Ken Warkentin Selections for December 9 & 10

Wednesday, December 7, 2022

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Selections for Friday, December 9

RACE 1

1-Pictonian Thunder – Pops back into the GSY 1 Series off a couple of decent efforts against TM 74 competition, finished well to grab the show last Thursday & draws better to trip out

 

9-Keystonefightnight – Thought he had a big shot dropping out of N/W 5 company @ Pocono, Joe Lee tried him on the lead & held second, moves outside, but rates highly off that excellent acclimating mile

 

4-Miss U Big Mike – Actually got involved late, was forced wide & held for minor spoils, now makes his third start off a recent sick scratch & draws inside again

 

RACE 2

8-Rock A Bye Lindy – 1:52.3 performer in Lexington arrives on a form spree, pace compromised & nosed out as the heavy favorite @ Plainridge, tough draw, but this is a filly with upside

 

2-Primadonna Deo – Sports a nifty 1:52 mark @ The Big M, solid runner in the slop last Saturday after missing a month, draws inside again & another smooth trip is likely

 

7-Highgate – Dipped to N/W 4 & tripped out to a new mark two starts back @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, then came right back with a well-rated wire-to-wire, threat despite post seven here

 

RACE 3

1-Sweet Phenomena – Sweet Lou 2YO fourth foul from millionaire Omen Hanover absolutely crushed them fresh off the bench & lands the rail again facing another field of question marks

 

2-Always B Somewhere – Nifty Norman trainee hasn’t missed the board in five starts this season, lightly-raced Always B Miki filly draws inside to track the favorite

 

4-Jagged Little Pill – Only one for 35 in 2022, but has been knocking on the door @ Pocono recently, draws well here & figures to be forwardly placed

 

RACE 4

4-Rock King Deo – Finished well from an impossible spot last week, benefited from that acclimating mile, draws better, stays @ TM 74 & sports a solid record this season

 

6-Chief Of Staff – Rallied to beat these convincingly as the favorite two starts back, drops back down off a solid third remains a sharp prospect

 

3-Its Showtime – Came out guns blazing despite three months off, carved out stern fractions in the mud & held second, now has license to show more from an improved post

 

RACE 5

10-Capozzo – 11YO classmaster gets relief from much saltier TM competition, stuck outside here, but a blastoff puts him in play for The Judge Tony Beltrami

 

4-Juxta Cowgirl – Consistently struggling against tougher company elsewhere & this is a much softer spot for her to spark something

 

1-MV OK Palacio BR – Lands the rail after some needed freshening, qualified well against some superior foes & can set up his familiar big late move within closer striking range

 

RACE 6

5-For Chip’s Sake – Former Batavia regular fooled more than a few with a rousing new lifetime mark for her new barn fresh from a three-month layoff, midpack again to prove it was no fluke

 

4-Best Keepsake – 1:51.1 performer @ Mohawk this season couldn’t handle the class hike last week, went all the way against these before that & draws well to rebound

 

3-Ooh Real Good – Parlayed a strong second into a game wire-to-wire as the favorite last Thursday, draws inside again for her third start off a sick scratch

 

RACE 7

2-Pappy Go Go – Pace & trip compromised & still finished a solid second last Thursday, bumps up a notch, but that class drop rejuvenated him & he draws inside again

 

7-Sumatra – Came out of a shuffle to finish a crisp second in :27.4 last week, just one for 21 this season & demanding draw here, but owns plenty of back class

 

5-Blogmaster – Worked pretty hard uncovered to gain a late lead & held third in a strong acclimating effort, gets another shot at this reduced level with Yannick Gingras

 

RACE 8

4-Starlitsimple Rig – Zipped out from post eight & faded to seventh in her Big M debut, needed that one, draws much better in a dartboard field & was on a nice roll @ Vernon Downs

 

8-Somthngaboutmary N – Just three for 33 this season, yet she’s been competitive with $10,000 claimers @ Harrah’s Philadelphia recently, draws outside, but capable of blasting off the wings

 

7-Skateboard Chic – Here’s a three for 35 in 2022 prospect, classy 10YO was racing better in her last few @ Vernon Downs before a shuffled fifth here into strong headwinds

 

RACE 9

7-Letsgotobrazil A – Twice beaten favorite was forced wide & outsprinted after a game second & romped to a new mark before that, more challenging post, but remains a sharp item

 

6-Boiling Oar – Reverted to an off-the-pace strategy & hustled home for the deuce @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, chance to flaunt his back class in his key third start off the bench

 

2-Texas Miki – 1:51 Mohawk performer this season snapped a losing skid with a post seven trip out two starts back, stung early with a :26.4 last week & now draws better

 

RACE 10

1-Somegirlsomewhere A – Tripped out to exploit a soft spot in her US debut on Lasix, looks like she can handle the class hike, while back on the rail for Team Bongiorno

