Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, August 4 & Saturday, August 5, 2023

Tuesday, August 1, 2023

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RACE 1

6-Ideal Suspect – Was somehow able to turn his game around with an aggressive nose loss last week & any semblance of that makes him a contender

 

10-Ferdinand A – Beaten favorite got a bit too rambunctious on the lead & fell just a length shy, look for another strong effort from post ten again

 

5-Sweet Moves – Big rebound effort when he grinded gamely to an upset two weeks ago & now launches midpack in a wide-open curtain raiser

 

RACE 2

2-Tandem Hanover – Walner sister to Temporal Hanover won her Kindergarten debut, then third in both legs of this series & draws well to employ her versatility & potential

 

1-Warrawee Michelle – Walner sister to Warrawee Yes showed significant improvement with a solid third in round two for Team Svanstedt & lands the rail in a toss up consolation

 

5-Meetmeatthebar – From the first crop of world champion Six Pack, on the fringe fourth in both legs & draws well with a chance to step up

 

RACE 3

6-Karl – $135,000 Tactical Landing colt won his lone baby race with an eye-catching 1:54.4 & looms as a potential star for Team Takter

 

7-Flying Kronos – Face Time Bourbon colt rallied with a noteworthy :27.3 in a much-improved second outing & continues his positive trend for Team Svanstedt

 

1-Tony Adams S – Muscle Hill homebred went all the way in his Kindergarten debut for Team Svanstedt & faces a similar scenario from the rail again

 

RACE 4

4-Total Stranger – Bettor’s Delight brother to 2020 HOY Tall Dark Stranger just missed as the heavy favorite in his second start & draws well to break through for Team Takter

 

8-Rock The Captain N – NZ-bred Captaintreacherous tripped out to make it two-for-two in a nifty 1:52 for Team Alagna & deserves a long look despite post eight

 

5-Huntingforchrome – Unleashed a wicked :26.4 out of the pocket to crush a NYSS division @ Saratoga, so has a big effort build on for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 5

6-The Moment – Just missed to Cheval Rapide in her Kindergarten debut, then reeled off a PASS division as the heavy favorite & could turn the tables on Cheval Rapide back here

 

10-Cheval Rapide – Third foal from 2014 Trotter of the Year Shake It Cerry has delivered in as the heavy favorite in the first two legs, slammed with post ten, but faces a soft division

 

7-Miss I La – Turned in a pretty solid fourth in her opener chasing Cheval Rapide, draws a more demanding post, yet there’s obvious room for improvement

 

RACE 6

5-Tarrific – Huntsville sister to Cattlewash & Niki Hill won back-to-back baby races here before flashing a :26.2 in her debut & builds on that confidence booster

 

2-Sarasota Hanover – Sat a three-hole trip & really cranked it up with a maiden-breaking upset in a sharp 1:51.4 last week & draws inside again for Team Toscano

 

6-Miraculous Deo – Kindergarten debut winner in 1:52 @ almost 30-1, surrendered to Sarasota last week, has license & pedigree to gain revenge

 

RACE 7

1-Better Is Nice – From the first crop of Bettor’s Wish, tripped out & outsprinted Caviart Justice in :26.2 in round two, uncorked a :25.3 in his debut & back on the rail for Team Alagna

 

2-Mr Three O Five – Lazarus N brother to 1:48 performer Peaky Sneaky blitzed his debit in 1:52.3, then bumped into Wish You Well & draws inside that rival for Team Takter

 

8-Caviart Justice – Caviart Farms-Christina Takter-bred dominated his debut, then just missed to Better Is Nice, tougher draw here, but has the talent & potential

 

RACE 8

9-Cal Miles N Shell – 3YO has been on a nice roll for John Calabrese, shows a post ten score back on June 9 & can take advantage of a laid back field

 

8-Brownie – Left alertly & came out of a shuffle to jog in a career best of 1:53.4 at 27-1, another tough draw, but a similar effort makes him a serious threat to repeat

 

6-Bar Coins – Upset winner in a career best of 1:56 two starts back against NW4 @ Yonkers has a big chance to rebound off a miscue with another aggressive effort here

