Ken Warkentin Friday, February 17 and Saturday, February 18, 2023

Wednesday, February 15, 2023

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RACE 1

2-Johnny Q – Severely pace & trip compromised & still hit the board with a better effort two starts back, now moves inside & was strong in the win column last year

 

9-MV OK Palacio BR – Steady closer has been knocking on the door, solid runner up last week, just missed before that, tough post, but always a threat with the right set up

 

3-Takeitotheface – Took advantage of an inside draw & tripped out to a third-place finish, has been on a roll recently & doesn’t face any standouts in this opening division

 

RACE 2

9-Bet Big On Blue – Beaten favorite lived up to the hype with a close second despite a shuffle & traffic, moves outside, but a threat off that much-improved effort

 

2-Crazy For CJ – This gelding probably trotted the best mile of his career when he overcame post ten to hit the board, off that acclimating trip he moves inside a wide-open field

 

5-Sevenshotsobourbon – Was recently freshened up off a sick scratch & trotted a decent comebacker here, has license to step up in a field ripe for the taking

 

RACE 3

1-Super Girl – Beaten chalk suffered an equipment malfunction when she geared up for a late move & broke last week, nosed out in :26.2 before that & has the rail to rebound

 

3-Ultimate Loulou – Sweet Lou filly had a taste of stakes action at two, qualified well enough to indicate readiness right off the hop & draws well for Team Burke

 

5-The Turning Point – Flashed some talent at two, like the second qualifier here chasing next out winner American Halo & flashed sneaky late pace in the comebacker

 

RACE 4

4-Headoverboots AS – Comes off a no-chance mile from post ten, almost went all the way before that & was nosed out with a :27.3, worth a long look from a better post

 

3-Big Christian – Highly-touted 4YO made his long-awaited debut a winning one with a perfect trip, draws inside again & stands out in a similar match up

 

6-Fashion Cantab – Suddenly tried speed, stole a pedestrian :58.3 half & got nosed out by the pocket-sitter Big Christian, might try a similar strategy to turn the tables

 

RACE 5

1-Always A Panther – Cycled to the top as a dominant winner last week for Joe Lee, third start for his new barn & continues on a form spree from the rail

 

3-Bank Sea – Fresh off an emphatic air-out mission as the heavy favorite @ Freehold, returns to The Big M brimming with confidence with an inside post in a wide-open division

 

2-Claytons Bettor N – Just two for his last 46, yet has been a pretty consistent check earner recently, draws better & in line for a smooth stalking trip

 

RACE 6

6-Lady Rocknrolla N – Beaten favorite last two, runner up to a revved up Rable last week, now a fresh claim by Noel Daley, she has been on a nice roll here

 

5-Pearl Harbour N – Added Lasix & was overloaded/never fully extended in traffic, a solid second before that & could be poised for her first US win

 

2-Onecrookedleg – Left alertly from post seven, was shuffled a bit & knifed her way through in the sprint to the wire & now rates a long look from an improved post

 

RACE 7

8-Its Rockin Randy – Sports revived form on Lasix for his new barn & blasted wire-to-wire from post ten last week, bumped up a notch, draws outside again, yet ready to rock again

 

2-Cheyenne Reijane – Just two for his last 35, forced wide from a near-impossible spot & rallied for second last week, draws inside again with something positive to build on

 

7-Lincoln Boulevard – Beaten favorite off a narrow loss @ Freehold closed from a tough spot to hit the board last week, another challenging draw, but heading in the right direction

 

RACE 8

3-Fix-It-Up – Nosed out by the heavy favorite King Alphonso second time Lasix, solid runner up to a big favorite before that, draws a bit better & poised to pounce for Team Bongiorno

 

5-Forrest – Kicked off his season with back-to-back romps here before breaks in two consecutive starts @ Yonkers, qualified energetically & ready to rebound for Team Burke

 

4-Mcmatters – Rallied stoutly from a tough spot to grab second in a sharp :27.1 two starts back, then got parked first over last week & draws well to set up his late move

 

RACE 9

5-Virtual Success – Added Dexter Dunn & lived up to the tote hype with a vastly improved second by a neck to a well-rated Sauble Delightful & draws a tad better to turn the tables

 

6-Sauble Delightful – Boy, did she turn her game around with a pace-controlling mild upset & equaled her lifetime mark of 1:52 last week & has a big chance to duplicate that effort

 

4-Milady Denver A – She was on a roll before getting stung early from post nine last out, hasn’t raced in 19 days, but draws much better & in line to trip out

 

RACE 10

7-Sermon – Made only six starts last year, bounced back off a miscue in the first qualifier with an exceptional trial, has a chance to flaunt his class despite a seven-month layoff

