Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, April 7, 2023

Wednesday, April 5, 2023

---

RACE 1

8-Jonah – First three starts of the year were against tougher claimers @ Pocono, his new barn now ships him to the mile track, tough post, but wide-open field & gets Joe Lee

 

6-Beach Boy Hill – Huge bounce back effort & romped to a new mark of 1:53.1 three starts back, got parked & left out to dry last week & has a chance to regroup

 

5-Takeittotheface – Paced home in :27 flat two starts back, then a beaten favorite hit the board with a nice finish, launches midpack again & note the switch to Peter Kleinhans

 

RACE 2

6-Oakwood Vegas IR – Second straight looked more impressive than the post ten romp before that & looks formidable for Team Burke fresh off another new mark

 

7-JJ Flynn – Stepped up to this level & steamrolled to a decisive score last Saturday, more demanding post in a competitive field, but this classy 10YO is razor sharp

 

3-Always B Billy – Twice a runner up to Oakwood Vegas IR, draws inside to play the opportunist role again with Dexter Dunn no doubt putting him in play

 

RACE 3

5-The Empress Ice – Hit the board with strong finishes in both starts on the comeback trail & this more confident Nifty Norman trainee has a chance to break through

 

4-Sheer Faith – Jogged in her first two starts this season, then couldn’t quite get to a well-rated Bella Macchiato last week & stands out for Per Engblom

 

3-Cyberspace – $500,000 Walner sister to Mission Brief & Tactical Landing out of Hall of Fame dam Southwind Serena, decent preps @ The Meadows & draws inside for Team Burke

 

RACE 4

2-Amador – Was red-hot here winning four of five to close out 2022, offered a strong hint with his two-move narrow loss two weeks ago & draws better to stalk n pop

 

3-Dribbling Bi – No idea where that :56.1 back half came from when he blew up the board last week, nevertheless hikes up a notch & draws inside again to present a repeat threat

 

4-Taxi Out S – Improving Per Engblom trainee sparked his recent form spree with a new mark of 1:54.1 three starts back, finished well two weeks ago & now draws better

 

RACE 5

9-Always A Panther – Got off to a strong start this season, now drops to face softer amateur competition & his speed can overcome post nine

 

4-Snoopy Snoop – Got roughed up from post nine in his Big M debut, then a beaten favorite chasing a runaway Trente Deo last week & draws better on the verge for Joe Lee

 

3-Bruce’s Magic – Somehow managed to turned his game around despite a tough trip & finished third behind Snoopy Snoop & draws inside again to be forwardly placed

 

RACE 6

1-I’m Burlington N – Beaten chalk set a rated pace from post eight & settled for third in the slop, post ten blowout before that was impressive, now a fresh claim lands the rail

 

4-Lone Wolf American – Capitalized on a perfectly timed Dave Miller drive & took a new mark of 1:52.3 in the slop, draws well again & the Justin Sodano claim continues to thrive

 

2-Exotic Sand – Stepped up fresh off a huge upset & parlayed a perfect second over trip as the favorite, finally moves inside a competitive division & the grey is in career form

 

RACE 7

3-Mats Palema – Added trotting hopples & finished a solid second in his Big M debut & this improving 4YO draws better off that excellent acclimating mile

 

8-Horoscope – Failed to get involved after a slow start last week, his previous two were solid as the beaten favorite, draws outside, but lands in a softer spot to rebound with speed

 

10-Ifnotmewho – Stuck outside & she hasn’t won in a long time, yet has rallied to hit the board in two of his last three & might be heard from if some mayhem ensues

 

RACE 8

8-Trashytonguetalker – Just missed against tougher TM competition recently, tougher draw, but this is a class drop that can’t be ignored

 

5-Mister Hat – Regained his winning form @ Monticello last month, drops out of a salty TM 80.5 event & has a chance to flaunt his speed from midpack

 

3-Captain’s Reign – Trending in the right direction, just missed with a mighty late surge last week & gets some post relief for Dakota Jackson

 

RACE 9

5-Debs Prince Hall – Thought this improving 4YO was poised for a winning effort & was hindered by post nine last week & now draws better on the verge

 

3-Donato Patriot K – Late-January winner from post ten has been freshened, draws well off a solid qualifier for Team Bongiorno & alongside stablemate 4-Zlatan

 

1-Bet Big On Blue – On a very nice form spree for Michelle Warner, fresh off a post nine score, moves inside to take charge or stalk the speed at this slightly tougher level

 

RACE 10

3-Platinum AS – Has been knocking on the door with a strong third in his last three against top notch opponents, beaten favorite gets class & post relief

 

