Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, August 1 & Saturday, August 2, 2025

Tuesday, July 29, 2025

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Race 1

3-Select Friday – Draws much better fresh off a significant wake up effort & gets another serious shot at this reduced TM 74.5 level

 

9-National Sport – Pretty strong in the win column this season, draws outside, but drops back down to the level of a powerful win on June 28

 

5-Midnight Lightning – 13YO sparked his form with a big MADC upset two starts back, solid runner up to a dominant favorite last week & moves to midpack

 

Race 2

7-Magic Punk – Son of world champion Wishing Stone exploded with trot to break his maiden @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & continues his positive trend here for Team Svanstedt

 

1-Who’s Eyes Blues – $125,000 Chapter Seven colt with Sister Sledge, 1:51.2 ($842,815) in his maternal line, held on gamely to win again @ Yonkers & back on the rail here

 

3-Practical Man – Fashion Farms-bred Tactical Landing colt from a strong family, solid third in both NJSS outings & draws better to step it up

 

Race 3

1-Be Perfect BG – This filly is quite simply something special, a perfect four-for-four & fresh off back-to-back crushes here & lands the rail for Dexter Dunn

 

3-Perfect Thought – Solid runner up to Be Perfect BG off the recent sick scratch, then romped with authority last week & plays prime opportunist from post three again

 

4-Sunny Station – Second to Be Perfect BG with a :26.2 in Leg 1, then made an early miscue, draws well & she’s eligible to bounce back for Brett Pelling

 

Race 4

2-Cambridge Hanover – $1M brother to millionaire Maryland offered some decent late trot to hit the board from post ten in his debut & draws much better to follow up

 

7-AI – $155,000 Chapter Seven colt with Hall of Famer Bee A Magician on his dam side ships in four-for-four in NYSS & draws a tricky post to adjust to the mile track for Team Burke

 

6-Mr Penner – $200,000 colt from Captain Corey’s first crop, second to the undefeated Diabolic Hill in his debut, then just missed in PASS @ The Meadows for Team Svanstedt

 

Race 5

3-JK Fierce Lady – Captaintreacherous first foal from a 1:47.4 world champion rallied to pay off the chalk in her career debut @ Pocono off a sick scratch & draws better for Team Takter

 

5-Prtynproud Hanover – $10,000 Downbytheseaside filly won her first three starts, sweeping a series @ Ocean Downs & tests deeper waters here switching to Team Bongiorno

 

6-Caviart Madrid – Always B Miki filly has millionaire Boston Red Rocks in her pedigree, tripped out to win her second baby race here & could be anything for Team Takter

 

Race 6

2-Rocknacious – Post two again for this $150k Perfect Sting first foal from millionaire Rocknificent, tripped out to cash the chalk in his debut, then came up a length short when Bookie J stole it

 

4-Sonofanutcracker – Liked this Cancelliere homebred two starts back with when he thundered home in :26.3, now fresh off an energetic upset he draws better on the rise

 

6-Bookie J – Bounced back with a well-rated wire-to-wire win in Leg 3 last week & we’ll likely see similar/aggressive tactics off that confidence-boosting maiden breaker

 

Race 7

2-Islandgirl Hanover – $120,000 Captain Corey first cropper ventured back to Harrah’s Philadelphia & won again, draws inside here with her arrow pointing skyward

 

4-Busy Miss Lissy S – Denmark-owned/bred filly jogged in both starts @ Pocono for Team Svanstedt & draws well here with a bright future

 

7-Just Teasing – Another promising Captain Corey filly shipping in fresh off a rousing score in her second start @ Harrah’s Philadelphia for Team Orange Crush & worth a long look

 

Race 8

2-Tabdone – $80,000 late-blooming Cantab Hall filly was on a nice roll in PA before an early miscue last out & now has a big chance to rebound in a soft spot here for The American Viking

 

4-Tacky Sugar – Overmatched in the Tompkins-Geers chasing standout Yo Tillie, draws post four again & eligible to make a stronger impression for Team Melander in a wide open affair

