Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, April 21, 2023

Wednesday, April 19, 2023

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RACE 1

5-Captain’s Reign – 0 for 12 this season, but draws better off a no-chance trip, a close second three starts back & that effort would make him a serious threat in this wide-open division

 

4-Father Fred – Made a nice adjustment to the Big M mile track with an all-out third last week & draws inside again for Yogi Sheridan, who scored a MADC 1 upset last week

 

7-Pictonian Thunder – Not much luck here earlier this season, yet seems to be trending right @ Pocono for Team Harmon & was strong in the win column last year

 

RACE 2

6-Herodotus – Had a taste of stakes action at two, his two qualifiers were sharp back on Lasix & logically deserves strong attention for Team Burke

 

5-Jaqen H’Ghar – Suffered two straight nose losses against older foes @ Pocono last Fall, chased superior company in his lone qualifier as Team Svanstedt returns with a 1-2 punch

 

2-Saint Louie – Counts millionaire Emoticon Hanover as one of his siblings, finished well behind Herodotus in his lone qualifier & draws well to flaunt his potential for Team Svandstedt

 

RACE 3

3-The Turning Point – Lightly-raced 4YO ramping up on Lasix, beaten favorite finished a solid second from post nine & stands out with The Bionic Man from an improved post

 

2-Milady Denver A – Failed to get involved from post ten last week, a solid third from post two before that, she’s been better recently & retains Todd McCarthy

 

6-Always B Royalty – Saw her four-race winning streak snapped when she ventured from Monticello to Yonkers, not sure where she belongs here, but she’s worth a long look

 

RACE 4

2-Bella Macchiato – Parlayed an SRF wire-to-wire upset over Sheer Faith into another win in the Weiss Series @ Pocono & returns with a better post for the raging Team Takter

 

4-The Empress Ice – Took a couple of starts before she was ready to bear down & go all the way for Nifty Norman & continues to tap into her fine pedigree

 

6-Sheer Faith – Romped in her first two starts this season, just missed to Bella Macchiato & then second to a well-rated The Empress Ice, no doubt a sharp item for Per Engblom

 

RACE 5

2-Rockabilly Charm – Just one for 14 this season, but back from Freehold, was tackling much tougher here & draws inside to stalk n pop for The Judge Tony Beltrami

 

1-Jonah – Added Anthony Verruso & lived up to the tote hype with a rock solid wire-to-wire last week for a barn that went two-for-two & rewarded with a better draw

 

5-Takeittotheface – Beaten favorite in two of his last three shook loose late with a nifty :27 flat chasing Jonah last week & remains a serious threat

 

RACE 6

4-Always B Naughty – Fully regrouped from a narrow loss to Super Girl with a resounding career best of 1:51.1 last week & poised for a rematch

 

5-Super Girl – She upset Always B Naughty with a perfect trip in a sparkling 1:50.3, then brushed n crushed two weeks ago & hopes to stalk n pop her rival again

 

1-Always A Dancer – Twice left in the wake of Super Girl & was clearly second best behind Always N Naughty & plays the opportunist role from the rail

 

RACE 7

6-Wily Wally – Finished an improved third behind Massive Matter last week, regaining form on the comeback trail & gets another shot at this reduced level for Per Engblom

 

7-Massive Matter – Stayed flat & woke up with a new lifetime mark of 1:54.4 two starts back, then second to a dominant Amador last week, tougher post, but sharp right now

 

5-Hockey Hanover – Hockey skated away with an easy score from the rail a notch below this & can use that confidence builder to carve out a repeat

 

RACE 8

1-Tony’s Mom – Improving 4YO switched to Per Engblom & has sparked her form with a solid second, then a perfect trip win @ Yonkers, lands the rail & gets class relief

 

5-Dbldelitebrigade N – Fresh off an excellent re-acclimating mile, just missed with sharp pace at both ends last week & was facing tougher @ Yonkers

 

3-Firstup – Scored an impressive first up 1:51.4 in her Big M debut, then raced well against tougher company, draws inside again to set up a stalking trip

 

RACE 9

5-Grateful Kiss – Recent claim & beaten favorite just missed in 1:51.4 on April 1, roughed up last week & has a chance to rebound with a midpack launch, he’s two for his last 45

 

3-Concur – Last week’s Price Play paid the price for another slow start from post eight, yet was flying late again for Nicole Dicostanzo & now moves inside to stalk within closer range

 

4-Claytons Bettor N – Hooked up in duel with Grateful Kiss & battled right to the wire, game winner before that draws better, yet he’s just three for his last 52

 

RACE 10

1-Early Action – Governor’s Cup winner at two, winless as a major stakes player last year, terrific qualifiers & much needed trip under him & moves inside to bear down

