Ken Warkentin Selections for Dec 27-28, 2024

Thursday, December 26, 2024

---

Race 1

6-He’s A Sweetheart – Sparked something with that easy 1:52.4 win three starts back & this versatile sort rallied stoutly for the show last Friday

 

3-Kissinbythebeaches – Surprised more than a few with his patented wire-to-wire off a recent sick scratch, then faltered badly & lands post three to rebound

 

9-Rock On Line – Moves outside, but comes off a solid rally top hit the board last week & will likely be banking on the right pace & trip set up

 

Race 2

1-Raptors Flight N – Beaten favorite found himself on a pressure lead two weeks ago, solid runner up before that gets class & post relief

 

4-It’s Above Me Now –Forced wide & flashed some late life in a Big M acclimating mile & now draws better to employ a stalk n pop strategy

 

10-Ladyford Dollar GB – Fresh claim here has been racing well, stuck outside, yet could be heard from if the pace & trip work out for him

 

Race 3

2-I Am The Fire – One of two last out winners stepping up to this 71.5 TM Rating, that was an impressive wake up sweep from post eight & now this filly draws inside

 

1-Shake It Twice – She managed to turn things around in a big way with a post seven brush n crush & lands the rail with a 1:51.4 speed badge here

 

3-McNugget – Was knocking on the door @ Plainridge with two straight narrow losses, then rallied from a tough spot to hit the ticket here three weeks ago & draws better

 

Race 4

5-I’m Burlington – 1:50.3 performer @ The Big M last season returns off a pair of much-needed comeback miles & lands mid pack in a wide-open head scratcher

 

3-Some Happy Pacer – Saratoga shipper sports some impressive stats with 11 wins this season, 4YO arrives in good form & this fresh claim draws well

 

6-See You Friday – For you hunch players out there he’s finished with improved vigor in his last few, but his one for 38 record this season is a concern

 

Race 5

4-Going Away – This filly has been ramping up her game since the late November sick scratch, closed in a crisp :27.2 to grab the show last Friday

 

1-Disaronno Hill – Awakened from her slumber with a much better front end effort from post ten & came up just a length shy & finally moves inside

 

2-At The Hop – Finally draws an inside post off a no-chance trip, lands a soft division of this 74.5 TM Rating & can step out alertly to trip out for a sharp barn

 

Race 6

1-Pinewood Hanover – Fresh face from Hoosier Park uncorked an eye-catching qualifier here & lands the rail with some class relief in pretty competitive field

 

4-Dribbling Bi – Added to his recent case of seconditis with another solid second from post ten & finally draws a decent post to play prime opportunist again

 

3-Beacon Beach – That was some repeat when he romped to a new mark from post nine two starts back & takes another shot at this level with an inside draw for Team Bongiorno

 

Race 7

1-Illusion Seelster – Stepped up to N/W $5,000 had no chance in a 1:51.2 scorcher, her previous second to a dominant winner is the kind of mile we’re looking for from the rail

 

2-Sugar Britches – One for 17 this season & struggling to find her best stride since coming back under Team Burke & now she lands in a softer spot to trip out

 

3-Roma Amor – Draws inside again fresh off a hefty wake up effort/upset, surging home in a much-improved :27.2 & any semblance of that makes her a repeat threat

 

Race 8

8-Altus Hanover – Draws post eight again after almost making it three in a row & look for his positive trend to continue

 

5-Echo De Meautis FR – 10YO French import with some big numbers in the win column arrives off two straight blowouts @ Saratoga

 

10-Moni’s Heaven Sent – Suddenly came up with the mile of his life & 30-1 upset last week & now he’s stuck outside to prove it was no fluke

 

Race 9

3-Pembroke Southie – Off a no-chance trip from post eight @ Yonkers she gets some needed class & post relief here for Team Bongiorno

 

2-Probert – Classy 7YO makes her second start after a long layoff & tough trip @ Yonkers, plus she gets a substantial class drop & draws inside

 

7-Coz Im Special – Took the aggressive route & it paid off with a game score over Kay Sage, steps up with that rival from a tougher post, yet certainly has the class to do so

 

Race 10

2-Larjon Leah – Struggled recently against $25,000 stock @ Dover Downs, but knows this track, draws inside & has a chance to regroup for our Driver & Trainer of the Week

 

6-Raise The Ante – Dominant 1:51.4 winner from post eight here back on November 15 returns on a three-race winning streak & could be tough to overhaul

 

