Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, December 15, & Saturday, December 16, 2023

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

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RACE 1

10-Meet The Creaper – Meets one of the most form-challenged divisions seen in a long time, just missed a huge upset from post nine with a :27.2 two starts back

 

9-Shore Of Himself – Has had some trip excuses recently & post nine no picnic, got to go back to his narrow loss as the beaten favorite four starts back

 

6-Stone Cold Savage – Tries the MADC 1 Series again off a no-chance trip from post nine & can employ his best stalking style to pounce these

 

RACE 2

2-Blame The Blksmith – Lightly-raced 3YO Saratoga shipper, barn change & easy 9-1 upset sparked his form three starts back & draws inside a field begging to beaten

 

1-Make It Big – 10YO has struggled recently & comes off a sick scratch, but this Big M lover could turn things around in a hurry for new trainer Justin Sodano from the rail in a dartboard field

 

3-All It Takes – Lagged far behind after a slow starts from post ten, previous form @ Plainridge was adequate & now moves inside off a needed acclimating mile

 

RACE 3

7-DW’s Darlene – Red-hot Saratoga shipper arrives after winning three of her last four & this 3YO filly can take control & keep it going in a camera-shy field

 

6-Phelgon – Tripped out to upset these in the slop two starts, then came up empty last Thursday, any kind of rebound effort makes her a serious threat

 

8-Won’t Back Down – Recently rallied to upset N/W 3 types @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, lightly-raced 4YO mare could overcome post eight with the right set up

 

RACE 4

1-Thndrfrmthethron N – Fresh off a solid speed try from post eight, this steady 8YO moves inside to play a prime stalking role, albeit with a three for 38 record this year

 

2-Ferdinand A – Returned to winning form with his familiar take-control wire-to-wire scores as the heavy favorite & draws inside to be the main target again

 

7-Rockabilly Charm – Beaten lukewarm favorite tracked along in the pocket & made it four straight thirds last week, post seven again & appreciate his relentless style

 

RACE 5

7-Firstup – 1:51.3 winner @ The Big M this season, pretty strong in the win column, challenging post, yet gets her third straight class drop & overdue

 

5-Harmony Of Notes – Took a mark of 1:51.2 here this season, has picked it up in her last few, back on the mile track to play a midpack stalking role in a wide-open field

 

8-Abuelita Hanover – Made the transition from Monticello, forced wide from a tough spot & paced home in :27.1 for a small share, tougher post here & banks on a speed set up

 

RACE 6

3-Buddy Earl – Beaten favorite two starts back atoned emphatically with a lively new mark of 1:53.1 & this improving continues to thrive from a better post

 

4-P Chico – This 3YO perked up nicely & trotted the mile of his life last week, draws well again with trip potential & something big to build on

 

2-Missile – Transitioned superbly back on the mile track here, tracking a three-hole trip & just missed to P Chico, so look for a similar effort

 

RACE 7

4-Steal My Thunder – Pace compromised & thundered home from a tough spot to just miss to Lazin On The Beach & draws well to stalk the expected speed

 

1-Lazin On The Beach – Notched her seventh win of the season with a smooth second over trip from post eight & moves inside on a long form spree

 

3-Ooh Real Good – Lived up to her sudden tote hype with a much more energetic score last Thursday & draws inside to plot another stalking trip

 

RACE 8

3-Whammer Jammer – Beaten chalk paid the price for another slow start, 1:51 performer @ The Red Mile this season moves inside in a field ripe for the taking

 

5-Arnie’s Army – Rarely throws in a subpar effort, beaten favorite fresh off a game speed try, just missed in :27.1 & now a fresh claim

 

9-Camlachie Chrome – Offered his familiar stout rally to grab the deuce last week, tougher post here, but give him the right speed target & he can fly home

 

RACE 9

3-Say You Do – Solid runner up to Oh Lina last Thursday draws better for his third start off the bench & there’s some back class lurking here

 

7-Newell Place – Converted an ideal second over trip & romped to equal her mark of 1:54.3 & she’s a logical threat to repeat in a competitive final

 

2-Oh Lina – Came roaring back fresh off the bench with a well-timed late move by Steve Smith & draws a bit better off that big wake up mile

 

RACE 10

8-Shield Maiden – Intriguing Delaware shipper has been toiling in some Open events there, tough draw here, but this is a prime spot to flaunt her class

 

5-Illusion Seelster – This 3YO filly has been ramping up her game, fresh off a distant third to standout Beach Cowgirl lands in a softer spot

