Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, July 14 & Saturday, July 15, 2023

Wednesday, July 12, 2023

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RACE 1

8-Skyway Billy – 11YO suddenly aired it out with a new lifetime mark, an eye-popping of 1:51.1 last week, switches to a competitive MADC event & look for Joe Lee to blast off

 

7-Yer So Bad – Cycled forward & exploded to a sharp new mark of 1:51.3 two starts back, then stormed home to repeat as the heavy favorite, tougher post here, but no doubt on a roll

 

3-Make It Big – Draws better to rebound off a rare miscue, reeled off back-to-back MADC Series perfect-trip wins before that & this 10YO remains in career form

 

RACE 2

1-Mr Grant – Tactical Landing first foal off the Father Patrick dam has been picture-perfect in his Pocono preps, lands the rail here & gets The Bionic Man

 

3-Classic Landing – $100,000 second foal from Buckette winner Classical Annie tripped out to score his Kindergarten Series debut last week from the same post for Team Burke

 

2-Bright Star – $150,000 Muscle Hill filly, second dam is Passionate Glide, brightened up with an easy wire-to-wire romp in her second baby race & draws inside for Team Alagna

 

RACE 3

6-Bonaparte – First crop of two-time Dan Patch Award winner Bettor’s Wish & first foal out of 1:48.3 performer Treacherous Reign ($877,893), excellent preps so far for Chris Ryder

 

1-Mr Three O Five – $100,000 Lazarus N brother to Peaky Sneaky, 1:48 ($772,518) paced a :55.3 back half in his lone baby trial & looks promising from the rail for Team Takter

 

2-Divine Cosmo – Homebred from a family of good ones like Rollwithitharry & Track Master D, finished well in a stacked baby race here & won his first two

 

RACE 4

1-Magic Hill – $100,000 Muscle Hill tripped out to win his second baby race with authority for Team Takter & lands the rail in a very competitive division

 

5-Seven Reps – $100,000 Muscle Hill was a solid runner up to Stormcloudfashion in a very inspiring stakes debut & has a big chance to build on that for Team Burke

 

8-Stormcloudfashion – Walner first foal out of a sister to 1:52.3 Open class performer Inaminute Hanover, dominated his stakes opener & worth a long look despite post eight

 

RACE 5

6-My Way – $135,000 brother to Hambo contender Oh Well, 1:53.1 ($824,105), jogged wire-to-wire in his trial in 1:56.3 over a sloppy track allowing two seconds for Team Melander

 

1-Craigieburn – Homebred son of Tactical Landing romped in his first two trials, then a hard-charging runner up & lands the rail for Team Burke

 

3-Mars Hill – $325,000 Muscle Hill colt was an easy baby race winner in his first effort, then got a bit too aggressive on the lead & now draws better for Team Alagna

 

RACE 6

2-Odds On Steno – First crop of Bettor’s Wish & first foal out of a sister to 1:48.3 performer Mikala, just missed in her second trial with another strong finish & draw inside for Team Alagna

 

1-Mary of Bethany – Put together a solid back half & was relentless out of the pocket to nail her third baby race & she’s back on the rail to continue ramping it up for Team Burke

 

7-Lovevolution – Lazarus N sister to See You At Peelers, 1:49.2 ($1,573,260) rallied stoutly to win her career debut as the heavy favorite @ Harrington & heading in the right direction

 

RACE 7

8-Tandem Hanover – $510,000 Walner sister to Temporal Hanover, 1:52.2 ($972,166) went all the way as the heavy favorite in a smashing stake debut & rates a repeat threat despite post eight

 

2-Marg In Charge – Tactical Landing sister to Pinkman, 1:51 ($2,856,831) finished well chasing a heavy favorite in her Kindergarten opener & draws inside with something positive to build on

 

7-Walla – Walner filly whose second dame is world champion Buck I St Pat, willing runner up in both trials, demanding draw, encouraging prospect for Team Takter

 