 

5-Bizzy Brenda – Steady filly by Southwind Frank has been productive in smaller tracks & this stalking type has license to stalk & sprint with the top ones

 

Race 9

3-Fabulous Hanover – $100k Captaintreacheous filly just missed in her career debut @ Pocono, draws well & stands out here for Team Takter

 

2-Amira Hanover – $130k Papi Rob Hanover colt with Sylvia Hanover & Western Fame in her pedigree, a solid third in her debut @ Pocono & lands inside here for Team Bongiorno

 

4-On Heir – Captaintreacherous from the family of world champion Little Miss Dragon aired it out in her second Big M baby race & could be the one to reel in

 

Race 10

2-Crystal Fashion – Hasn’t been involved in his last two, but lands in a real soft spot, draws an improved post, gets The Judge & can beat these on back class alone

 

4-Hunter’s Gal – One for 22 season on view, yet fresh off a solid acclimating mile chasing a runaway winner last week & draws well in a wide-open field

 

10-Fix-it-Up – Convincing 1:54.4 winner fresh off the bench back on June 20, slammed with post ten, but owns enough early speed to avoid several noncontenders

 

Race 11

8-Pray To Win – Father Patrick sister to Niko Man, 1:52.4 ($334,616) romped in her Stallion Series debut @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws outside here, but looms large for Team Takter

 

5-Caviart Queen Emma – Caviart Farms Bar Hopping filly closed with a pretty strong back half to just miss in her Stallion Series debut & lands mid pack for Team Takter

 

7-Denarius – International Moni sister to Kilmister, 1:50.3 ($832,859) tripped out to win his second baby race @ Plainridge & deserves consideration despite a challenging post

 

Race 12

3-Craigieburn – Bounced back with a more aggressive effort & was right there in the photo last week, draws post three again & his main concerns will have to work harder

 

9-Cal Miles N Shell – Has come around in his last three @ Pocono, his latest a well advertised career best blowout as the heavy favorite & draws post nine here to prove that was no fluke

 

10-C Kan Trot – This mare has adjusted nicely to her new barn & venue, winning back-to-back with a well-rated wire-to-wire in a real soft spot last week, so let’s see more from post ten

 

Race 13

7-Watch Em Win – Baby raced well @ Gaitway, had the second tier in his Big M debut, then scorched The Meadows in 1:52.3 with a :26.4 & stands out for Team Burke

 

5-Talbot Andretti – Bounced back with solid second to a big favorite Fearless Partners & you have to give him strong consideration off that encouraging effort

 

3-Reckoning – Captaintreacherous colt baby raced right here with speed & versatility, gets Dexter Dunn & draws inside to trip out for Team Alagna

 

Race 14

1-Raptors Flight N – Returns from Tioga Downs off a couple of tough trips, was doing some damage here before that & looms large on the rail

 

5-Parklane Terror – Distant runner up to a runaway Rilkoff last out, stormed home from a tough spot to score before that & presents a major mid pack stalking threat

 

4-Sergeant Walt – Yannick Gingras hopped in the bike & this 3YO blew away TM 68 types with a huge wake up first win as the heavy favorite & draws well for the class hike

 

Saturday Selections

Race 1

6-Lasting Dream – Fired hard for an early lead, got shuffled in traffic & still trotted home in :27.3 last week, shipped in fresh off the mile of her life @ Mohawk & now acclimated for Luc Blais

 

8-What A Bid Hanover – Going into the Oaks eliminations she might’ve been the favorite, but broke twice last week off a career best 1:51.4 in the Del Miller & tackles post eight to rebound

 

1-Highlandstarburst – Lightly-raced Father Patrick removed the trotting hopples, rallied stoutly for the upset @ Harrah’s Philadelphia for Team Takter & lands the rail in a very tricky opener

 

Race 2

6-Miki And Minnie – Dan Patch Award winner & millionaire has been near perfect this season, the Fan Hanover winner jogged in her last two here on Lasix & looks like a logical standout