 

4-I Love Ongait – Many jumped on board & she steamrolled to a gallant repeat in a sparkling Big M debut last week & draws a wee bit better while brimming with confidence

 

5-Sweet Charlie – Finished a hard-charging second to I Love Ongait after reeling off three in a row @ Plainridge, sharp filly needed that acclimating trip & remains on a roll

 

RACE 11

1-Lets Ryde Girl – Driven confidently to a new mark of 1:52 wire-to-wire from post eight, now moves inside & likely more than capable of the step up in a field of question marks

 

7-Rable – Give her a lot of points for that sterling rally to hit the board in :26.4, her two for 35 record this season is a knock, plus post seven again, but the right set up makes her a threat

 

6-Bettors Heart N – 9YO veteran horse-for-the-course gets some needed class relief, but 21 days on the sidelines & sick scratch make her tough to gauge

 

RACE 12

4-Mcmatters – That wasn’t a bad effort from post nine in his return to The Big M, now he gets class & post relief against several that can be easily dismissed from contention

 

7-Marquis Volo – Two for 39 this season, yet go back to those back-to-back sharp rallies for second in mid-November & that could make him a contender in this headscratcher

 

2-Bet Big On Blue – Can’t discount his record @ Vernon Downs where he dominated two starts back & draws better tonight off a needed acclimating mile

 

RACE 13

1-Exploit – Owns a mark of 1:50 @ Pocono, was facing much tougher claimers @ Hoosier Park, has taken a few starts to adjust to his new barn & lands in a real soft spot here

 

5-Rifleman – Only three for 40 this season, but that’s the general them of this bunch, got a better result last Saturday & now gets his third straight class drop

 

6-Our Majordan A – 10YO landed on the edges in his last two, now hits the rock bottom condition level, draws a bit better & he’s long overdue

 

RACE 14

5-One More Try – Just missed with a well-driven effort last Thursday, while pacing a strong back half, lands midpack here to set up another fierce rally & she’s sharper than most in this affair

 

6-Milleniums Girl – Fresh off an overdue win @ Vernon Downs she rallied to hit the board into strong headwinds, that makes her a solid contender in a wide-open finale

 

2-Rhyme N Roll – One for 25 this season, but gunned home for the deuce with speed @ both ends, that was a superb acclimating mile & she draws better to crank it up further

 

Selections for December 10

RACE 1

3-Sunny And Eighty – Raced deceptively better in the slop in his second start here for Nik Drennan & now draws inside a vulnerable field after those acclimating miles

 

2-Safesound Hanover – Took a few starts for Lasix to kick in & he stormed home in the slop to light up the board for The Money Man & lands inside again to prove it was no fluke

 

7-Highrthananeagle A – Was the beaten favorite when he did not finish in his latest start here, regrouped with a decent qualifier & could surprise if Team Harmon has him right

 

RACE 2

2-Skyway Fireball – Romped to his ninth win of the year as a well-driven Vinnie Ginsberg longshot special, draws inside again & several of his rivals can be safely eliminated in this one

 

6-Rancousy – His three for 37 record this season is a major knock, but he returns to The Big M at a cheaper claiming level, plus the 11YO warhorse is capable of firing off the wings

 

1-Night Explorer – Clearly had an off night when he faded badly in his Big M debut, but his previous two @ Vernon Downs were sharp & he drops into a wide-open bottom claimer

 

RACE 3

4-Incommunicado – 1:51.1 performer here this season, twice a Yonkers Open winner this Fall, ramping up his game & owns a big late kick when Team Svanstedt have him on his toes

 

2-Ahundreddollarbill – Asserted himself & took control to go all the way as the heavy favorite last week & now this classy 1:50.2 winner here this season draws better for Team Alagna

 

3-Lindy The Great – $1.5 million winner & 2021 Maple Leaf Trot upsetter has come back winning three of his last five this Fall & looms large for Team Orange Crush

 

RACE 4

5-Whimsical Journey – 3YO has won three of his last four at the TM 74 level & took a mark of 1:50.4 in the process & another sharp rally paid off the chalk last week for a hot new barn

 

2-Shadow Phantasy N – Not often you’ll see one return from a year off & promptly take a new mark in the slop as the heavy favorite, now draws better with a confidence-booster to build on

 

1-Born Desire – Forced wide & settled for a check in a much-needed transition to the mile track here & the rail gives him a chance to play a stalking opportunist role in a very tricky puzzle

 

RACE 5

6-Romantic Warrior – 3YO has found his best stride this Fall for Per Engblom, kicked home with sharp late trot for a new mark last week, hence a logical threat to repeat

 

2-INXS – Has bounced back with two wins in his last three starts since the recent sick scratch, draws inside again, retains Dexter Dunn & looms as a serious stalking threat

 

