Ken Warkentin Selections Friday, February 2 and Saturday, February 3, 2024

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

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Friday, February 2, 2024

 

RACE 1

6-Kissinbythebeaches – Beaten favorite got parked through a quickening pace, previous form was solid, draws a bit better & rates top contender status

 

4-Fire Light – Beaten chalk finished a hard-charging second fresh off the claim, then missed the entire month of January, enters another new barn & draws post four again

 

7-Rockabilly Charm – Not even going to begin trying to explain the upset rally last week, so now the post is more demanding in his quest to prove that was no fluke

 

RACE 2

2-Oh Coffee Bean – Coming into this season on a form spree in Ontario, fresh off a wire-to-wire he draws inside for his Team Estrada debut @ The Big M against several easy toss outs

 

1-Skyway Billy – Dropped to the this TM 71 level, displayed sudden speed from post eight & held for third & now moves inside to assert himself further

 

4-Transfer The Era – Went all the way to soundly beat these before missing three weeks, drops back down & draws well to rebound

 

RACE 3

2-Guest of Honor – Interesting first timer for Team Orange Crush, Walner 3YO first foal out of a sister to millionaire Will Take Charge, off a solid qualifier gets an inside draw

 

5-I’ll Owe You One – Beaten favorite battled gallantly to just miss off the sick scratch, just one for 20, but appears on the verge in a tailor made spot

 

3-Importer Exporter – Pace compromised & still hit the board in both starts here & draws better while gathering momentum on the comeback trail

 

RACE 4

1-Starlit Rambo – Solid runner up @ the N/W $7,500 level back on December 1, on the edges against tougher here recently, drops again & lands the rail

 

2-Timestorm – Beaten chalk carved out a rated pace & made a late miscue last week, now hits the bottom condition & draws inside to bounce back

 

4-Bully Boy Hill – Beaten favorite broke at the start to spoil his chances last week, drops another notch & gets post four again for his third try off the bench

 

RACE 5

6-Robbie Burns N – Drops out of $10k claimers, 13YO makes his second start off the bench, owns a sharp late move & picks up Judge Beltrami

 

2-Rock On Line – Stone closer just missed with another hard-charging effort from post nine, finally draws an inside post to set up his late move within closer striking range

 

7-Valor – That was stark turnaround when he rumbled home from an impossible spot to grab second last week, perhaps that signaled more late life is imminent

 

RACE 6

2-Watch Me Now N – Slow start from post eight & pace compromised in a much-needed tightener, this Team Alagna trainee moves inside with some back class in her arsenal

 

7-Pattycake Mooss- – Capitalized on a Hall of Fame drive by The Buckeye to take a new lifetime mark as the favorite last week, so has to be considered a repeat threat

 

9-Hot Mess Express – The Express has shown positive signs on the comeback trail, draws outside a tough field, including two more for Team Alagna, but gets some class relief

 

RACE 7

3-Acefortyfour Money – We’ll give her that requisite tour of the oval from post eight after missing 29 days, now she draws inside a field begging to be beaten

 

6-Babs Jansen – Finished an even/nonthreatening fourth last week, seems stuck on 1:55 & change, but eligible to step up to end a long winless drought

 

8-Suge – Suge is slammed with post eight, but she’s one of very few in here with positive Big M form, just missed two starts back & last time proved she can leave off the wings

 

RACE 8

2-Massive Matter – Drops back down to the level of a very decisive wire-to-wire from post seven & draws better to establish command again

 

3-Ima Diamond Babe – She looks to bounce back off a rare early miscue by dropping to a competitive level & draws inside again

 

9-Chake – Lively runner up last week, just missed with a huge rally from post nine before that, gets a class hike, yet this mare has come to life for Per Engblom

 

RACE 9

1-Kickupyaheels N – On the fringe in both starts on the comeback trail, drops a notch, finally moves inside & comes off a strong season

 

2-Absolute Power – Fresh off a solid second, she continues her positive trend, gets some class relief, lands post two again & retains Johnathan Ahle

 

4-So Diva – Rallied for a mild upset & equaled her mark of 1:51.3 at this level in late December, drops off a needed start, draws well & looms as a stalking threat

 

RACE 10

3-Threepointbluechip – Lightly-raced Walner 5YO finished a solid third in the comebacker chasing a big favorite King Alphonso & draws inside again to show more for Team Orange Crush

 