 

2-Gotwuteverittakes – Drops back down a notch off a decent effort last week, just missed against these three starts back & draws better to set up a class drop n pop scenario

 

6-Chiplosive – Returned to this level & chased the heavily favored Mon Amour last week, draws a bit better, gate speed puts him in play & he’s long overdue

 

RACE 11

3-Martaritaondarocks – Stepped home in :26 + change to land on fringe fourth again, now her post improves & she lands in a tailor made spot for The Money Man

 

10-One More Try – Hard-trying mare has hit the board in her last three in a row, the latest a sterling rally from last & remains at the mercy of the pace & trip from post ten

 

9-Thatsmytype – Found a way through to blow up the board & gave Marvin Luna his first Big M win two starts back, now she’s stuck outside off a solid third & rates contender status

 

RACE 12

9-Bet The Limit – Bumped up off the claim & lifetime best of 1:52.1 & wasn’t heard from last week, moves outside, yet drops back down & doesn’t face any world beaters

 

3-Southwind Dredge – Finished a well-beaten third behind Bet The Limit two starts back & returns to The Big M at that competitive level with a better post

 

2-Casino Bags Anso – 10YO was a much-improved third two starts back, makes his third start since a barn change, draws a better post & figures to be forwardly placed

 

RACE 13

2-Poker Play – Note the solid :27.3 rally for third two starts back, broke again @ Saratoga last time, now returns to The Big M with an inside post & reunited with The Money Man

 

6-Wow Lester – Did an admirable job finishing third from post ten last out, draws a bit better & remains at the bottom condition level in a wide-open affair

 

5-Karets – Well driven to a mild upset two starts back off a sick scratch & returns to the mile track with a chance to build on that encouraging win

 

RACE 14

7-Saulsbrook Raptor – Just three for 33, yet his latest was a narrow loss @ Dover Downs, anytime you get a barn change you have to take note & be wary of this one

 

4-Spectacular Sunset – Has stepped up his game with a pair of solid seconds from tougher posts & trending right in a wide-open finale

 

2-Rockabilly Charm – Has not finished well in his last two since the easy upset three starts back, draws inside at the same level & has a chance to rebound

 

Saturday, February 18 Selections

RACE 1

5-All Alone – Makes his 3YO debut & only fourth career start for Team Toscano, won both Big M qualifiers with sharp late bursts & can set up a stalking trip from midpack

 

8-Idiosyncratic – Lived up to the tote hype with a rousing score in his 3YO debut for Team Burke, draws a tougher post for the follow up, yet logically there’s more in the tank

 

3-Panettone Hanover – Very intriguing Team Burke-tuned son of Captaintreacherous had some minor stakes experience at two, grinded gamely in the qualifier & draws inside

 

RACE 2

1-Maddox Hanover – Got on a roll last month, beaten favorite lacked the same pop second time Lasix, but now moves inside to get within closer striking range

 

4-Sports Hero – Twice bottomed them out recently for Nicole Dicostanzo, equaled his lifetime mark on Jan. 20, left out to dry last week & can rebound from a better post

 

7-Apple Valley Art – Recent claim finished a solid second two starts back with a :26.4, returns to The Big M off a no-chance trip @ Freehold, tricky post, but rates a long look

 

RACE 3

4-Mister Hat – Finished a very good third to Bizys Beatle three starts back, paid the price for slow starts in his last two, now draws better & reunited with The Money Man

 

5-Bizy’s Beatle – The Beatle has caught fire winning two of his last three, his latest with pace at both ends from post nine fresh off the most recent claim, threat to repeat

 

2-Lone Wolf American – Thundered home for two in a row last month, then just missed with a premature late move & draws inside again to stay on a roll despite a three-week layoff

 

Race 4

3-Homestretch Wes – Has been on a nice roll since switching barns late last month, needed a bit more late punch last week & draws inside again to stalk the speed

 

5-Lenwoods Real Deal – Recent claim bounced back from a tough trip with a monster mile from post ten last week, any semblance of that effort makes him the one to beat

 

8-Windsong Jack – 13YO millionaire sparked something with that perfect trip upset two starts back, then stole a :57.4 half & just missed the repeat, contender despite a tougher post

 

RACE 5

4-Frank The Elder – Frank is another fresh 4YO with some upside, third to A New Leader in a strong comebacker from the same inside post & looms large for Team Burke

 

3-A New Leader – Improving 4YO trending skyward, came right back to repeat with a new mark of 1:53.4 last week & now draws better to face a test of class in this puzzling affair

