws inside again

 

RACE 3

4-Chillin By The Pool – This 4YO is a new face in town who’s been blitzed by better @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, fresh on the comeback trail she draws well here & The Buckeye sticks

 

1-Thaneeya – She has no doubt been on a nice roll @ Shenandoah Downs, knows her way around this oval, gets Dexter Dunn & the rail in wide open affair

 

6-Ladyzar – Give this filly some points for finishing a solid second to the dominant P L Portia last week, her form is going in the right direction & switches to Andy Miller

 

RACE 4

1-Cadillac Moon – $400,000 Muscle Hill colt hit the board in his latest two in PA for Team Melander & lands the rail with ample upside in a field with all sorts of possibilities

 

7-The Empress Ice – The Empress cruised all the way to her first win back on April 7, seemed to be returning to form with a solid third last week, threat despite post seven

 

3-Strongerwithlindy – Twice chased the standout Pretender in the NJ Breeders Maturity & draws inside to rebound off an early miscue going third time Lasix

 

RACE 5

1-Backstreet Lawyer – Classy 8YO bumped into a slick 1:51 winner last week, tripped out to beat 74.5 TM types back on April 14 & moves inside as Judge Tony’s pick

 

4-Moonwards Hanover – 11YO flashed some strong & improved late pace for a piece last week, draws better in a field of several easy toss outs & picks up Joe Lee

 

9-Somwherenbrookln N – 10YO makes his third start here for his new barn, showed some improvement last week, stuck outside, but might find a way into it

 

RACE 6

6-Twin B Joe Fresh – NYSS champ won her last four as a 3YO, sports a mark of 1:48.4 & beat a good one in Zanatta with a :25.4 to go two-for-two in qualifiers

 

5-Kobe’s Gigi – 2023 Lady Liberty shocker in 1:48.3 from post eight came flying home on overload in her 5YO debut & looms large in her second start off the bench

 

2-Mcmarkle Sparkle – 10-tiem winner last year has adapted well to The Big M with a late surge to upset two starts back, then a nose loss, faces a serious top two in here

 

RACE 7

3-Tactical Approach – Won his two qualifiers & first two starts as a 3YO with authority, then too far back from post eight in the slop, flashing a: 25.4 & now moves inside for Team Takter

 

7-Oh Well – Ranked fifth on the Road to the Hambo Top Ten, twice beaten favorite just missed to Up Your Deo despite another :26.3 & last year’s NJJS champ makes his third start off the bench

 

6-Air Power – Late-blooming Muscle Hill colt has come out firing two-for-two, twice holding off Ari Ferrari J in 1:52.1, then a sizzling 1:51 & adds power to the Team Melander trio

 

RACE 8

3-Rock To Glory – 15YO Rock has been better in his last two, he just missed with a fast-pace set up two starts back, long overdue & draws inside again to play opportunist

 

9-Rockabilly Charm – James Slendorn likes to send them & he blasted down the road from post eight when well supported two starts back, can we see that again?

 

5-Toonie Teen – One for 20 this season & just two for his last 58, but acclimated promptly with a gutsy narrow loss last week & can stalk again from midpack

 

RACE 9

5-Walner Payton – Dominated the 2YO NJSS Final, ranked fourth on the Road to the Hambo Top Ten, very sharp 1:51.4 winner in round one has a chance to gun down the big favorite

 

1-Special Way – Dan Patch Award winner rated second on the Road to the Hambo Top Ten shoots for ten in a row, two-for-two this season without breaking a sweat & moves inside

 

8-Secret Volo – Lived up to her even money tote hype & held on for a leg two score in the slop, much tougher task from post eight, yet does own plenty of gate speed

 

RACE 10

6-Bella Bellini – 2022 Trotter of the Year was a disappointing fifth in the Cutler, makes her third start off the bench & now the door is open here to make an early season statement

 

7-Lexus Kody – 1:51.4 Open class winner back in mid February unleashed a rousing take-n-prisoners comeback beating stablemate Yanks Dugout & can blast off to take charge again

 

