Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, April 19, & Saturday, April 20, 2024

Wednesday, April 17, 2024

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Race 1

2-Stolen Art – One for his last 52 & winless this season, yet flashed a bit more late life to grab a minor share last week, lands post two again & long overdue

 

6-In Nevada N – Somehow manage to conjure up significantly more late pace to just miss last week, so has something positive to build on

 

4-Harry Hanover – Was hinting, took serious tote action & got bottled up in stretch traffic last week, draws post four again in a field that is a combined two for 87 this season

 

Race 2

1-Barrier – Took a mark of 1:51 here back in early December, then plagued by sick scratches, now drops ominously off a miscue comeback @ Yonkers & lands the rail

 

3-Better Than Some – Was not only able to live up to the 4-5 tote hype, but turn things completely around with a wire-to-wire last week & draws inside again to follow up

 

2-Pinebushdragonroll – Rebounded from a rare miscue with a narrow loss to Better Than Some last week & gets post two again to possibly turn the tables

 

Race 3

3-Rollinwitdaponmyzzz – Did some damage in the MADC series, almost went all the way two starts back & draws well after getting pace compromised/outsprinted last week

 

6-Transfer The Era – Solid runner up three starts back, bounced back with a better finish for minor spoils last week & worthy of consideration in this wide-open affair

 

7-Xmarxthespot – Hasn’t won in a long time, but raced better after missing a couple of weeks, draws outside, yet drops to the TM 71 level

 

Race 4

4-Dynomites Peak – Added Todd McCarthy & was driven perfectly to a much-improved second last week & this dangerous stalker draws better

 

7-Just a Rocket Man – Stole a pedestrian :57 half & reeled off his third straight in TM Series sweep & rates the class hike in a toss up field

 

5-Skyway Billy – 12YO was significantly more effective with a solid rally to hit the board last week & plays a mid-pack stalking roll again

 

Race 5

5-Tidal Shark – This Shark unleashed a furious rally from way back to hit the board as the beaten favorite & looks to build on that vastly-improved effort

 

2-Atta Boy Dan – Beaten favorite left in the wake of a runaway winner, amazing 15YO has been on a roll, took a couple of off to regroup & draws inside again

 

6-Furious Beach – Handicapping Volume 1 doesn’t explain last week’s last-to-first upset, but now he can repeat in a field that is a combined three for 88 this season

 

Race 6

1-Shake It Twice – Beaten favorite/solid runner up to Windsun Mojito last week, consistent mare has been knocking on the door & lands the rail in a tight contest

 

5-Windsun Mojoito – Wow, what a sudden turnaround wire-to-wire upset last week for Team Stratton, so logically look for her to be part of the speed equation again

 

7-Purameri – Shifted her act to The Big M & promptly tripped out to a game score, holding off Abuelita Hanover, expect her to get aggressive again despite a tougher post

 

Race 7

6-What’s The Word – Took advantage of a class drop, flashed speed & followed a well-rated Pencils Down & now makes his key third start off the bench

 

4-Pencils Down – Fresh off a dominant score from the same post as the heavy favorite & logically looms large again for Team Cullipher

 

5-Oh Lina – Returns to The Big M off a sharp rally & nose loss @ Freehold, faced tougher here recently & sets up a mid-pack stalking strategy

 

Race 8

3-Rock Jagger – Exits a TM Series & drops into a real soft division of the MADC Series & draws inside with a big chance to employ his stalk n pop strategy

 

7-Kissinbythebeaches – Came up empty off the sick scratch & month away, draws a tougher post, but has license to show more this time around in a weak division

 

2-Sand Sniper – Took a much-needed post seven tour of the oval after missing a month, yet note the solid second from the rail before that & lands post two tonight

 

Race 9

6-Instagram Model – Showed no interest in her 2024 comeback, but off that tightener this NYSS champion gets a double class drop

 

5-Duly Resolved – Raced like a longshot against tougher company last week & drops again to stalk the speed for Team Cullipher

 

9-JL Cruze – The King was much better chasing the standout Interview Fra A last week, moves outside, yet could be building momentum

 

Race 10

6-Heavens Showgirl A – Has been tangling with tougher @ Yonkers & this is a prime class drop scenario for a high percentage barn

 

4-Miss Limelight N – Has been gathering momentum on the comeback trail for Team Cullipher, draws post four again & drops dangerously

 

1-Super Girl – Improving 4YO on the rail fresh off another solid second & narrow loss two weeks ago & note her mark of 1:50.3 @ The Big M last season