RACE 8

5-Hankins Hanover – Nosed out by Classic Landing with a mighty surge in an inspiring Kindergarten debut last week & this Walner gelding looms large for Nifty Norman

 

6-Robinhood – Walner gelding stormed home in an eye-catching :26.4 to light up the board in his Kindergarten unveiling for Niko Karna & Noel Daley & gets to prove it was no fluke

 

4-Twin B Showboat – Homebred son of Tactical Landing won both baby races, then left in the wake of Robinhood, draws inside again for Team Alagna with an obvious chance to improve

 

RACE 9

3-Walcango – Fashion Farms-bred Walner filly out of a sister to Grand Circuit stakes winner Tom Cango just missed with a furious :26.3 in her stakes debut from the same post

 

5-Grab The Chance S – Trixton homebred stepped up substantially with a perfect trip stakes debut score for Team Svanstedt & rates highly off that effort

 

1-HL Olmaya – From the first crop of world champion Six Pack, responded to aggressive handling in a noteworthy Kindergarten debut & lands the rail

 

RACE 10

6-Better Is Nice – Impressive colt from the first crop of Bettor’s Wish, kicked home to win his first trial in :25.4, then cruised to another in :26.3 for Team Alagna

 

1-Wish You Well – Homebred from the first crop of Bettor’s Wish from the family of Western Ace, 1:48.4 ($1,899,133), upset his pari mutuel debut with a strong finish @ Harrah’s Philadelphia

 

2-Caviart Justice – Lazarus N first foal from 1:51.4 performer Caviart Jane, solid finishes for third in both morning trials & draws inside for Team Takter

 

RACE 11

7-Ice Cream – $150,000 Walner filly from the family of HOF dam Southwind Serena, solid Kindergarten debut for Tem Takter, another challenging draw in a wide-open division

 

5-Fancy Nancy Lopez – Muscle Hill fifth foal out of a sister to world champion Stroke Play, definitely heading in the right direction from midpack for Team Burke

 

2-One World – Libfeld-Katz Muscle Hill homebred from a productive family progressed to rally with a noteworthy :27.3 in her second baby race & draws inside to monitor closely

 

RACE 12

2-Sunkist Beauty – From the crop of world champion Six Pack, second foal out of iron tough Orange Bigi, romped in both trials, draws inside & could be anything for Team Svanstedt

 

8-Allegiant – Tactical Landing 14^th foal from her Yankee Glide dam, two-for-two in KYSS @ Oak Grove, her latest a 1:53.2 sizzler & attracts a lot of attention despite post eight

 

1-Blazing Deo – Six Pack sister to 1:52 performer Prima Donna Deo pace compromised fourth placed third in her stakes debut & back on the rail for Dexter Dunn & Nifty Norman

 

RACE 13

7-Pulp Fiction – First crop of Bettor’s Wish & second foal from a sister to Heston Blue Chip & Sunfire Blue Chip, won her second trial with pace at both ends & lands in a soft division

 

1-Pass The Dream – Lazarus N 12^th foal from a family that includes millionaire Real Nice, won her third Pocono prep with a perfect trip & looks ominous from the rail here

 

2-Odds On Selenium – Another from the first crop of Bettor’s Wish & first foal from a Captaintreacherous dam, fought back to win her third baby race & draws inside here for Dunn & Ryder

 

RACE 14

2-Te Amo Lindy – Solid runner up to a favored Point Of Perfect in a much-needed 3YO debut, Hambo eligible lands post two again looking to snap his winless streak

 

3-Quebec Hanover – Lightly-raced Team Svanstedt 3YO maiden outhustled third behind Te Amo Lindy last time, strong runner up before that & draws inside to trip out

 

10-One Hundred Poof – Had the misfortune of chasing a 1:51.3 Hambo contender in his Big M debut, stuck outside, but this is a softer N/W 2 assignment

 