9-Four Under Par – Completes the Per Engblom 1-2 punch despite getting slammed with a double class hike & post nine, she comes off a rousing score as the even money favorite

 

RACE 6

1-Stonebridge Reef – 1:50.1 performer @ The Big M this season regaining his form with a pair of sharp seconds, finally draws inside & can stalk the expected speed in this competitive affair

 

7-American Classic – Lightly-raced 3YO steamrolled first over to make it two-for-two on Lasix since the Mark Silva acquisition, faces a stiffer task, but has plenty of upside

 

2-Big Chic Magnet – 4YO added Lasix & shook loose late for the minor upset in the slop & this sub 1:50 performer here draws better off that rejuvenating mile for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 7

5-Adam Crocker A – Emerged from that late October sick scratch winning back-to-back before an early miscue, then used hard in the slop, can rebound with some class & post relief

 

8-Baileys Rock N – Stormed home for the huge upset in the slop last week, lands in a tougher spot, but unlike several in here he has a noteworthy form spree going for him

 

3-Prairie Panther – Beaten favorite had trouble making up much ground in the slop last week, give him that acclimating mile, draws inside again & boasts 15 wins this season

 

RACE 8

3-Speedy Dominic A – Beaten favorite grabbed a late lead & faded to third in the slop, now drops a notch, also gets an improved post & has been knocking on the door for Team Bongiorno

 

4-Rockin the Aces – Steady Big M horse-for-the-course squandered a tailor made trip as the beaten favorite, same reduced level & draws better while closing out another long season

 

1-Belmont Royale N – Mystery New Zealand import qualified with a :25.4 in the slop from the rail, watch Duke Of Cornwall N in Race 6 to gauge this Nifty Norman trainee accordingly

 

RACE 9

8-Solid Gold N – 8YO missed a lot of time, yet came back with a gutsy recent win @ Dover Downs, draws outside here, but might have enough momentum to pay off his Turnpike tolls

 

3-Win Place’N Show – 4YO has posted two straight upsets with Dexter Dunn against softer TM stock, draws inside again for the step up & continues to improve for Team Harmon

 

9-A Bettor Beach – Sub 1:50 performer here last year made a smooth transition from Pocono with a patient Joe Bongiorno cover trip, slammed with another outside post, but remains sharp

 

RACE 10

3-South Beach Star – Consistent 4YO has thrived @ The Big M, twice beaten favorite off the recent sick scratch & has a chance to atone with another aggressive effort from post three

 

2-Ocean Ridge – Came right back to repeat with game upset in the slop with Dexter Dunn, draws inside for the class hike, yet several of his opponents are in the same boat in this one

 

5-Tito Rocks – Wow, Tito really bounced back from a clunker here with an emphatic wire-to-wire in the slop @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & deserves a long look despite moving up

 

RACE 11

2-High Baller – 1:50 performer here this season caught fire recently, pace compromised from post seven last week & now draws better while strong in the win column

 

6-Paternity Suit A – Fast-closing 9YO has sharpened his sword with back-to-back on-the-board finishes & he can put one across with the right pace & trip set up

 

4-Mindtrip – Sub 1:50 Big M horse-for-the-course got parked from post nine in a rude return to NJ, draws much better to rebound as one of eight coming out of the same race last Friday

 

RACE 12

4-Stride The Hill – Took no prisoners going all the way in a sharp sloppy track debut for his new trainer Nik Drennan, former stakes playing 3YO draws better while rejuvenating his career

 

7-Dee’s Red Delicious – 4YO has taken advantage of some class relief with back-to-back much-improved seconds, a close runner up to Ahundreddollarbill last Friday can leave off the wings

 

1-Toccoa Falls – Razor sharp & on the rise for Trainer of the Week Per Engblom, moves inside fresh off a narrow loss & has piled up nine wins this season

 

RACE 13

3-Instantaneous – Was on a form spree recently, which included a new mark of 1:52.4 at the TM 74 level, returns to the Big M, reunited with Todd McCarthy to face a field begging to be beaten

 

7-Blue Ocean – The Ocean fired hard, got shuffled & jammed up & shook lose late for the deuce, that was a strong acclimating mile, a similar effort makes him a player

 

5-Joint Account – 3YO came out of a shuffle with some late pace in his Big M debut, figures to benefit from that experience & banks on some speed to shoot at in a stalking role again

 

RACE 14

6-Southport Beach – Was used way too hard in the slop last week, claimed by Team Bongiorno & protected in a lesser condition event, yet faces some sharp items to his inside

 

3-Truffle Dog – Gunned out & caught in a real bad shuffle last week, 1:49.2 performer here this season draws better, retains Dexter Dunn & remains at a reduced level for Team Cullipher

 

2-Collina Kay Jay A – The other Team Bongiorno bullet in here miscued in the slop in his second US start, now drops into a softer spot, draws inside & adds Lasix