 

RACE 9

3-Quick Fire – First foal from a sister to Heston Blue Chip & Sunfire Blue Chip, really stepped it up to nail My Special Event with a huge turnaround & now draws better

 

8-Pulp Fiction – From the first crop of Bettor’s Wish, perfect so far, jogged in both legs of this series, more demanding post, but hasn’t been tested

 

2-Odds On Steno – First foal from a sister to Mikala, runner up in both legs for Team Alagna, the latest chasing Pulp Fiction, draws inside that rival for a chance to turn the tables

 

RACE 10

1-Sierra Girl – Bar Hopping filly lands the rail in a soft division for Team Svanstedt with a two-for-two record in PASS & the sky is the limit for her

 

4-Graceful Design – Father Patrick filly rallied to just miss to heavy favorite Cheval Rapide in a noteworthy opener & draws inside to follow up for Team Alagna

 

3-Paulina Hanover – Seventh foal from the 2012 Oaks shocker Personal Style romped in a PASS division in her debut, no chance from post last week & draws much better

 

RACE 11

6-Chiapanecas – Steady Team Burke-tuned pupil hasn’t missed the board in four starts, just missed to Pressure Cooker with a crisp :26.1 & certainly license to turn the tables

 

5-Pressure Cooker – Heston Blue Chip filly was able to rate & hold off favorite Chiapanecas with a :26.4 last week for Team Toscano & she has a world of potential

 

7-Cabiart Belle – Captaintreacherous sister to 1:49.3 performer Energetic Hanover off to a strong start for Team Takter with a 1:52.4 PASS win & pair of second in this series

 

RACE 12

1-Nextroundsonme – 1:53.4 Big M winner this season, shuffled too far back to be a threat last week & draws inside again for his second start off a sick scratch in a drop down derby

 

7-Immanuel K S – Sports a 1:52.3 mark taken @ Pocono back on June 4 for team Svanstedt, hit the board from post ten last week & gets class relief with several others

 

8-Distance Learning – Took a mark of 1:53.3 here back on June 9, just missed from post seven two starts back & more aggressive tactics may work in this wide open field

 

RACE 13

6-Baileys Rock N – 10YO just one for 19 this season & trying to regain his form since the mid-May sick scratch, this is a serious class drop & could spell overdue win

 

5-Mindtrip – 10YO has struggled to produce much this season, yet now plummets to the rock bottom condition class & has a big chance to spark something

 

10-Straight Talk – Beaten favorite couldn’t quite capitalize on a pocket trip, gets another shot at this basement condition, but now he tackles post ten

 

RACE 14

8-Winter Soldier – Face Time Bourbon colt rallied stoutly to win his debut with authority for Team Alagna, stuck outside here, but catches a soft division

 

6-Thinker Monkey – $500,000 brother to 2020 Trotter of the Year Gimpanzee was an improved third last week & continues to progress for Team Melander

 

2-Amazing Catch – Walner colt from a sister to millionaire Met’s Hall on the edges in both NJSS divisions for Team Svanstedt & draws inside again to up his game

 

 

 

Saturday Selections

RACE 1

8-South Beach Star – Ships back here fresh off a perfect trip mild upset in a career best 1:48 after a missing 22 days off a sick scratch, strong in the win column & lots to build on

 

7-Stonebridge Helios – Brushed & held on in a 1:48.1 Graduate Final, took a sharp mark of 1:47 from post nine on June 16, rare Team Svanstedt pacer hasn’t raced in a month,

 

6-Idealsomemagic A – 12-time winner this season stormed home to lit up the board in the Gerrity @ Saratoga & took a new mark of 1:50 at age nine & looks like The Minister has options

 

RACE 2

2-Sylvia Hanover – Relentless O’Brien Award winner on a HOY mission, made it 12 in a row with a relentless rally last week off an unbelievable effort in the Mistletoe Shalee & stands out again

 

3-Front Page Story – Sylvia’s stablemate was nosed out with a furious :26 rally @ 33-1 & draws much better to give Mark Steacy a formidable 1-2 punch