 

Race 11

5-Charming Vixen – Flashed some late life from a tough spot in her switch to The Big M last week & nice work against comparable claimers @ Yonkers before that

 

2-Queen Sun Ryser – Transitioned to The Big M, got off to a quick start & finished a solid third in Leg 1 & draws better to build on that positive outing

 

1-Corsini A – Still can’t explain her post nine upset two starts back, outsprinted in Leg 1 last week & gets a chance to redeem herself from the rail in a wide-open division

 

Race 12

5-Lindy’s Coyotito – Lightly-raced Chapter Seven 3YO tasted some stakes experience as a freshman & uncorked a standout qualifier for Team Orange Crush

 

7-Devious Mojito AS – Has been pace/trip compromised since winning his 3YO debut, bounced back to rally & hit the board last out & his barn can do no wrong

 

2-Chapalonia – Promising 3YO filly just missed in a Breeders Crown elimination last year, hampered by slow fractions in her Big M qualifier & draws inside with plenty of upside

 

Race 13

5-Miss Majesty – Lightly-raced 4YO ships in fresh off the mile of her life @ Pocono & she goes for six in a row for the white-hot Nik Drennan barn

 

1-Anna’s Wish – Anna pulled off the class drop n pop & equaled her lifetime mark of 1:52 in emphatic style last week & moves inside for the class hike

 

4-Sweetest Belle – Pace & trip compromised from post seven @ The Hilltop & gets further class & post relief here for Team Cullipher

 

Race 14

3-Fashion Cantab – Dropped back to this level & came up with a vastly-improved third behind Fashion Forever & draws well for his fourth start off a sick scratch

 

2-Fashion Forever – 9YO turned it around big time with a gritty uncovered second last week & draws farther inside to build on that sharper mile

 

4-Shinkansen – Known for his early speed & draws post four again to set up a stalking trip in wide-open division

 

Selections for Saturday, April 20

Race 1

2-Baileys Rock N – Just one for his last 29 & winless this season, but knocking on the door with close seconds in his last two, his latest a :26.4 in a TM Final & draws inside again

 

3-Warrawee Yankee – Has been one of the hot horses in this series lately, got overly aggressive & faded into the strong winds last week & finally draws inside for Mark Silva

 

9-Marty Monkhouser A – Suddenly posted a barn change blowout, running up the score for Victoria Stratton’s first Big M win & now a mystery off a sick scratch from post nine

 

Race 2

5-Ferragamo Hanover – 4YO on a nice form spree, romped to upset a TM Final in a career best 1:52.1 two starts back & just missed with a game grind last week

 

6-Shipsaway – Showed gate speed for a smooth trip & took third behind Farragamo in a commendable acclimating mile & now makes his second start for Rob Harmon

 

2-Posh On the Beach A – Just one for his last 50 & winless this season, but was tangling with tougher claimers before the recent sick scratch & moves inside off a tightening trip

 

Race 3

4-Chucky Hanover – Has missed three weeks off a sick scratch, but had a couple of tighteners against tough claimers & lands a softer spot for Team Cullipher

 

3-No Words – Lightly-raced 4YO has been steady, solid runner up to a big favorite Gandolf The Black last Friday & lands post three again to set up another stalking trip

 

1-Always B Billy – Billy has been gradually ramping up his game on the comeback trail & looks to step up further fresh off a game speed try & narrow loss with the rail in a tricky puzzler

 

Race 4

2-Bestfriend Volo – Came to form in Kentucky late in his 3YO season, nice qualifier, then chased a track record & finds a cozy spot for the blazing Team Takter

 

3-Celebrity Bambino – Canadian Trotting Classic & Hambo elimination winner 1:50.4, got it together in his second qualifier on Lasix & looks ready to roll for Team Burke

 

4-Dire Straights – Team Melander pupil took a mark of 1:51.4 in his lone 3YO win, just missed in the Matron & likely needs his comebacker facing a pair of formidable foes

 

Race 5

2-American Chrome – Gave it a gallant try on the lead & held third off the sick scratch & draws inside again to build on that excellent acclimating mile

 

4-Mariner Seelster – 15YO millionaire warhorse a beaten favorite on the engine in his last two, lands post four again & will likely be the one to track down again

 

8-Gazoo – Just two for 27 & winless this season, but gathering steam by hitting the board in his last two & banks on the right set up from a tougher post

 

