Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, April 14, & Saturday, April 15, 2023

Wednesday, April 12, 2023

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RACE 1

7-Beachy Boy Hill – Beaten favorite forced wide on the fringe fourth last week, his perfect trip career best of 1:53.1 back on March 10 is certainly nothing to sneeze at

 

5-Takeittotheface – Just one for 11 this season, but no doubt trending right, solid runner up last week, right back to launch midpack with Peter Kleinhans

 

6-Jonah – Used hard & roughed up from post eight in a tough Big M debut, draws a bit better & gathering momentum on the comeback trail

 

RACE 2

2-Jet Zette – Won her first two starts with confident rallies @ Dover Downs, acclimated nicely with a pair here & has a big chance to get back in the win column

 

1-Cyberspace – $500,000 sister to Mission Brief & Tactical Landing made an early miscue in her 3YO debut here, yet did qualify well @ The Meadows for Team Burke

 

3-Princess Caitlyn – Finished a distant fourth behind Jett Zette last week, winless in 14 career starts, but has flashed some late trot in spots & won’t be far off the target

 

RACE 3

1-Hockey Hanover – Hockey was energetic from post eight last week, now move inside, this is a classic drop n pop scenario & looks like the one to reel in

 

9-Horoscope – Was able to turn his game around with a well-rated decisive score from post seven last week, draws farther outside, but remains a live repeat threat for Team Burke

 

8-Bet Big On Blue – Faded to fifth last week & drops back down to the level of the upset rally two starts back, moves outside, yet has been on a nice form spree

 

RACE 4

5-Always B Naughty – Took a couple of weeks off after a sharp narrow loss in a sizzling 1:50.3, poised for her fourth career start & Team Takter has come out firing

 

2-Always A Dancer – She stepped up with a solid second to the fiery Super Girl last week, post two again for a filly with plenty of upside for the always dangerous Per Engblom

 

3-True Blue Hanover – Took a 1:52.4 mark @ The Big M as a 2YO & eligible to crank it up after a needed start with an improved post

 

RACE 5

7-Tisadream N – Stepped up & finished a strong second to the inexplicable Mask On Mask Off last week, 10YO makes only his third start of the season & continues to ramp up

 

1-Always A Panther – Tony Beltrami was able to dictate his own terms from post nine last week, now moves inside & figures to be the main target in this competitive division

 

2-Snoopy Snoop – Twice beaten favorite locked in heavy stretch traffic last week, solid runner up before that & draws inside to trip out & atone

 

RACE 6

2-Village Jade – No factor in her Big M debut, but this is a huge class drop considering the recent company she was keeping @ Yonkers & draws further inside for Team Burke

 

4-Rigginswind – Was used pretty hard to clear in :54.2, rebuffed the favorite One Crooked Leg & took a new mark of 1:50.4, draws well fresh off back-to-back upsets

 

6-Prairie Westerngal – Returns here fresh off a pair of confidence-boosting wins @ Pocono, owns some back class & can fire off the wings for a trip just off the speed

 

RACE 7

4-Cadillac Moon – $400,000 brother to 1:51.4 performer Marseille unleashed a mighty :27.2 rally in his lone qualifier & Marcus Melander makes his 2023 Big M debut with a fine prospect

 

8-Violence – Muscle Hill brother to 2017 Hambo elim winner Enterprise, miscued off a post ten repeat, draws outside, hasn’t raced in a month, but has upside for Team Burke

 

10-Chezactic – More than lived up to his tote hype with a convincing brush & crush in his 3YO debut, stuck outside here, but one of two live prospects for Trond Smedshammer

 

RACE 8

8-Concur – I have no idea how this 10YO rallied from last to hit the board last week, draws another tough post, yet might get the speed target he needs for Nicole Dicostanzo

 

1-Grateful Kiss – Bumped into a 1:50.2 winner fresh off the recent claim, note the narrow loss before that, lean in the win column, but moves inside

 

4-Trente Deo – Conjured up some of his back class & turned the light bulb on in a sparkling 2023 debut & draws well to take another step forward

 

RACE 9

4-Rable – Flashed some late pace from a tough spot last Saturday, gets some class & post relief, retains The Bionic Man & long overdue

 

2-Lets Ryde Girl – 1:52 mark @ The Big M last season when she won a hefty nine for 30, draws inside for her 4YO debut & her lively qualifier indicates readiness

 

8-Dbldelitebrigade – Tailed off in her last two @ Yonkers, classy 9YO lands a tough post here, but knows this track, has speed & Dexter Dunn

 

RACE 10

4-Mon Amour – Dropped to this level & finished a solid second to the heavy favorite Platinum AS last week, draws well again & retains Joe Bongiorno