 

1-Beach Cowgirl – Looks to rebound off a rare early miscue from the rail for Team Bongiorno, also makes her second start off a sick scratch with a lot potential untapped

 

RACE 3

6-Jiggy Jog S – Four-for-four to start the season, has had a few weeks to rebound from her narrow loss in the Hambo Maturity & has a chance to regain her superiority

 

2-M-M’s Dream – Hambletonian Maturity upsetter with a mighty late surge in the added eighth was nosed out as the heavy favorite last week & draws better

 

1-Fashion Schooner – Last year’s Oaks upsetter has returned to top form scoring back-to-back, lands the rail fresh off a new mark of 1:50 & looms as the target again

 

RACE 4

5-Kilmister – Last year’s Peter Haughton Memorial winner suffered the post ten blues in his Hambo elimination, just missed in the Dancer from post eight & stands out here

 

6-Devilish Hill – Scored his first win of the season in a romp against older foes after a fourth in the Yonkers Trot, knows this track & returns brimming with confidence

 

8-Djimon – They thought enough of him to try the Hambo eliminations & he made a late break, stuck outside here, but switches to Tetrick after an acclimating trip

 

RACE 5

1-Quick Stop – Made it two in a row with a career best 1:52.2 in the Delvin Miller, then made a break in her Oaks elimination & has a big chance to rebound from the rail

 

5-Blonde Bombshell – Added Lasix, got aggressive & held off Walner Payton for a new mark of 1:53.2 & this Nifty Norman trainee is possible repeater from midpack again

 

2-Bravo Angel S – Seems to be a filly on the rise, finished a solid third to Blonde Bombshell & draws inside to carve out another smooth stalking trip

 

RACE 6

6-My Way – Brother to Hambo finalist Oh Well bounced back with a well-earned/decisive score for Tim Tetrick & looms large for Team Melander

 

3-Sig Sauer – Muscle Hilly colt lived up to the tote hype in his debut with a convincing romp over heavy favorite Stormcloudfashion, post three again & Noel Daley babies are hot

 

8-Mars Hill – This son of Muscle Hill has posted two straight upsets for Team Alagna, moves outside, but deserves high regards in a competitive final

 

RACE 7

3-Test Of Faith – 2021 HOY, defending division champion just missed in last year’s edition, freshened with a wick qualifier & draws inside

 

1-Grace Hill – Roses Are Red record setter in 1:47.4 returns to The Big M off a wire-to-wire in the Cleopatra @ Scioto & rates highly from the rail

 

11-Kobe’s Gigi – Last year’s $105 upsetter has regained form in her last two, nosed out by Grace Hill in the Cleopatra & reunited with The White Knight

 

RACE 8

2-Mad Max Hanover – 1:47.3 Graduate leg performer hasn’t been a factor in his last two, but now we get a key driver change to Jason Bartlett & inside stalking post

 

9-Ruthless Hanover – Owns a 1:46.3 world record & 1:46.4 Big M track record this season, third in the Haughton, fresh off a narrow loss, post nine here for the blastoff attempt

 

7-Allywag Hanover – 2022 division champion has been off the board in five starts this season & finds the kind of questionable field he can finally spark something

 

RACE 9

5-Lexus Kody – On a major roll for Team Burke, returns to The Burke fresh off a new mark of 1:50.3 @ Plainridge & logically rates highly from midpack again

 

3-Take All Comers – Arrives off two in a row in the Open @ Harrah’s Philadelphia for last year’s Hambo Day Hero Jim Campbell & draws inside

 

8-Looks Like Money – Runner up to a fiery 1:50.2 Southwind Tyrion from post ten, stuck outside, but owns enough get speed to get involved

 

RACE 10

5-Railee Something – Beaten favorite couldn’t quite get to the well-rated Walner Payton last week, first or second in eight starts this season, look a similar trip from the same midpack post, Yannick Gingras has won the Oaks six times in the last nine years

 