 

4-All About The Hunt – Empire Breeders Classic & Bluegrass winner in 1:49 looks poised for his 4YO debut fresh off lively second qualifier for Team Burke

 

6-Stonebridge Reef – Consistent Chris Ryder just missed to a streaking A Rocknroll Star, second to a raging My Pal Joe before that & logically looms large

 

RACE 11

1-Heckraiser Hanover – Liked the way he kicked home to hit the board in a much-improved effort last week, draws the rail in a wide-open field & could be on the verge

 

3-Golden Cross Stone – Recovered & romped to equal his lifetime mark in his first start for Per Engblom, drops back down off another gate break & draws inside after further tinkering

 

6-Wow Lester – Parlayed a solid second into a wire-to-wire score as the heavy favorite, this is a tad tougher, but Lester is brimming with confidence

 

RACE 12

5-Eddard Hanover – Thought he was sitting on a winning effort last Saturday & was out of striking range, this simply looks like a classic drop n pop scenario

 

2-St Lads Beat It – Excuses galore recently, twice beaten favorite elsewhere returns in a much softer spot & reunited with Andrew McCarthy

 

3-Sports Advisor – Throw out his last two @ Yonkers, returns to The Big M at a competitive level with an inside post & chance to snap his 0 for 11 this season

 

RACE 13

2-Hold Me Closer – Almost paid off with a patient trip from the rail last week, an excellent 3YO debut for this lightly-raced filly & she draws inside again

 

5-Usurp Hanover – Stepped it up with a solid rally for third despite being pace compromised last week & might be close to snapping his 0 for 12 this season

 

8-Boaster Coaster – Scored a modest win against these in late March, flashed some late trot closing from tenth last week, stuck outside, yet one to watch in the late stages

 

RACE 14

1-Lets Ryde Girl – Nine-time winner last year with a mark of 1:52 here makes her second start off the bench, drops a notch & lands the rail

 

2-Rocknroll Nella – Forced to make a wide rally from a tough spot & hit the ticket with a :26.1 & now moves inside off that noteworthy acclimating mile

 

4-Shezafreaklikeme – Dips another notch after finishing well in overmatched situations, she beat better in late February & draws an improved post

 

Selections for Saturday, April 22, 2023

RACE 1

7-Tip Top Cat – Metro elimination winner & Breeders Crown finalist qualified with a couple of top prospects in Fulton & Voukefalas for Team Burke & primed for his 3YO debut

 

3-Goldin Greatness – Huntsville gelding won a Kindergarten division in 1:52.1, looks ready off a solid qualifier for Chris Ryder & draws inside the main concerns

 

4-Southwind Sambucca – Won his 3YO comebacker in more mature/confident style @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & continues to ramp it up here from another inside post

 

RACE 2

2-Talkin’ Bout You – Mud-lovin gelding romped in his first two starts this season, then suffered a gallant loss to a surprisingly good Collector S in the slop & now draws better

 

4-Collector S – Diamond Creek homebred more than behaved, he astounded with a sparkling upset over Talkin’ Bout You in his lone awaited career debut in the slop for Team Melander

 

3-Pretty Dame Speedy – After winning his 3YO debut in 1:54.4 he broke in his next two, bounced back with a solid third last week & draws well for Dexter Dunn & Nifty Norman

 

RACE 3

5-Niki Hill – 2YO Dan Patch Award winner returns from a sophomore season cut short due to injury, 1:48.4 performer looked awesome winning her second qualifier with a :25.3 for Chris Ryder

 

6-Treacherous Dragon – Dan Patch Award winner, Breeders Crown & Jugette champion nailed Niki Hill with a perfect trip qualifier & no doubt she’s ready to renew the rivalry for Team Takter

 

4-Sweet Treasure – Nosed out in the Shady Daisy & third to her stablemate in the Jugette, fresh off a sharp score & faces a serious test against the top two

 

RACE 4

5-Good Rockin – 0 for ten this season, but has been knocking on the door chasing Tam Major A in his last two, hard-charging runner up last week gets a barn change & stalks from midpack

 

8-Tam Major A – Red-hot item was reclaimed by Richard Johnson fresh off a rousing repeat & new mark of 1:50.4 at age nine, looks like another blastoff is imminent to make him the target

 

7-Bizy’s Beatle – Toss out his latest @ Freehold, pace compromised from post ten before that, take note The Beatle has beaten these from posts eight & nine this season

 

RACE 5

2-Its Rockin Randy – Finished a lively third against significantly tougher two starts back, so the class drop & post two again sets up a long overdue win

 

6-Majorly Sexy A – Waiting for this Aussie import to break through here, recently added Lasix & now attacks the basement condition after flashing some late pace