 

3-Treacherousdame – Totally blitzed by a 1:49.4 Beach Cowgirl last Saturday, handy win in the slop before that & now gets class & post relief

 

RACE 11

4-Naranjo – 3YO stayed flat, grinded gamely, chased a standout Its Your Choice & picked up the show in a vastly improved effort & draws better for a hot barn

 

6-Ifnotmewho – Dropped back to this level & got bothered in the slop, nosed out three starts back, her one for 31 record this season is key to consider

 

5-Cyclone Maximus – Ships in off a no-chance mile @ Yonkers previous form was solid, gets a midpack launching pad to possibly take charge in a complete toss up

 

RACE 12

5-Sports Hero – Beat these from post seven in the slop as the heavy favorite two starts back, used hard to clear the lead from post eight last week & now moves to midpack

 

7-Smileandsaycheese – Beaten favorite settled for second with pace @ both ends, lands a more demanding post for her third try off the bench with a strong number in the win column

 

9-Sneak On Bye – Steady 9YO shipped in successfully from Batavia & tripped out to a 10-1 upset & rates a long loom in her current form

 

RACE 13

1-Midnight Thunder – Wow, what a wake up call for this lightly-raced 3YO in his Big M debut & lands the rail with further improvement imminent

 

8-TKO Blue Chip – 4YO delivered the knockout punch & mile of his life, tougher draw here, but he’s no doubt on a serious roll & trending right

 

4-Kissinbythebeaches – Beaten lukewarm 3-1 favorite rallied stoutly for the deuce behind TKO, draws better for a more aggressive effort in his third start off the bench

 

RACE 14

1-Imabeachboy – Absolutely crushed in his Big M debut for Team Estrada first time Lasix & fires out from the rail as a logical repeat threat

 

3-Yer So Bad – Sports a mark of 1:51.3 @ The Big M this season, draws post three again off a solid third & looms as a stalking contender

 

8-Ithaca Hanover – Gave way to third on an easy lead, moves outside, but this lightly-raced 3YO makes his third start off the bench

 

Saturday, December 16 Selections

RACE 1

5-Racing Money – Beaten favorite in two of his last three, used hard to grab command from post nine & settled for second, just missed from post ten before that & now draws better

 

9-Robbie Burns N – 12YO suddenly banged out back-to-back romps before getting parked in fast pace last week, moves outside, yet remains a sharp item

 

10-See You Friday – Productive 9YO almost got there with a perfect trip & mighty :26.4 surge from post seven, slammed with post ten, yet a fresh claim owns gate speed

 

RACE 2

4-It’s In The Stars – Solid runner up in both starts since arriving here, just missed to Lyrical Genius A last week & draws well on the verge for Team Cullipher

 

8-Lyrical Genius A – Dropped to this level, brushed & held on in a nifty 1:50.2 in his second US start, moves outside, but this Aussie import has potential untapped

 

2-Always B Sweet – Capitalized on class relief & vaulted off a fast pace to upset, equaled his lifetime mark of 1:50.1 & draws inside his main rival for a new raging barn

 

RACE 3

5-Brazen Brazilian – Took a mark of 1:51.2 here back in late October, bogged down by trip excuses & bad posts in his last few & lands in a prime spot to regroup

 

7-King Of Aces – Beaten favorite flashed plenty of speed to stalk close to the pace & finished a strong second to a revved up Robbie Burns N & rates contender status

 

2-Maximum Ideal – Just two for 34 this season, yet has been knocking on the door recently, strong second to Springsteen at the bottom condition level & draws inside again

 

RACE 4

9-Ynotthishos – Nine-time winner this season gets a significant double dose of class relief after flashing plenty of late pace in some beneficial acclimating miles

 

8-Mr Ibiza N – Draws a tougher post, but gets his third straight class drop, while gathering momentum for Team Alagna & could swoop a wide-open field

 

6-Revolt – Beaten chalk flew home again from a tough spot to hit the ticket, trending right since adding Lasix & looking to snap his 0 for 16 this season

 

RACE 5

3-Sports Advisor – Runner up to Flashy Dude in a wake up effort two starts back, followed by a sharp narrow loss to Conboyville & draws well on the verge for a white-hot barn

 

6-Conboyville – Was able to catapult off a hot pace for the mild upset in his second start off the bench for a reduced tag & has logical license to repeat

 

4-Flashy Dude – Beaten favorite simply got too fired up on the engine last week, tailor made score before that & draws inside again on a form spree for Team Estrada