2-Focus Pocus – Certainly looks ready for his season debut fresh off an energetic qualifier for Team Cullipher, draws inside & returns at a reduced level

 

1-Mon Amour – Racing well on the fringes in the upper echelons & in line for a smooth trip from the rail for Dexter Dunn & Per Engblom

 

RACE 11

8-Unstoppable Hall – She has come back in career form for Steven Rybka, assigned outside post eight, but fresh off the mile of her life & retains The Bionic Man

 

6-Cruzin Coco – Grinded gamely with a much-improved mile chasing Unstoppable Hall last week, 10YO gaining momentum, looks for right trip & overdue win

 

2-Milady Denver A – Upset these in her first start of the season, returns fresh off a wire-to-wire @ Woodstock, Virginia & lands post two here to trip out

 

RACE 12

4-Party Boy – Crushed a GSY 1 division in 1:53.4 two starts back & that kind of effort would work again from another inside post in a field begging to be beaten

 

6-Yayas Hot Spot N – Finished an even/nonthreatening fourth last Saturday, makes his third start off a sick scratch at a rock bottom level & owns a win her this season

 

10-Mister Donald A – Somebody has to finish third in this form-challenged field, this 8YO draws outside, but makes his second start off a sick scratch

 

RACE 13

4-Super Girl – Has been on a quite roll, tripped out to a sharp new mark of 1:50.3 despite the slow :57 half, draws well & in line to duplicate that eye-catching feat

 

3-Anna’s Wish – Was allowed to cruised through a soft pace & romped to a career best of 1:52.2 in a sparkling 3YO debut & draws inside again for a serious match up

 

6-True Blue Hanover – You never know how good they come back as a 3YO, but this 1:52.4 winner here @ two showed talent & returns fresh off an inspiring qualifier

 

RACE 14

9-Tad Crazy Hanover – Beaten favorite has picked it up in his last two, moves outside, but has taken a tumble down the class ladder

 

3-Goes Down Smooth – Pace compromised last week, was pretty productive in his previous three last month, lands post three again to stalk n pop

 

4-Boaster Coaster – Rallied for a modest score from the same post two starts back, no chance with a slow start last week & seems to be trending right

 

Selections for Saturday, April 8

RACE 1

3-As Always – Struggled to regain form at higher levels here, figures to take advantage of class & post relief while making his second start since the barn change

 

5-Marco Beach – Sporting an impressive 2022 summary, just missed a big upset with a late surge in the slop in his return to The Big M & joins a drop down derby

 

2-Hes Rockin Ralphie – Steps up a notch, but draws better fresh off a lively runner up finish with Todd McCarthy & continues to ramp it up on the comeback trail

 

RACE 2

6-Sweet Treasure – No factor in her first two starts as a 4YO in the Blue Chip Matchmaker @ Yonkers, her two Big M qualifiers were impressive & Team Takter has come out firing

 

4-Village Jade – Steady Team Burke trainee thriving on smaller tracks recently, tough trips in her last few, can step off the wings & play a stalking role in a very intriguing puzzle

 

1-Jody – Added Lasix & bounced back with a strong qualifier chasing multiple stakes winner Max Contract, liked her effort here back on February 11 & gives Team Burke a 1-2 punch

 

RACE 3

1-For Once Inmy Life – Kicks off a Noel Daley duo with 2YO lines chasing top colts like Combustion, impossible trip in The Big M qualifier & paced home in :26 flat & worth a swing

 

6-All Alone – Beaten favorite sat the pocket behind a well-rated Ants Marching & came up second best, has the gate speed & improving form to handle some interesting fresh threats

 

2-Sheer Terror – Winless in four, yet this Joe Holloway trainee has flashed some talent, two lively qualifiers certainly indicate readiness & draws inside to possibly take charge

 

RACE 4

6-Van Diesel – Exits claimers fresh off a decent effort with a solid :56 back half & looks for some speed to shoot at in a camera-shy field & Dave Miller patience could pay off

 

1-TJ Blast – Moves inside off an energetic third while re-acclimating last week, overdue & in line to trip out for Delaware shippers making a strong impression here

 

7-Guys In The Band – Owns a win here this season, chased a runaway Angers Bayama two starts back, sloppy tracks in his last two & could improve on his fringe player status

 

RACE 5

3-Protect Blue Chip – Winless this season & struggling against tougher mares @ Yonkers recently, class & post relief could spark something & gives Symon Spicer a 1-2 punch

 

4-Firstup – 9YO lived up to her tote hype with a huge first up trip & sizzling 1:51.4 in a MADC 1 event, draws the same inside post just outside a drop down stablemate

 