 

6-Heavens Pic – Twice beaten favorite was a hard-charging runner up again in a commendable Big M debut, improving 4YO on the verge from post six again

 

7-Dribbling Bi – Fresh off a bombs away upset he came right back with a hard-charging repeat last week, now his post is tougher, but remains in career form

 

RACE 11

5-Cruzin Coco – 10YO has been knocking on the door recently, forced wide from a tough spot last week & draws a bit better in a wide-open affair

 

7-Targaryen Empress – Fourth behind Cruzin Coco last week, tougher post, but this lightly-raced 4YO is trending right in field with several possibilities

 

10-Milady Denver A – That wire-to-wire win in Virginia two starts back sparked something, solid third last week, stuck outside, but deserves a long look

 

RACE 12

3-Usurp Hanover – Beaten favorite finished well from a tough spot two weeks ago, draws post three again & has a big chance to snap his 2023 winless skid

 

6-Wow Lester – Left hard from post eight to finish second to heavy favorite Horoscope last week, might be ready to show more off that much-improved effort

 

9-Mats Palema – 4YO pace compromised last week, solid runner up before that, moves outside, but rates contender status in this dartboard field

 

RACE 13

3-Debs Prince Hall – Beaten favorite tried to give them the slip with speed & just missed, sharp gelding on the comeback trail draws inside on the verge

 

1-Golden Cross Stone – Switched to Per Engblom, recovered from an early bobble & rallied to equal her lifetime mark last week & lands the rail to take the class hike

 

5-Amador – Thought he was poised to regain his winning form off a narrow loss, gapped the pocket, then got jammed in late & now drops another notch

 

RACE 14

4-Ferdinand A – Post ten wire-to-wire upset in the GSY 1 two starts back, nonthreatening fourth last out & draws well to be forwardly placed

 

3-Backstreet Lawyer – Classy 8YO ships from Freehold fresh off a mild upset, just missed before that for his new barn & draws inside

 

2-Bruce’s Magic – Finished a solid third two starts back, exits the amateur ranks, draws inside, long overdue & switches to Todd McCarthy

 

Saturday, April 15 Selections

RACE 1

3-Imaginary Line – Took a mark of 1:49.2 @ The Big M last season, has been revving up on the comeback trail @ Pocono & draws well here for Team Bongiorno

 

6-I’m Burlington N – Twice beaten favorite was used way too hard to a :53.4 half & can now rebound in his second start off the claim for a barn that won five in a row with Magritte

 

8-Lachie Maguire N – Very consistent since the claim by Justin Sodano, who also has Better Than Some dropping out claimers, classy 13YO moves outside, but still a threat

 

RACE 2

6-Talkin’ Bout You – His first upset in a monsoon propelled him to a repeat romp last week & if this Muscle Hill gelding continues to progress he stands out

 

5-Kingpin Hanover – Stayed flat, roughed it first over & finished a solid second to Talkin Bout You & continues to gather momentum & confidence for Nifty Norman

 

3-Flaming Roads – Patiently guided to a strong third with a :27.2 last week, draws inside the main concerns for Per Engblom & retains Yonkers’ top pilot

 

RACE 3

4-Girldad – Sweet Lou second foal out of world champion Krispy Apple, Governor’s Cup finalist just missed in an energetic qualifier & draws well in a tricky field for Team Burke

 

7-Lous The Attitude – Made the chalk players sweat out a nose photo while breaking through in his 3YO debut @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, possible contender despite a challenging post

 

2-Gazoo – 4YO making only his fifth career start no doubt deserves strong support fresh off a nose loss as the beaten favorite & in line to stalk n pop from an improved post

 

RACE 4

3-Deliciousstone DK – Returns to The Big M off a miscue @ Pocono, yet was a serious contender against tougher recently, draws inside for Team Burke & poised for his first US win

 

5-Donato Patriot K – Qualified chasing a classier Delayed Hanover before unleashing a 10-1 upset rally & his January win came from post ten, this one’s on the rise for Team Bongiorno

 

10-Archery Seelster – Just one for 24 last year & four for 36, yet a nice rally to hit the board in a much-needed comebacker, stuck outside, but drops a notch for Team Cullipher

 

RACE 5

6-Oakwood Vegas IR – Has reeled off three in a row, sparked by a post ten rally, his latest a two-move career best of 1:51.3, Irish bred pointing skyward for Team Burke

 

8-Van Diesel – Brushed n crushed them for a new mark of 1:52.2 as the favorite, threat to repeat despite a tougher post just inside his stablemate Brushing Up in a competitive final

 