 

2-Rodeo Drive Deo – Owns that upset over Miki And Minnie three starts back @ Pocono, flew home in :25.3 to hit the board from post 11 & now draws inside her main rival

 

1-Thebeautifulthings – The sleeper in here was a very good, albeit a distant third in the Silverman, freshened with an easy qualifier @ Hoosier Park & ships back with the rail

 

Race 3

4-Lefties Righties – Steady Greenshoe gelding just missed in his last two, almost got there with a sharp :27.1 surge in the Tompkins-Geers & draws better for Dexter Dunn

 

7-Travolta Hanover – Lightly-raced Muscle Hill colt raced better from the rail in the Tompkins-Geers two weeks ago, challenging draw, but has some upside for Team Takter

 

3-Jamais Vu – This lightly-raced son of Walner has won three of his last four, tripped out for a new mark of 1:53.1 here three starts back & in line for a similar trip

 

Race 4

2-Hey Porter – Winless in seven this season, yet knocking on the door in his last two, just missed to Onajetplane in the Tompkins Geers & draws inside again to turn the tables for Team Alagna

 

7-Onajetplane – Seemed nicely set up for his Hambo elimination off a career best 1:52.1 & settled for fourth behind Super Chapter & can continue to be assertive in this wide-open division

 

1-Landing On Time – Shipped in fresh off a career best 1:51.1 @ Mohawk, left in the wake of Nordic Catcher S in his Hambo elimination & can rebound on the rail

 

Race 5

1-Madden Oaks – Just missed in the NA Cup, second/placed first in the Pace & lands the rail fresh off a repeat @ Tioga Downs & looms as one of the main speeds

 

5-Captain Optimistic – After a tough trip in the Pace he brushed & crushed a Tompkins-Geers division in a career best equaling 1:49 last week & can’t rule out a repeat

 

6-Manolete – Bounced back from his seventh in the Pace with a very determined second by a nose to the streaking Smooth Dream & eligible to fire out for another trip

 

Race 6

6-Call Me Goo – Just missed in the Armbro Flight, then tripped out for back-to-back wins here, became a beast when Svanstedt took over last year, just heating up & gets The Bionic Man

 

7-Elista Hanover – Officially regained top form with a record romp in the Hambo Maturity, then came right back with a wire-to-wire in the Miss Versatility & looks like the one to knock off

 

11-Warrawee Michelle – Game upset from post eight in a career best 1:50.2 in the Graduate Final, two-move runner up in the Hambo Maturity, serious contender despite second tier

 

Race 7

4-Southwind Chaska – Tactical Landing filly has rallied stoutly to score in both starts, draws well to employ her stalking style & mow them down late

 

6-Leading Lady – Walner filly shook loose late to be a convincing winner in her debut as the heavy favorite for Team Takter & no telling how good she is

 

2-Sugar Packet – Had a perfect trip when Leading Lady simply blew by, yet this Six Pack filly hasn’t done anything wrong & draws inside again

 

Race 8

1-Coaches Corner – No chance after a slow start from post eight in the Gerrity, had loads of traffic in the Haughton & gets a serious chance to trip out from the rail

 

3-Bythemissal – Used too hard from post 11 in the Haughton, solid third as the beaten in the Brower before that off a track record 1:47.1 @ Scioto & finally draws inside

 

2-Maximus Miki – Sat just off the speed & unleashed a :26.2 late surge to score a 1:48 upset in the Haughton & now moves inside to play a major stalking role

 

Race 9

1-Aetos Kronos S – Maxie Lee winner & Crawford Farms runner up had no chance in the Spirit of Massachusetts & finally draws inside to flaunt his class

 

6-S I P – This Melander trainee dropped out of the Open, rallied to a sharp upset with a :26.3 & took a new mark of 1:50.3, now he’s missed another month, so can he do it again?