 

3-JK’s On The Move – Dipped to this rock bottom level & finished second to a big favorite As Always, now draws a bit better to trip out & step up further

 

RACE 6

3-Sheer Terror – Absolutely exploded late only to get nosed out by Ants Marching, now looks for his first win making his key third start off the bench from an improved post

 

5-Ants Marching – Dominated his 3YO debut with a scintillating 1:50.1 in the slop, then nosed out Sheer Terror last week, versatile prospect for Team Takter looms large for the rematch

 

1-All Alone – Went all the way & held off a hard-charging For Once Inmy Life in a career best 1:51, lands the rail with plenty of upside & note the barn change to Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 7

4-Captain Fancy – Has certainly come to life in his last two with a gutsy narrow loss to Mysweetboymax, then nailed by longshot Leon David, draws well again & overdue

 

7-Rockin The Aces – Major Big M horse-for-the-course trending right fresh off a solid second, remains at a reduced level, fires from same post in a camera-shy field

 

1-Will The Wizard A – Mystery Australian import took a needed post ten tour of the oval, previous qualifier was energetic, moves inside & could surprise in the tricky puzzle

 

RACE 8

7-Max Contract – Mistletoe Shalee winner in 1:48.3 looks poised to make her 4YO debut against some salty mares off a sharp qualifier for Team Orange Crush

 

5-Hot Mess Express – The classy Express tried her hand @ the Bluechip Matchmaker Series to no avail, she’s tighter now & loves the Big M, but no slam dunk for Sam Bowie

 

9-Jody – Beaten favorite added Lasix & just missed in her comebacker on the engine, moves outside, yet remains at this reduced level for Team Burke

 

RACE 9

8-Delayed Hanover – Superbly guided by Dexter Dunn to a hard-charging second by a neck last week, moves outside, but continues to gather steam in a really competitive field

 

9-Lovedbythemasses – Twice beaten favorite collared by the pocket sitter two weeks ago, makes his third start back from a tough post, while revving up for another big season

 

10-Inaminute Hanover – Andrew McCarthy said there’s still room for improvement after last week’s new mark of 1:52.3, yet now he must find a way to get into it from post ten

 

RACE 10

6-Lou’s Pearlman – 2021 Jug winner returned from his 4YO transition season with a furious rally to just miss when heavily favored, back half in :53.3, gives Team Burke a 1-2 punch

 

5-Southwind Gendry – Romped back-to-back, then failed to get involved from post nine after missing two weeks, expect a more aggressive effort from this classy Team Burke millioniare

 

3-Komodo Beach – Starting to heat up on the comeback trail for Noel Daley, chasing third in :26 off some hot fractions last week & draws inside to stalk the speed

 

RACE 11

1-Lightfootedlegend – Stepped up with a much-improved/close second to Donato Patriot K, look for more in his third start off a sick scratch from the rail in a handicapper’s challenge

 

6-Gotwuteverittakes – Regrouped with back-to-back wins last month, this relentless rallier now drops back a notch off a very good third two weeks ago & retains Hot Toddy

8-Donato Patriot K – Has blossomed for Team Bongiorno, rallied to repeat in the slop & came away with a new lifetime mark, bumped up & draws outside, yet has more in the tank

 

RACE 12

7-Ignatius A – Closed with a noteworthy :26 flat to hit the board last week, 1:48.3 performer here last season draws a tougher post, but drops along with a few others

 

3-Mysweetboymax – We all know how hot he was earlier this season, sparked some of that winning form this month, gets class & post relief here

 

4-Love Your Work A – Has dealt with off tracks in his last three, was on a nice roll here in March when he scored his first US win & can rebound with a smooth stalk trip

 

RACE 13

7-Imaginary Line – Beaten favorite shook loose too late & bumped into a shocker in Blue Ocean, tougher post, yet remains a sharp item on the comeback trail for Team Bongiorno

 

5-I’m Burlington N – Has been roughed up in both starts since the recent claim, go back to that post ten blowout on March 18 & that makes him a serious threat again

 

3-Chief Of Staff – Aired it out & took no prisoners in a career best 1:51 last week, draws much better for the class hike & logically expected to be forwardly placed

 

RACE 14

2-On Dayboo – 3YO really came to life as a much-improved runner up in :26.3 in the slop last week, drops into a softer spot & draws inside again to trip out

 

1-Marvelous One – Returns from some much-needed freshening off a strong qualifier, note the barn change to Symon Spicer with a chance set up a stalk n pop from the rail

 

8-Ferdinand A – Beaten favorite was well rated & held on for a place deadheat, his gate speed overcomes an outside draw here for this post ten winner on March 24