4-JJ Flynn – Classy 10YO blew them away with a first over crush in the slop two starts back, then had an off night from post seven & now draws better to rebound

 

RACE 6

4-Ants Marching – Promptly took charge from post eight & went all the way to easily beat the favorite All Alone in a sparkling 3YO debut, 1:50.1 in the slop, stands out for Team Takter

 

2-Captain Planet – Had the distinct pleasure of chasing stablemate Ants Marching in his solid return on Lasix & draws better to complete the formidable Team Takter 1-2 punch

 

6-Sheer Terror – 1:52.4 performer here at two off a strong comeback last week, qualifiers were very good too, Joe Holloway trainee has pedigree & upside

 

RACE 7

2-Whitecookie – The Cookie sports a mark of 1:49.1 here, huge first over runner up chasing a fiery South Beach Star last week, stays at the reduced level & moves inside for Team Burke

 

4-PJ Lou – Forced wide & finished a bang up second to the red-hot My Pal Joe two starts back, 1:49.3 winner here this season gets class & post relief for Team Bongiorno

 

7-Rockin The Aces – Ventured to Pocono & just missed with an aggressive effort as the beaten favorite, tougher post here, but drops dangerously

 

RACE 8

7-It’s Academic – Was at his best here late last Fall when he finished a close second in the TVG Final, solid qualifier & this Cutler candidate looks ready to resume for Team Burke

 

3-Delayed Hanover – Overcame some tough posts before the recent freshening, sat back with no moves in the comeback tour of the oval & draws well again to bear down this time

 

6-Inaminute Hanover – Model of consistency on the board in six of eight so far this season, finished hard-charging third with sharp trot at both ends last week

 

RACE 9

8-South Beach Star – Thought he sitting on a big one & blasted down the road in 1:49.1, tougher post & back up the class ladder, yet he’s still a fresh threat with speed to spare

 

6-Stonebridge Reef – Steady Chris Ryder trainee fresh off a rousing return to The Big M, second to a blazing My Pal Joe, pacing a back half of :54 flat & stalks plenty of speed in this one

 

5-A Rocknroll Star – Back here on a roll, added Lasix & romped to a new mark of 1:50.4 @ Pocono, guns for five in a row & might take no prisoners

 

RACE 10

6-Workin Ona Mystery – Classy millionaire handled conservatively in a much-needed comeback, so now the gloves may come off in his second start off the bench for Team Burke

 

9-Southwind Gendry – Convincing winner of the feature back-to-back for Team Burke, his latest from post eight in the slop, one to beat despite another outside assignment

 

8-Burnham Boy N – Has been knocking on the door as the solid runner up in his last two here, just missed with a furious rally last week & gate speed puts him in play again

 

RACE 11

3-Like A Shadow – Stormed home with a back half of :54.1 to just miss in an eye-catching Big M debut despite missing a month, hikes up in class, but draws much better for his new barn

 

4-Always B Billy – Finally gets away from a streaking Oakwood Vegas IR, draws inside again & will be looking to employ his stalking strategy in a wide-open field

 

9-Chief Of Staff – Was caught first over against the raging Tam Major A last week, took a mark of 1:52 in the slop before that & looms large despite an outside draw

 

RACE 12

5-Eddard Hanover – Flashed a sneaky :26.4 to land on the fringe last week, back with a midpack stalking spot off that acclimating mile & has plenty of back class to draw upon

 

3-Exotic Sand – Rallied for his third straight score & took a new mark of 1:51.4 last week, draws inside again & looks for another speedy set up in this wildly competitive final

 

1-Its Showtime – Took full advantage stealing a soft pace & held on for the mild upset last week, will be gunning again from the rail, which might secure him an ideal trip

 

RACE 13

4-As Always – Beaten favorite came to life with an inspiring third last week, now hits rock bottom & draws inside again to make his third start since changing barns

 

3-Midnight Day – 0 for 12 this season & struggling against tougher TM competition, draws inside to work out a patient stalking trip & possibly produce a skid snapper

 

5-JK’s On The Move – Tried to close from an impossible spot last week, needed to make the mile track adjustment & launches midpack for the drop to the basement condition

 

RACE 14

6-American Jazz – Kicked home in a much-improved :27.3 to hit the board last week, makes her fourth start since the early-March sick scratch & could surprise this bunch

 

3-Unstoppable Hall – Has been on a roll in her last four & moves inside off two perfect trip wins, her latest a new mark of 1:53.2 with The Bionic Man & poised to step up further

 

10-Dragon’s Revenge – New purchase by Peter Kleinhans has been hot @ The Meadows, debuts here for Team Bongiorno, slammed with post ten, 23-day layoff, might not matter