Saturday, July 15 Selections

RACE 1

4-Rockin On Venus – Sports that 1:48.2 mark @ The Big M last season, been going well in PA, nice stalk n pop win two starts back, draws well & gets along with The Bionic Man

 

10-Early Action – Has been toiling in the very salty Graduate Series recently, stormed home to hit the board in :26 two weeks ago, stuck outside, but drops further in a real headscratcher

 

1-Whats Stanley Got A – Not entirely sure what Stanley has, after winning his US debut from post nine he finished well in a couple of sub-1:50 miles & has potential to show more from the rail

 

RACE 2

2-Better Than Some – Though he might’ve been sitting on a big one & inexplicably broke last week & draws inside stablemate Boiler Maker to rebound in his third start since the claim

 

8-Good Rockin – Steady Symon Spicer trainee tried rating the pace & finished a solid second again, now draws farther outside & may revert to closing tactics in another tricky puzzle

 

9-Boiler Maker – Reunited with Jordan Stratton & thundered home in :54 to pull a decisive upset last week, faces a similar task from post nine, while remaining in top form

 

RACE 3

6-Secret Volo – Runner up to standout Special Way in the NJSS Final, then romped in the NY NY mile & sixteenth & this Melander Oaks prospect has returned top form

 

7-Instagram Model – Last year’s Jim Doherty Memorial winner regaining her best stride & flashed a nifty :26.3 to hit the board against older foes in a terrific tune up

 

5-Quick Stop – Lived up to the tote hype with a three-hole stalk n pop with a sharp :26.4 & now a big threat to repeat off that bounce-back career best

 

RACE 4

4-Bond – Three-for-three this season with a mark of 1:51.4 for Team Svanstedt, rated fourth in the Road to the Hambo Top Ten & draws well to take control on a nine-race winning streak

 

2-Mambacita – Returns to The Big M after a three-ply sweep of the KYSS Series @ Oak Grove for Team Alagna & draws inside fresh off a new mark of 1:53, brimming with confidence

 

7-Heaven Hanover – Has been sharpening her sword in PA stakes action for Team Melander, took a mark of 1:52.4 two starts back, then just missed last Sunday

 

RACE 5

9-Shesasharpshooter – Solid runner up as the beaten favorite in both starts here, tackles post nine once more, but acclimated now & her gate speed can put her play again for Dexter Dunn

 

4-Goo Goo Won – Heads are still shaking from her gutsy upset fresh off the bench, used hard from post eight last week, tighter now & draws an improved post in handicapper’s delight

 

2-Valar Dohaeris – Team Svanstedt-tuned pacer on an every-other pattern, tried to rally from a tough spot two weeks ago & draws better to stalk the speed within closer range

 

RACE 6

3-Jiggy Jog S – The newest Queen of Trotting made it four-for-four this season with her romp in the Graduate Final, draws inside & the added eighth will only allow her to run up the score

 

7-Looks Like Moni – Returned to top form in the Graduate Series, distant runner up to Jiggy Jog S in the final, tough post, but might be able to make it up in the added eighth with the right set up

 

1-Cool Papa Bell – Last year’s Hambo champ flashed some keen late trot in the Graduate Final, now moves inside for his second start off a sick scratch & we haven’t seen his best yet

 

RACE 7

9-Taurasi – Rebounded from a late break in his debut here with a hard-charging third in :25.4, moves outside, but exits the Graduate Series & ramping up for Team Alagna

 

5-Lou’s Pearlman – Appreciated the drop from stakes company & aired it out wire-to-wire @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, returns to The Big M in a prime spot assert himself for Team Burke

 

4-Mike’s Z Tam – 9YO tripped out to within a fifth of his career best two weeks ago for Team Burke, faces a class hike, but draws well in a field riddled with question marks

 

RACE 8

5-Sylvia Hanover – Dan Patch/O’Brien Award winner served notice with a scintillating 1:48.2 romp in the Fan Hanover & freshened for this fierce confrontation on a ten-race winning streak

 