Race 6

2-Chapercraz – Beaten favorite just missed to his impressive stablemate Oh Look Magic & this classy fresh threat gets another chance to stalk n pop for Team Burke

 

1-Lexus Kody – Rebounded off a late miscue with a dazzling track record of 1:50 from post nine, now has the rail after three weeks off to lead an imposing Team Burke 1-2 punch

 

6-Delayed Hanover – Everybody saw how much he perked up to finish second to a dominant Outside The Fire last week & could leave again to be part of the speed equation

 

Race 7

2-Good Rockin – Flashed late life after missing six weeks, gets another shot at this bottom condition, fifth start back on Lasix since the sick scratch, moves inside & keeps The Money Man

 

6-Trente Deo – Added Yannick Gingras, fired out & was right there a close third in the photo last week, now drops two more notches & long overdue

 

3-Heza Real Diamond – Beaten favorite finally broke out of his stagnant form with a solid third to Mindtrip, draws inside that rival & remains at this basement condition

 

Race 8

3-Gentlemanjim II IE – 10YO unleashed a crushing upset from post seven two starts back, followed up with a perfect trip repeat @ Pocono & draws inside back @ The Big M

 

4-Franco Totem N – 11YO quite familiar with this oval, looking to rebound off clunker @ Pocono, sharp in his previous three @ Dover Downs & draws well for Andrew McCarthy

 

7-Ynotthishos – Stepped up to wire this kind & equaled his lifetime mark of 1:52.1 in a well-rated repeat last week, yet not sure if Tyler Miller can steal another from a more demanding post

 

Race 9

5-Gandolf The Black – Stepped up with an emphatic repeat as the heavy favorite, back-to-back 1:51.1 marks & this 4YO is confidently heading in the right direction

 

7-Binge On Yankee – This 4YO has quickly caught fire on the comeback trail for Team Burke, wheeled right back with a post nine upset in 1:49.2 again & tough to go against

 

1-Just Bet It All – Promising 4YO launches his season comeback from the rail, extra sharp in his second qualifier & looks ready to strike fresh off the hop for Per Engblom

 

Race 10

5-Southwind Gendry – Off since late November, won the 2023 Senditin in a track record 1:47.2 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & was hot here when he came back last Spring for Team Burke

 

7-American Dealer N – Made a triumphant return to The Big M with a powerhouse wire-to-wire last week & will likely be tough to overhaul if he can seize control again

 

3-Maximus Miki – Steady 5YO hasn’t missed the board in six starts this season & draws better off a solid acclimating mile chasing a dominant favorite in Admiral Hill

 

Race 11

3-Crush Kill Destroy – Won both qualifiers before offering a serious late bid in his 3YO debut, rewarded with an improved post & looms large for Per Engblom

 

1-Rush In – Beaten chalk trying to live up to his devastating debut, patiently handled to a narrow loss & has a chance to stalk closer & flaunt his raw talent from the rail

 

7-Swimwiththecurrent – Credit Tim Tetrick with more aggressive handling & this 3YO really stepped up to shock them in only his second career start for Team Burke

 

Race 12

5-Mad Max Hanover – Beaten favorite no factor in two starts this season, this three-time 1:47.4 performer @ The Big M & 2022 Pace runner up drops again, yet will have to earn it

 

4-Stonebridge Reef – Was forced to grind uncovered from post eight & still held third in a Play Meadowlands Final last week & draws better while on the verge

 

10-Brutallyhandsome A – Steady customer for Team Stratton has beaten better this season, slammed with post ten, but gets a double dose of class relief

 

Race 13

8-Hunt For Cash – Fresh off a big bounce-back drop n pop, utilizing his gate speed & tripped out to pay off the chalk players last week & attempts similar from a more demanding post eight

 

6-Concur – Just one for 14 this season, but very consistent 11YO, stepped up off a solid win to be a strong runner up to Hunt For Cash & could turn the tables

 

3-Beach Boogie – Solid third to Hunt For Cash in a commendable acclimating mile, draws inside that rival, keeps Yannick Gingras & has a chance to break his 2024 goose egg

 

Race 14

5-Braeview Bondi A – 10YO uncorked a noteworthy wake up effort to just miss with a :26.3 last week & now makes his third start off a sick scratch for a hot combo

 

1-River Ness – Took three starts since the Per Engblom acquisition to regain winning form last week & looks to be on his way back up the class ladder from the rail

 

2-Commanding Officer – Flashed a :26.2 from post ten last week, gets class & post relief & logically rates top contender status for Team Burke in a camera-shy finale