 

8-Double Account – 1:51.3 performer at The Big M last year makes his key third start off the bench for Team Cullipher, can leave off the wings & has room to step up

 

RACE 6

7-Hopnroll Heaven – Had my eye on him last week & he kicked home in :26.4 from a tough spot, now gets more class relief & just needs some speed to shoot at

 

5-Ohoka Chopper N – Rallied from last again & just missed with a wicked :26.1 last week, now drops back down in class for a surging Team Miller & moves to midpack

 

4-Revolver N – Had zero shot after a slow start from post eight last week, gets another chance at this reduced level from a much better post as a dangerous stalker n popper

 

RACE 7

1-Tam Major A – Fresh off the narrow loss & claim he was able to dominate, 9YO took a new mark of 1:50.4 in the process & lands on the rail again

 

3-Adriano Hanover – Overcame post eight with a live cover trip & mighty rally to upset just a fifth off his lifetime mark & rewarded with an improved post in career form

 

6-Rockin Marty A – Took a few starts to acclimate & went all the way for his first US win last week & taps further into his upside for Team Miller

 

RACE 8

7-Seriously Hanover – Serious is indeed the word after winning four of five this season & lowered his mark to 1:49.3, crushed them in The Big Game Final from post eight last week

 

5-Carbine – Won his first two starts this season in decisive fashion for Team Alagna, runner up to the raging Nicholas Beach last week, always a dangerous stalking threat

 

6-Jimmy Freight – Classy & well-decorated $1.6 million winner kicked home sharply to win both qualifiers & looks ready for a stiff test fresh off the bench for Pelling Power

 

RACE 9

3-Livinthebeachlife – Sports a 1:50.3 mark here last season when he was strong in the win column, gets away from Seriously Hanover & draws better for Team Burke

 

5-Better Take It – 1:49 performer @ The Big M last year for Team Cullipher has been thriving on the engine, made the switch back from Miami Valley & just missed with Dexter Dunn

 

6-Mike’s Z Tam – Was hammered down to 5-2 & on go from the start, finishing a hard-charging second by a neck last week & rates strong consideration off that effort

 

RACE 10

5-Ahundreddollarbill – Capped off his 2022 season with back-to-back wins here, including an Open in an eye-catching 1:51.3 for Team Alagna & won his qualifier with a sharp late burst

 

6-Rich And Miserable – This horse-for-the-course is on a serious roll, just a nose away from three in a row, dominated from the pocket last week & tough to go against in current form

 

3-Toccoa Falls – Per Engblom trainee is on a form spree, fresh off a big rally to finish second to Rich And Miserable last week & finally draws an inside post

 

RACE 11

4-Angers Bayama – Only four starts last year, yet there’s some back class lurking, makes his second start off a sick scratch, drops a notch & draws better for Team Alagna

 

8-Muscle Factory A – Was facing much better here before the seven-month layoff, took his requisite tour of the oval, post eight again, but drops significantly for Team Tritton

 

3-Dontpassme Hanover – Go back to the close third from post three back on January 21, makes his second start off a sick scratch & returns to The Big M off a solid effort

 

RACE 12

1-Stonebridge Reef – Did well against tougher TM types from demanding posts, drops back down to the level of that ten-hole score three starts back & this steady threat moves inside

 

2-PJ Lou – Took a sparkling new mark of 1:49.3 in that deadheat 4YO debut, two weeks off since the no-chance trip from post nine & lands in a more suitable spot for Team Bongiorno

 

5-HP Lis Shadow – That was a surprisingly good first over narrow loss in his Big M debut, reunited with Jason Bartlett & looms large for the anticipated follow up

 

RACE 13

8-Acton Hanover – Forced into a first over grind & just missed three in a row, moves outside, but this live item dips back down a notch & seeks a live cover trip for Team Burke

 

5-Shore Of Himself – Qualified with vigor & showed more energy chasing Jimmy Freight in the latest, fresh threat might be tough to overhaul if he’s allowed to take control

 

7-Striking Impact – Capped off his 2022 campaign with a post ten upset in the fog on New Years Eve, solid recent form against $50,000 claimers @ Yonkers & strong enough in the win column

 

RACE 14

2-Letsgotobrazil A – Has encountered impossible trips in his last three here, 1:50.3 performer @ The Big M last season has a big chance to take advantage of a better draw

 

5-Sundown Kid – Badly beaten favorite has taken a real tumble down the condition ladder, now hits rock bottom to spark something in a field of question marks

 

1-The Cookie Monster – Drops back down to the level of that close second from the rail back on January 13 & hence deserves strong consideration in this wide-open finale