1-Walner Payton – Walner looks to go back-to-back with this consistent Chris Ryder trainee fresh off a well-controlled new mark of 1:51.4, went barefoot, added a hood & never looked back & now draws the rail for Dexter Dunn

 

7-Intagram Model – Last year’s Jim Doherty Memorial winner went off Lasix & finished well for minor spoils last week, reportedly going barefoot & switching to a pull-down bridle & ranks among the prime candidates to rally off a hot pace

 

RACE 11

3-Asteroid – An even fourth in the Crawford Farms as an acclimating mile, then just missed with an aggressive effort in the Spirit of Massachusetts & now draws an inside post for his key third try in the US for Team Svanstedt & Dexter Dunn

 

9-It’s Academic – Team Burke world champion has emerged as the top division contender with three in a row, took a mark of 1:50.2 in the Crawford Farms, then came right back with a gutsy post eight score in the Spirit of Massachusetts & faces another tall order

 

4-Rattle My Cage – Finished a solid third in the Cutler & Crawford, then a close second @ Plainridge, another fresh threat for Team Svanstedt draws inside a competitive field & reunited with The Bionic Man

 

RACE 12

4-Winner’s Bet – Started out two-for-two this season, then grinded gamely from post ten & was still trotting strong to the wire in :27.1 last week, this fresh son of Walner now moves inside to give Dexter Dunn & Domenico Cecere a stalking chance at their first Hambletonian

 

2-Oh Well – Stanley Dancer Memorial division winner in personal best of 1:51.4 was forced to grind first over chasing Point Of Perfect last week, no worse than second this season & lands post two again to give The Bionic Man another Hambo & Marcus Melander a serious shot at his first

 

1-Celebrity Bambino – Was allowed to dictate his owns terms in a career best of 1:50.4, now the rail forces him to fire off the wings, peaking at the right time to lead the Team Burke 1-2 punch & this son of Muscle Hill could give them & Yannick Gingras that elusive trophy

 

RACE 13

3-Special Talent – Almost went all the way from post eight in round two & Walner sister to Special Way draws much better for Team Alagna & Dexter Dunn

 

1-Sunkist Beauty – Committed to a late lead & just missed to Walcango, handy first-out winner before that back on rail for Team Svanstedt

 

6-Walcango – This Walner filly is just a neck & three quarters of a length shy of being three-for-three & continues to point skyward for Jim Campbell & Fashion Farms

 

RACE 14

5-Confederate – Decisive Pace winner in a career best of 1:47 reappears to reassert his division dominance, Brett Pelling trainee has done very little wrong so far this season & lands post five again to stalk n pop

 

3-Seven Colors – 1:48.1 PASS winner launched a menacing late move to finish a close third in the Adios after flashing speed in his elimination & draws inside here to continue his upwards trend

 

7-Christchurch – 1:48.4 NA Cup elimination winner set the early tempo & was left in the wake of Confederate in the Pace, draws a more demanding post this time, yet has had a few weeks to regroup for Team Takter

 

RACE 15

5-Tattoo Artist – Gold Cup runner up just missed with a wicked late surge in the Haughton & almost went all the way as the heavy favorite in the Gerrity, Dexter Dunn back at the lines & looks like the “now” horse in this speedy division

 

6-Billy Clyde – 1:47.3 performer last Hambletonian Day regained some of that confidence with a wire-to-wire two weeks ago, Mark Macdonald likely sends & goes as far as he can

 

10-Bythemissal – Last year’s Ohio Horse of the Year & Jug winner prepped with a vigorous finish chasing Test Of Faith, draws outside, but he can fly off the wings & go a long way

 

RACE 16

4-Stonebridge Reef – Took dead aim & just missed by a neck in last Saturday’s finale, remains at this reduced level & draws well for Dexter Dunn

 

6-Hurrikane Jonnyboy – Connections hang around all day to ship in this raging 4YO, fresh off a new mark of 1:51.1 @ Yonkers & could try to speed pop this field

 

9-Brue Hanover – 3YO has gone four-for-four since switching to Team Burke, took a mark of 1:49 here on July 1, post nine no picnic, yet we have seen his best