1-Fashion Schooner – Last year’s post ten Oaks winner stole a :57 half enroute to upsetting Bella Bellini in the Miss Versatility, has now missed a month, yet remains a fresh threat

 

RACE 11

9-Vici – Fresh off a bang up second to the gorilla Voukefalas in the NJSS Final, draws outside, but this lightly-raced Brett Pelling-tuned colt is trending skyward

 

4-Caviart Scotland – Went all the way in a 1:50.3 track record Paul Revere @ Plainridge, then got stung early chasing the wicked 1:49.3 Christchurch & draws well to bounce back

 

7-Gazoo – Lightly-raced 4YO gathering momentum, fresh off a narrow loss to a surprisingly good longshot, tougher post here, yet retains Yannick Gingras & continues to ramp it up

 

RACE 12

5-Mongolian Hero N – 10YO just one for 15 this season, yet he’s been a steady check earner @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, drops into a very soft spot & picks up Hot Toddy

 

8-HP Lis Shadow – Got roughed up first over & had to settle for third last week, tougher post this time, but gets another shot at this rock bottom condition

 

1-Party Boy – The Boy delivered as the favorite with a perfect second over trip last week, draws the rail for his third start off a lame scratch as a threat to repeat

 

RACE 13

5-Wiggle My Cookie – 0 for 18 this season, yet was severely pace compromised & still came charging home in :26.4 to land in the photo last week & now switches to Dexter Dunn

 

1-Spirit Of Truth – 11YO with a lengthy history here was right there in the photo with Wiggle My Cookie last week, lands the rail & picks up Andrew McCarthy

 

3-Trevor’s Hunt – Half-mile track specialist ships in fresh off a solid wire-to-wire @ Freehold, so brimming with confidence he draws inside & gets The Money Man

 

Saturday, June 3, 2023 Selections

RACE 1

1-Yer So Bad – 0 for 15 this season, but this twice beaten favorite has definitely reignited his form with a nose loss, then tough trip runner up to well-backed winner last out

 

7-Big Bad Bill – All of a sudden Bill came up with a much stronger finish last Friday, now his post is more demanding, but a similar effort can put him in the late mix

 

3-Shortys Girl – Prevailed in a bitter battle & came away with a new mark of 1:53.2 last Friday & lands post three again to follow up in a pretty competitive MADC division

 

RACE 2

3-Bet A Bundle – Has recently flashed some nifty final quarters here, including a :25.4, returns fresh off a solid third @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside for The Hot Toddy

 

1-Frank Deford – Intriguing shipper from Plainridge was tackling tougher there, lands the rail here in a real mixed bag, strong in the win column & picks up The White Knight

 

5-Art Scaping – Was forced to rally from an impossible spot chasing the red-hot Raptors Fight N last week, gets some class relief & The Orange Crush

 

RACE 3

7-Sweet Treasure – Beat better in a career best of 1:50.4 back on April 8, just missed in last two & now makes her third start off a sick scratch for Team Takter

 

8-Natasha – Just a neck shy with improved efforts since the barn change to Jake Huff, right there in the photo with a :26.2 in an excellent acclimating mile, threat despite post eight

 

6-Cash Roll – Has been very consistent this Spring, fresh off a solid second to a well rated Hot Mess Express & her gate speed usually puts her in play

 

RACE 4

6-Bloodhound – Sniffed one out in his Big M debut by exploiting this softer series for Mark Silva & there will need to be more in the tank in this competitive MADC 2 division

 

8-Claytons Bettor N – Draws a tougher post while on a four-race form spree, including a new mark of 1:51.1 on May 6, reunited with James Slendorn, so look for a blast off

 

2-Guys In The Band – Moves inside off an impossible trip from post eight, finished well in his previous two, including an upset rally on May 12

 

RACE 5

1-Hammering Hank – Kicked home in a nifty :25.2 from never never land last week, moves inside, picks up The Hot Toddy & could on the verge for Brett Pelling

 

2-Mindtrip – Big M lover has been flashing positive hints recently, solid finish for third last week, drops out of tougher claimers & draws inside again for another smooth

 