7-Rose Run Yankee – Thundered home off a solid pace to romp with a new mark of 1:54.2 & his arrow is pointing skyward for Team Miller

 

5-Buddy Earl – Got off to another slow start & wasn’t heard from in last Saturday’s feature, yet now the class relief makes him a serious contender

 

RACE 11

2-Major Battle – Shot home to just miss by a nose in a sparkling comeback from post seven & now draws better in a wide-open affair

 

3-Clear The Way – 0 for her last 23, an even fourth in an much-needed comeback, gets some class relief & draws inside again

 

1-Miss Majesty – Almost went all the way in an energetic qualifier after a long layoff, lands the rail & could make an immediate impression for Nik Drennan

 

RACE 12

3-Texas Miki – Finished a much-improved second with pace at both ends last week, long overdue & draws inside a field lacking much spark

 

7-Mister Godro – Got parked first over last week & was claimed again, his previous form was solid & will be seeking the pace right set up for his new barn

 

5-Henry The Dragon – Bounced back off a miscue with a fairly strong effort last week & this 10YO is gaining traction since a late December sick scratch

 

RACE 13

2-Oh Lina – Picked up minor spoils after a slow start from post ten, note the close second at this level back on December 15 & draws post two again

 

1-Shinkansen – Got stung early & faded in the fog last week, gotta go back to that sharp nose loss from post nine on January 5 & now lands the rail

 

5-Fashion Forever – Rallied for the deuce two starts back, remains at the bottom condition level & can set up his late move from midpack

 

RACE 14

7-Concur – Didn’t get the ideal set up & stormed home to hit the board again last Saturday, challenging post here, but threatens with the right speed set up

 

6-Little Power – Beaten favorite, yet a solid runner up after a decisive win, 10YO remains in top form & likely the one to track down again

 

5-Sneak On Bye – 10YO took two starts off the claim to romp convincingly & merits the step up in price with another midpack launch

 

RACE 1

2-Mask On Mask Off – The Mask has definitely been on recently despite some challenging posts, drops off a narrow loss against TM 80s & draws inside a wide-open curtain raiser

 

5-Imabeachboy – Sparked his form right away after the Team Estrada acquisition & addition of Lasix, missed 36 days prior to a much-needed trip @ Freehold & reunited with The Buckeye

 

3-TKO Blue Chip – Has paid the price for slow starts in his last two since the injury scratch, draws better, retains Jordan Stratton & capable of tripping out & stepping up

 

RACE 2

3-Desire’s Captain – Rallied from a pretty tough spot to score the mild upset last week, now his post improves, which gives him as chance to stalk closer & repeat

 

9-JK Lucky Charms – Took only a couple starts for Team Estrada to air it out as the heavy favorite, this task is tougher, but renewed form & speed makes him a major player

 

4-Homestretch Wes – Wes found room up the rail to come alive for the upset two starts back, then got blitzed against $20,000 stock & this might be more to his liking

 

RACE 3

2-Barrier – Finished a competitive third against tougher claimers two starts back, then flaunted too much speed last week, let’s see him rate with another inside draw

 

5-Hungryhungry Hippo – The Hippo rumbled home for the deuce @ long odds last week & this lightly-raced 4YO is no doubt trending in the right direction

 

1-Stomp – Bounced back with a pretty solid rally to hit the ticket last week, winless 4YO lands the rail again & would benefit from a better start & needs some speed to shoot at

 

RACE 4

1-De Los Cielos Deo – Classy horse-for-the-course stymied by sick scratches recently, back @ The Big M in a basement condition for a new barn, lands the rail & gets A Mac

 

5-Lou Ed Zeppelin – 1:50.2 performer here last season showing signs of regaining form, hits rock bottom & makes another mid-pack launch in a dartboard affair

 

6-Crown Hanover – Here’s another drop-down candidate making his third start off the bench after a barn change & has license to step up in a field lacking spark

 

RACE 5

7-Ithaca Hanover – Beaten favorite was active & settled for a show deadheat before missing the entire month of January & now at the mercy of a paceless field

 

3-Big Bad Bill – Bill draws better after storming home from last to hit the board at long odds last week & that’s more than you can say about most of his opposition in here

 

1-Seeuinnashville – Has landed on the fringe fifth in both starts this year, was involved in a fast pace last week & a smooth trip from the rail would give him a serious shot

 