2-Twin B Joe Fresh – Got the cold shoulder from Sylvia Hanover at Mohawk, yet came back to crush a NYSS division @ Vernon Downs & draws inside for another marquee match up

 

11-Strong Poison – Grand Circuit winning 2YO last season added Lasix & came out like a house on fire in 1:48 @ Hoosier Park for Team Burke & one to fear despite the second tier

 

RACE 9

10-Test Of Faith – 2021 HOY & 2022 division champ flew from far back in a much-needed comeback, set a world record 1:47 in last year’s edition & huge threat despite another ten-hole

 

2-Grace Hill – Won her first five this season, including a record 1:47.4 Roses Are Red, caught off guard by Silver Label in the Perfect Sting & draws inside with credentials to avenge that loss

 

1-Silver Label – The Roses Are Red runner up turned the tables with an ultra impressive post 11 upset in the Perfect Sting, she’s rewarded with the rail fresh off that career best 1:49

 

RACE 10

2-Air Power – No. 1 rated 3YO in the Hambo Top Ten, won his first three this season, including a 1:50.4 NJSS Final, airborne in :25.3 from an impossible spot in the Reynolds & now gets Dexter

 

3-Kierkegaard K – Rated #3 in Hambo Top Ten, equaled the Vernon Downs all-age mark of 1:50.3 in the EBC, hit his knee & broke in the Yonkers Trot & back on a big track with an inside post

 

7-Oh Well – Air Power stablemate rated #7 in the Hambo Top Ten, runner up in all four starts this season, including the NJSS Final & rock solid second with trot at both ends in the Reynolds

 

RACE 11

7-El Rey – Added Lasix & was a hard-charging second to Confederate last week, heading in the right direction for Team Alagna & Scott Zeron sticks over elimination winner Cannibal in a great edition of our signature race

 

5-Confederate – Just missed in the NA Cup, equaled the fastest elimination ever after missing three weeks, so he’s peaking from midpack as Pelling shoots for five & Tetrick enroute to six Pace trophies

 

3-Christchurch – Hats off to Nancy Takter for advancing a trio, this colt was hounded through a searing clip & only missed by a length, draws better & picks up three-time Pace winner Yannick Gingras, who might try to go as far as he can

 

RACE 12

4-Allywag Hanover – 2021 Dan Patch Award winner who upset “Bulldog” in a world record 1:46 last Fall, finally draws a decent post for his fourth start of 2023, time to bear down with a big chance to make a statement

 

3-Abuckabett Hanover – Has matured into a legitimate Free For Aller since the Andrew Harris acquisition, the decisive Mohawk Gold Cup winner rallied for the deuce in the Brower & in line to stalk the speed in this wild affair

 

2-Ruthless Hanover – Now has a 1:46.3 world record & 1:46.4 Big M track record to his credit, draws inside fresh off his Brower devastation & looks to be the likely speed target again

 

RACE 13

1-Winner’s Bet – Tuned up nicely, added Lasix & tripped out to a mild upset & new mark of 1:52.2 in his 3YO debut & back on the rail for Dexter Dunn with something real positive to build on

 

6-Celebrity Bambino – Rated #6 in the Hambo Top Ten, fringe player in NJSS came back with a new mark of 1:51.3 in the Reynolds & Gingras & Burke have a serious player

 

4-Tactical Approach – Rated #9 in the Hambo Top Ten, beaten favorite had his own way & fell a buck shy in the Reynolds, 1:51.1 career best before that & draws post four again for Team Takter

 

RACE 14

8-Born Unordinary – Ships in from Scioto Downs with an 0 for 20 this season, not sure how he matches up here, plus he draws a tough post, but note the barn change to Estrada Racing

 

3-Concur – 10YO has been a steady check earner @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws better here & has a big chance to score an overdue win in a wide-open finale

 

9-Just A Wrangler – Beaten favorite bumped into a revved up Skyway Billy, rallied to score an overdue win before that, moves outside, but in top form right now