6-Whole Lotta Lou – Gets another class drop off a solid third last week, strong in the win column & Mark MacDonald will likely be sending him off the wings

 

RACE 6

4-I’m Burlington N – Used pretty hard as a strong runner up to Raptors Flight N in his last two, draws well & can turn the tables with Hall of Fame patience of The White Knight

 

1-Raptors Flight N – Made it three in a row with another perfect drive by Todd McCarthy, kudos to Besim The Dream, who has kept him on his toes & looms large again from the rail

 

5-Better Than Some – Has won two of his last three on smaller tracks, that’s going to prop him up for another try @ The Big M with Tim Tetrick driving for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 7

1-Combustion – Governor’s Cup runner up has qualified energetically, so he’s all set to tee up his North America Cup assault in a well-situated comeback spot for Brett Pelling

 

3-Angers Bayama – Tony Alagna trainee has been landing on the edges recently, drops a notch, draws inside & Mark MacDonald figures to send him out of there

 

5-Blue Ocean – The Ocean has been treading in deeper waters recently, returns to The Big M to play a midpack stalking role in a wide-open battle for second

 

RACE 8

2-Delayed Hanover – Bounced back with a solid third as the beaten favorite despite a tough first over grind last week, draws an improved post & reunited with Jordan Stratton

 

5-Balenciaga – Forged past Harry Knows IR to take a new mark of 1:51.3 in his season debut, then just missed stealing one on the engine @ Yonkers, a sharp contender

 

8-Sermon – Strong runner up to a well-rated Inaminute Hanover in the slop last out, moves outside, but drops another notch for the high percentage Per Engblom

 

RACE 9

8-A Rocknroll Star – Chased a 1:47.2 Southwind Gendry @ Harrah’s Philadelphia last Sunday, twice a winner here this season, his latest with a :25.4

 

9-Stonebridge Reef – Ultra consistent 5YO moves outside, but drops back down off a solid third to a 1:48.3 Abuckabett Hanover & blast off is always in his arsenal

 

7-Livinthebeachlife – Paid off the chalk with a perfect trip & new lifetime mark of 1:49.1 last week, on a real roll right now & The White Knight can keep it going despite the tougher post

 

RACE 10

1-Boiler Maker – Was forced grind first over off a rated pace & had to settle for minor spoils last week, a solid third before that, this prime opportunist has cycled forward & lands the rail

 

4-P L Ozzy – Rated perfectly & held off Tam Major A last week, now a fresh Justin Sodano claim on a form spree draws well & retains The Bionic Man

 

6-Tam Major A – 9YO used hard to take a new mark of 1:50.1 in the slop two starts back, came right back to just miss to P L Ozzy, remains razor sharp & can easily turn the tables

 

RACE 11

3-No Drama Please – Solid runner up to a big favorite Swan In Motion last week, nice return acclimating trip, draws a bit better & gets another shot at this reduced level

 

5-Swan Trixie – Regained her confidence by equaling her lifetime mark three starts back, then just missed with a game grinded & now dips back down

 

4-Chake – She drops back down a notch off a rare early miscue, was on a nice roll before that, gets some post relief & retains Jordan Stratton

 

RACE 12

6-Champagne Hanover – 0 for ten this season, but grinded gamely last out, chased the classier Balenciaga before that, now drops for her third start off the bench, time to pop the cork

 

8-Dribbling Bi – Moves outside off a decent third last week, gets his third straight class drop, owns a big late gear & must be timed right in this wide open affair

 

2-Vinny De Vie – Beaten favorite worked hard to clear the lead & settled for second in a strong acclimating mile, rewarded with an improved post & Mark MacDonald likely sends

 

RACE 13

6-Fromakingtoaqueen – 0 for 17 this season, yet she’s been toiling against tougher @ Yonkers since adding Lasix, gets some class relief, adds Todd McCarthy & worth a swing

 

1-P L Portia – Rides the rail again on a long form spree, brush n crushed with the mile of her life last week & certainly merits the slight class hike

 

3-Firstup – Twice beaten favorite tried on the lead & just missed last week, classy 9YO now draws better to work out a more patient stalking trip

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