7-Better Watch It – Was hinting on a positive trend & rallied to score a mild upset @ Yonkers, challenging post in a tricky field, yet she can maintain her momentum

 

Race 11

2-Reckless Reviver – Equaled his lifetime mark of 1:54.2 with a MADC crush two starts back, then just missed to Keystone Apache as the beaten favorite & draws inside in top form

 

5-Mahone Seelster – Just one for 17 this season, but ships from Yonkers off a solid third & stalks from mid pack for his third start since the claim by Scott Di Domenico

 

1-Irish Coffee – Coffee came in hot to take a new mark of 1:54.3 two starts back, then faltered at a tougher level, drops back down & lands the rail for Team Bongiorno

 

Race 12

4-Shrimp And Grits – Gritty winner @ Harrah’s Philadelphia back on November 21, flashed some late life last week, fourth start for his new barn & draws better with ten wins this season

 

8-Ayr Pioneer GB – Has reeled off back-to-back decisive wins, while going two-for-two since the switch to Besim Odza, his latest a convincing tally from post ten, one to beat

 

3-Quick Snap – Only one for 39 this season, but that huge rally to be second by a neck two starts back makes him a serious consideration in what is generally camera-shy field

 

Race 13

4-Fast Approach – Walner 3YO gathering momentum for Team Burke, displaying positive trot in two of his last three here & draws well trip out for an overdue win

 

8-Little Expensive – 4YO with some back class makes his third start on the comeback trail for Team Orange Crush, second time Lasix, but a 35-day layoff & post eight to consider

 

5-Starlit Rambo – Twice beaten favorite chased a convincing winner in The Prince last out, has tumbled down the class ladder & another alert start from mid pack expected

 

Race 14

3-Laneside Logic GB – Almost went all the way in the slop, then got parked out three weeks ago, can rebound in his third start for Besim Odza, another inside post with a noteworthy driver change

 

1-Village Blue Chip – 3YO has cranked it up in his last two, just missed a big upset with a late lunge & now stalks from the rail for that overdue win

 

2-Bionic – Michael Shultz refused to let a longshot go & retake, so he got cooked in a speed duel as a result & has a chance to bounce back with a better post

 

Saturday Selections

Race 1

5-Notorious Hanover – Lightly-raced 4YO forced wide from a tough spot to chase a dominant favorite & now makes his second start after a long layoff for Team Burke

 

6-Captain Bazinga – Brushed to commanding lead & broke when turning into icy stretch gusts, lively effort before that & draws better to rebound third time Lasix

 

10-Lazarus Star – Catapulted off the brisk pace to finish second in Last Saturday’s lobe contest, stuck outside, yet note his narrow loss from post nine three starts back

 

Race 2

3-Da Delightful – Continues to tumble down the condition ladder off an energetic effort on the engine with Mark Silva driving, draws inside has license to outclass these

 

1-It’s Mahomes – Struggled in his last few @ Yonkers, benefited from some needed freshening, brushed n crushed his Big M qualifier & lands the rail to flaunt his speed

 

4-Sweet Jeff IR – New Team Burke acquisition banked over $100,000 this season, decent form @ Plainridge on view, draws well, but a 33-day layoff to consider

 

Race 3

3-Just a Wrangler – Produced a better placing @ Yonkers in his third start since the Stratton claim, strong in the win column & draws inside to trip out here

 

4-I’ll Hunt You Down – Lightly-raced 4YO flashed plenty of late life in a much-needed comebacker & draws well to follow up in his second try off the bench

 

8-Luke McGook – Beaten favorite fired out for a three-hole ride & was nailed late with a gallant try, tough draw, but continues to trend right since the sick scratch

 

Race 4

2-Ignatius A – Flaunted his class & scored decisively in a nifty 1:50, now bumps up a notch & draws inside again while brimming with confidence for Noel Daley

 

4-Springsteen – Doubled jumped to this level successfully & just missed with plenty late & this classy 9YO draws well to capitalize on his current sharp form for Team Tritton

 

6-Thebeaudenblues N – Got forced wide & roughed up through a fast pace & now gets some class relief for his fourth start off the bench

 

Race 5

1-Intothemysticmoon – Dropped to this level, set a rated pace & settled for second two starts back, then fired out for a pocket ride & had stretch traffic & now moves inside for Team Burke

 

2-JM Betonsix – Solid runner up with pace at both ends two starts back, then regressed with an early miscue, deceptively sharp & draws inside to trip out

 