 

5-Little Expensive – Has caught fire for Team Orange Crush, reeling off four in a row elsewhere & lands mid pack off a career best 1:51.2 with a :25.3 @ The Red Mile

 

Race 10

2-Deja Blu – Uncorked a huge rebound effort, raging late on the rail in :26.1, draws inside again & stalks the speed for Nancy Takter, who won this in 2020 with Sorella

 

1-Miss Belmar – Almost brushed n crushed, made a slight misstep in deep stretch & still won again, now she’s launching from the rail in top form & Andrew McCarthy sticks

 

6-Conversano – NJSS champion has been stellar this season winning six of eight, got a bit lonely on the lead last week, yet dug in late & switches to James MacDonald

 

Race 11

6-Periculum – Crushed the Crawford Farms in a career best 1:50 fresh off the bench, returns fresh off a narrow loss in the Spirit Of Massachusetts & we haven’t seen the best of this millionaire

 

3-Up Your Deo – Wheeled right back off a fourth in the Crawford with a well-driven upset in the Spirit of Massachusetts, equaling his lifetime mark of 1:51 set here on June 21

 

2-Security Protected – Showed his class & regained his winning form with a decisive 1:51 romp from post nine last week & moves inside to bolster the Melander trio

 

Race 12

2-Super Chapter – The reigning #1 with an untested five-of-five this season, a great gaited/consistent horse, who goes around any size track & drives like car, draws inside & we simply haven’t seen his best

 

3-Emoticon Legacy – Goodtimes winner in a Mohawk track record of 1:50.2 is the real deal, dug in to win his elimination & needed the race & draws well to stalk to the main contender

 

4-Maryland – 2024 Dan Patch Award winner a game runner up in all four starts this season, roughed up & relentless last week & draws well to be a classy/prime opportunist

 

Race 13

1-Diabolic Hill – Came right back with post ten devastation & new mark of 1:54 in Leg 3, moves inside & continues to ramp it up with a three-for-three record

 

2-Apex – Walner colt out of the great Mission Brief shrugged off a nose loss to Maga Hill going all the way to break her maiden in Leg 2 & looms large with better post

 

4-Maga Hill – Barely outgamed Apex in her debut, then just missed to Kingmen in Leg 2 & draws an improved post looking for more speed to shoot at

 

Race 14

4-Sabonis – Graduate champion in 1:47.3, right there in his Haughton division from post 11, then scorched first over last week & remains a top threat with an improved post

 

3-Captain Albano – Two-time Dan Patch Award winner got parked in a hot pace in his Haughton division, now making only his fifth start of the season & draws better to carve out a better trip

 

5-Ken Hanover – Was the sport’s hot Free For Aller winning five straight, including a 1:47.4 Brower division before he got used hard from post nine in a Haughton division & must rebound

 

Race 15

5-Sylvia Hanover  – Canada’s 2023 Horse of the Year joined her rival in the $2M club with a scintillating 1:47.2 world record in the Clara Barton, she was out this world here in the Perfect Sting & seeks another ideal set up to unleash her fury

 

6-Twin B Joe Fresh – 2024 Horse of the Year & defending Lady Liberty champ, went back-to-back in the Dorothy Haughton, then set searing fractions & faded in the Clara Barton, can she rebound again in this epic rematch?

 

1-My Girl EJ – 2024 Dan Patch Award winner & world champion was a very good runner up in the Clara Barton & third in the Perfect Sting & plays an opportunist role again from the rail

 

Race 16

4-Jamaican Rock A – Pocono invader where he shipped from Australia, promptly went two-for-two, including a dazzling 1:48.3 as the heavy favorite & draws well here

 

8-Iknowbetter – 4YO on a breakout roll for Team Bongiorno, close second to Jamaican Rock A in his last two @ Pocono, tough draw, but rates highly for obvious reasons

 

7-Gretzky The Great – Gretzky rebounded & stickhandled his way to a solid second to Sugar Man two weeks ago, makes only his fifth start of the season & threatens despite a challenging post