1-Rigginswind – Dover Downs shipper sports some solid lines against claimers there, arrives fresh off a wire-to-wire upset & lands the rail in a real toss up affair

 

RACE 6

1-Delayed Hanover – Gutsy effort to hold off Rich And Miserable back in late January, kicked home with zeal to win his qualifier, Cutler candidate a fresh threat on the rail

 

3-Rich And Miserable – Okay, so they fixed whatever caused breaks in consecutive starts here, rebounded & rebuffed Lovedbythemasses in the comebacker & draws post three again

 

7-Lovedbythemasses – Beaten chalk in a lively 2023 debut after cruising in both qualifiers here, served as a nice tightener & faces a serious test in a highly competitive Open

 

RACE 7

5-South Beach Star – No factor in his 2023 debut for a new barn, this is a multiple sub 1:50 performer here with some back class, which could resurface in this softer spot

 

3-Springsteen – Had the misfortune of bumping into a raging My Pal Joe last week, now drops a notch while finishing well recently, draws inside again & looms as a stalking threat

 

4-De Los Cielos Deo – Team Burke has him hitting on all cylinders again, fresh off a confidence-building win two starts back he just missed with a two-move effort last week & draws better

 

RACE 8

7-Tam Major A – Razor sharp 9YO with a new lease on life off a dominant score in the slop & now a fresh claim by a high percentage barn & gets brave when able to take control

 

1-Lachie Maguire N – Bumps up in price fresh off a well-earned score from post nine, 13YO has been on his toes since the Justin Sodano claim & finally moves inside

 

5-Doubleagentman – Has steadily acclimated to The Big M in his last three, beaten favorite just missed to Lachie Maguire N last week & could be on the verge

 

RACE 9

4-Bettors Donttell – Team Burke Big M lover last year when he took a sparkling mark of 1:47.3, draws well for his third start off the bench & fresh off a Pocono score

 

3-Stonebridge Reef – Returns on a long form spree for Chris Ryder, owns a couple of wins here this season & draws inside to be a forwardly-placed player in a tough field

 

6-Magritte – 9YO has rejuvenated his career going five-for-five since the barn change to Cameron Capone, four-for-four at The Big M & steps up further off a gallant win in the slop last week

 

RACE 10

6-Burnham Boy N – Finished a solid second to standout Southwind Gendry in last week’s feature, 1:49 winner here this season for Chris Ryder definitely has potential to show more

 

3-Nicholas Beach – Classy 1:47 performer here last season returned to The Big M with a tough trip from post seven, draws inside & looms as a speed threat for Team Bongiorno

 

7-Lou’s Pearlman – Outsprinted stablemate Workin Ona Mystery to win his lone qualifier, assigned a demanding post, yet might be ready to fire right off the hop for Team Burke

 

RACE 11

1-Franco Totem N – Crushed down to 2-1 & erupted with major speed enroute to a 1:50 tally @ Dover Downs two starts back, fresh threat on the rail & knows this track

 

2-Mysweetboymax – Used the tried n true class drop n pop to regain winning form in the slop last week, lands an improved post & we know he can string them together

 

3-Ultimaroca – Has reignited form in his last three, beaten favorite a solid third behind the fiery My Pal Joe last week & draws inside for Team Burke

 

RACE 12

1-Dontlikeitleave – Won his first three starts here this season, used hard from post nine & right there in the photo two starts back, then shuffled in the slop & now drops with the rail

 

2-Captain Fancy – Fresh off a gutsy first over narrow loss to the favorite Mysweetboymax, drops another notch & this eight-time winner last year draws inside again

 

3-Baileys Rock N – Dropped to this level & rallied stoutly to land in a blanket photo last week, draws a bit better & might be on the verge of snapping his season skid

 

RACE 13

4-Caughtinalandslide – Been patiently waiting for this one to pop again, too far back in the slop last week, chased the streaking Magritte before that & dangerous with the right set up

 

5-Its Showtime – Two weeks off after an impossible trip chasing the red-hot Magritte, was previously on quite a roll & lands in a prime spot to get aggressive

 

6-Eddard Hanover – 9YO with plenty of back class to draw upon, recent Yonkers form has been adequate & has a chance to shine in a field where nobody jumps off the page

 

RACE 14

2-Hurrikanemyshannon – Shipped here on short rest & paid the price for a slow start from post seven, benefits from that acclimating mile, draws better & could be a nice price play

 

1-Gottalovemyshadow – Stormed home from a tough spot to score in her second try off a sick scratch & moves inside to employ a similar off-the-pace strategy within closer range

 

3-Always B True – Tripped out & got the jump on Trans Meanie two starts back, look for her to get away better from an improved post in a typically wide-open Hi-5 finale