7-Ainthesamewithoutu – Rare pacer for trotting ace Anette Lorentzon just missed in 1:52.3 @ Dover Downs two starts back, tricky draw, but gets some class relief

 

Race 6

2-Lunar – Richard Johnson claim ships in with two wins in his last three in PA, 1:48.4 performer @ Pocono this season draws inside a wide-open group of class droppers

 

6-Sling Shock – Yonkers invader trip & pace compromised in recent few & this 1:51.1 winner here this season gets a dose of class relief along with several others

 

7-Belmont Royale N – Toss out the nightmare trip from post ten, was on a nice form spree before that & sports a strong number in the win column

 

Race 7

8-Hunt For Cash – Notched his eighth win of the season two starts back, then chased a standout in JM Mandamin, tough draw, but live item & fresh claim for Edwin Quevedo

 

5-Cellmate – Fresh claim by Mark Ford has won three of his four, his latest from post eight @ Yonkers & took a new mark of 1:52 here back on November 23

 

10-Music Hall – Posted back-to-back blowouts here in November, just missed with a nice rebound effort @ Yonkers & rates serious contender status despite post ten

 

Race 8

2-Outside The Fire – Came right back off a win deadheat with a solid second to stablemate Lexus Kody, draws inside & looms large in current form for Team Cullipher

 

4-Mon Amour – Big M lover on a nice roll right now, finished third behind Outside The Fire again & draws well to stalk that rival & possibly turn the tables

 

10-Mississippi Storm – Scored a deadheat win with Outside The Fire two starts back, post ten hurts, yet returns to The Big M for third try off a sick scratch to give Tom Fanning a 1-2 punch

 

Race 9

7-Oakwood Heymiki IR – Completely dominated with a brush n crush from post ten three weeks ago, four-for-four in the US with a pair of sub-1:50 miles & no bottom in sight

 

1-Mad Max Hanover – Max flaunted his class with a fierce rally n score from post eight when he dropped to this level & now rewarded with the rail

 

8-For Once Inmy Life – Tackles post eight fresh off a crushing score from the same post for Team Stratton & looks revved up for a rematch with Oakwood Heymiki IR

 

Race 10

7-Humble A – Australian import has gone for seven-for-seven in the US @ Yonkers, gets a serious test here, might be up to it & worth a swing

 

5-Maximus Miki – Uncorked a wicked :25.4 from an impossible spot two weeks ago, draws mid pack again & hasn’t missed the board in 22 starts this season

 

8-Spring Inhis Step A – Needed every inch of that perfect trip to nail Ruthless Hanover, now moves outside, yet has the wheels to handle it

 

Race 11

4-Rhyds Superfly GB – With two solid thirds on Lasix this British import lands in a prime spot to dictate his own terms or trip out with an inside draw

 

1-Build The Wall – 3YO lands the rail after going three-for-three on Lasix @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, yet remains a question mark after missing three weeks off a sick scratch

 

5-Steven’s Saloon – After a strong rally for show @ Harrah’s Philadelphia off a sick scratch & this Cancelliere trainee deserves a long look from mid pack

 

Race 12

4-Alta Blues A – Wow, what a wake up wire-to-wire blowout at the 80.5 TM Rating, just two fifths off his lifetime mark & draws well to duplicate that sparkling effort

 

10-Magnifico Hanover – Bothered early & finished a distant third to Alta Blue A, stuck outside, but goes second time Lasix & retains The Bionic Man

 

5-Rockin The Aces – Offered plenty of late pace from a tough spot @ long odds after missing a month & now this Big M lover makes his second start off a sick scratch

 

Race 13

6-Caviart Camden – Unfurled a wicked :26.4 from never-never land after a last-to-first win, draws a bit better & has a chance to swoop this lackluster bunch

 

3-Ricardoshilyshally – Arrives with a one for 31 record this season, but draws well in a real soft spot for Team Stratton off a perfect trip upset @ Yonkers

 

8-Always A Look – Somehow rebounded with a perfect trip upset & took a new mark of 1:52.1, look for another quick start to take advantage of his spark of form

 

Race 14

10-JD Camden GB – Fresh off a narrow last @ Plainridge, hasn’t raced in 33 days, draws post ten, but makes his Team Burke debut in a camera-shy finale

 

7-Curbside Pickup – Wasn’t heard from here off a blowout @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & another tough post, but now a fresh claim by Team Bongiorno for his third try off a sick scratch

 

3-Perfect Promises – Capping a one for 34 season, ships back here fresh off a solid showing @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside to play an opportunist role