 

RACE 6

3-Nuttin But Finesse – Owns a mark of 1:49.2 here this season, solid runner up tow starts back, shuffled last week & draws inside again with a chance to trip out

 

7-Stone Hanover – Classy 7YO drops further & gets away from the red-hot Soaring Now, tricky post in a field loaded with possibilities & he’s long overdue

 

6-Whole Lotta Lou – Eight-time winner this season & sub 1:50 performer @ The Big M dips another notch & will obviously have more in his second start after a long layoff

 

RACE 7

5-As Always – Almost got to longshot winner Three Grand with a mighty late surge last week, remains at this reduced level & looms large for Per Engblom

 

1-Montana Storm N – Gets away from My Pal Joe & tougher company & moves inside, previous form @ Harrah’s Philadelphia was solid & rates highly here for The Crocodile Man

 

3-Love Your Work A – Tackles a double class hike fresh off a lively 1:50.1 score from post eight last week & draws better with a 1:49.4 speed badge here

 

RACE 8

6-Lindys Irishcream – Razor sharp & improving 3YO filly was a solid runner up to standout Lexus Kody last week & might be poised for another win here for high percentage barn

 

8-Inaminute Hanover – Classy 1:52.3 winner @ The Big M this season followed up his first win for his new barn with a strong rally to hit the board, post eight still fresh on the comeback trail

 

1-Betterinpinehurst – Shipped in here at a lesser level & unleashed a huge wake up romp in a sparkling career best of 1:52.3 & looks to step up from the rail for Team Cullipher

 

RACE 9

5-Bicorne Hanover – Arrives from Hoosier Park capping a productive season & fresh off a solid second, lands in the Nicole Dicostanzo barn & plays a midpack stalk-the-speed role

 

8-Hereittiz – Went two-for-two off the Edwin Quevedo claim, then well rated & just missed to the trip sitting Sugar Me N last week & remains a serious threat

 

10-Sugar Me N – Fresh claim for Richard Johnson off another sharp win, was on a nice roll for Team Burke & maintains top form to tackle post ten

 

RACE 10

6-Talk Curdy To Me – Here’s an improving 3YO filly on a form spree, just missed to standout Beach Cowgirl with an exceptional effort for Team Cullipher

 

9-Queen Of Success – Capping a terrific 4YO season for Team Alagna, freshened & qualified here with plenty of zeal & has the gate speed to overcome post nine

 

8-Easy To Please – Took advantage of some class relief to spark her form @ Yonkers recently, faces a post eight challenge, but arrives fresh off a blowout score

 

RACE 11

5-Western Perch – Just one for 32 this season, off a no-chance mile @ Dover Downs, just missed before that, note the barn change & launches midpack in a camera-shy field

 

8-Stretch The Line – 0 for 24 season, beaten chalk was forced wide & left with too much work to do last week, tougher post, yet previous two were strong rallies

 

6-Saulsbrook Raptor – Has been on edges @ Monticello, but now this steady 4YO ships into a barn that has raised some eyebrows with recent success here

 

RACE 12

8-Gotta Minute N – Left hard from post seven for a pocket ride & almost ended a long drought, 10YO took a new mark of 1:52 here this season & retains Ryan Inglis

 

1-Claytons Bettor N – Solid runner up to a big favorite Imabeachboy last week & this 1:51.1 performer @ The Big M this season moves inside the main concerns

 

5-Maximus – Finished an even fourth in his much-needed Big M debut after missing 32 days, acclimated now, third time Lasix & trying to snap his 0 for his last 52

 

RACE 13

7-High Baller – Beaten favorite failed to menace in the slop, closed from a tough spot before that, just two for 28 in 2023, yet still fresh on the comeback trail & has some back class

 

1-Flip My Chip – Speedy invader from Dover Downs lands the rail after rating better & showing more stamina last out & figures to be the one to knock off

 

4-Sand Sniper – Took aim & faded in the slop last time, solid third before that, returns from Harrah’s Philadelphia with post four again in a dartboard field

 

RACE 14

4-Oakwood Ardan IR – Irish import is the mystery here, easily won his first qualifier, then added Lasix & pace compromised here & draws well for a high percentage barn

 

5-The Good Doctor – One for 19 sophomore a beaten chalk last week, yet was eager to stretch it out on the lead & going in the right direction for Noel Daley

 

7-Mansai – Not a lot on his resume & struggled mightily in another comeback @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, but now a hot new barn takes over & that could spell abrupt turnaround