RACE 6

3-Rich And Miserable – Flashed some more late life out of a shuffle last week, now it’s his key third try off the bench from post three again & has plenty of back class in his arsenal

 

8-Toccoa Falls – Leads the Per Engblom trio in this one after hitting the ticket again last week & this steady sort rates serious consideration despite his outside assignment

 

7-Scirocco Rob – Classy 9YO owns a mark of 1:50.3 @ The Big M, gets a bit of class relief for his third start off the bench, but you must somehow factor in a 36-day layoff

 

RACE 7

6-Stellar Yankee – Shifted venues from Yonkers to The Big M & was simply stellar, taking no prisoners in a sparkling career best of 1:50.4 with a sizzling :26.3 for Team Stratton

 

2-Parklane Terror – Took a couple of starts for the Vinnie Ginsberg claim to payoff with the upset rally last week, just a fifth off his lifetime mark & now he draws better

 

1-Bet On Buter – Grinded gamely & held for a board spot in a tough Big M debut last week & off that acclimating mile he gets another shot at this reduced level from the rail

 

RACE 8

5-Decision Day – Classy 9YO attacked close to a brisk pace & kicked home to hit the ticket in a wake up effort last week, now drops further & long overdue

 

1-Hopnroll Heaven – Took advantage of some class relief & an ideal trip to score a win deadheat two weeks ago, on his way back up from the rail for Bartlett & Engblom

 

6-Mister Donald A – Caught in never-never land after a slow start from post eight last week, his previous two were sharp, so he could rebound in this drop-down derby

 

RACE 9

10-Oakwood Paddy IR – Irish-bred has been on a serious roll, fresh off an explosive new mark of 1:50.3, slammed with post ten in a sharp field, yet he might be just too good right now

 

7-Revolt – Dropped n popped in a big way with an eye-catching rally last week, another speedy set up makes him eligible to step up & swoop these late in a real head scratcher

 

4-Stonebridge Reef – Climbing back up the condition ladder after regaining his winning edge with back-to-back scores & draws an improved off a solid third to Oakwood Paddy IR

 

RACE 10

8-Gentlemanjim II IE – Favored in three straight & just missed to the unbelievable Marcus Seelster last week, relentless 10YO can handle post eight again for a high percentage barn

 

7-Marcus Seelster – Boy, Marcus fired hard from post nine & fought off pressure in the mile of his life last week, he was tied as the winningest @ The Big M last year with eight tallies

 

4-Saulsbrook Raptor – Scored back-to-back in December & lowered his mark to 1:51.1, missed three weeks prior to fading to third on January 30 & draws well to be forwardly placed again

 

RACE 11

9-Southport Beach – Only two starts so far this year & they were decent, tougher draw here, but the class relief might be enough to overcome it

 

3-Rifleman – Freshened off a productive season, the qualifier was better than it looks, draws well in a real soft spot & worth a long look in a wide-open field

 

2-Alta Blues A – Has been able to rejuvenate at lower levels, back-to-back runner up since switching barns & draws inside a field filled with question marks

 

RACE 12

1-Golden Gesture – Dropped back into a claimer & promptly scored a decisive post nine upset, lands the rail for his new barn & this 11YO was strong in the win column last year

 

7-Odds On Boca Raton – Forced wide from a real spot to nail the repeat last week, draws another demanding post, but has regained form since the sick scratch & subsequent claim

 

5-Lyons Pride – Continued to progress since the early-December injury scratch, just missed with a hard-charging bounce-back effort last week & anything similar could put him across

 

RACE 13

8-Good Deal – Beaten favorite sat close to a torrid pace, now gets his third straight class drop & has to be considered a contender despite post eight

 

3-El Le Tissier N – Hit the bottom condition & perked up with a narrow loss last week, bumps up a notch & draws inside while making his third start off a sick scratch

 

1-Warrawee Xtreme – Capitalized on a class drop to rally for the show behind El Le Tissier N last week & moves inside to build more momentum for his new barn

 

RACE 14

7-ER Vegas – Drops back to the level of that rousing career best on January 5 after two impossible trips & looks to rebound from a challenging post

 

6-Mount Royal – Parlayed a perfect drive by Patrick Ryder into a 9-1 upset, has come into the new year in sharp form & can’t rule out a repeat

 

8-Briar’s Desire – Just one for 19 last year, but has shown plenty of desire recently, just missed to Mount Royal last out & deserves support despite post eight