Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, Feb 10 & Saturday, Feb 11, 2023

Wednesday, February 8, 2023

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RACE 1

6-Always A Panther – Took a few weeks off after two straight narrow losses, his latest as the beaten favorite for a new barn, tougher post, yet may hold a slight edge in form for Joe Lee

 

2-Takeittotheface – On a decent roll recently for David Yarock, slow start/pace compromised from post nine last time, draws much better & on the verge of another winning effort

 

7-Johnny Q – 11YO has definitely ramped it up in his last two, stormed home from an impossible spot with a solid :56.1 back half from the same post last out

 

RACE 2

3-King Alphonso – Twice beaten chalk placed third @ Yonkers off a solid showing here, drops again, gathering momentum on the comeback trail for Per Engblom & reunited with Gingras

 

6-Fix-It-Up – Added Lasix & took advantage of another class drop with a strong second last out for Team Bongiorno, that came after missing a month, draws well & looms large

 

5-Louis – Almost dropped & popped them two starts back from post seven, drops back down to this bottom condition & lands the rail to rebound for Team Orange Crush

 

RACE 3

1-Trans Meanie – Fresh item for Team Bongiorno went all the way for a win deadheat in her Big M qualifying debut, lands the rail, but has logical license to step up further in a soft spot

 

5-Mymonstersarereal – Just two for 32, but has displayed a strong closing kick on her best day, draws better & has a chance to shine in this wide-open field

 

10-Rainbow Rising – Among the increasing number of Monti shippers trying it here, fresh off a solid qualifier chasing Trans Meanie & debuts for a new barn from a tough post

 

RACE 4

1-Big Christian – Swan For All 4YO, second dam Marita’s Victory & from the family of Mr Vic & Passionate Glide, decent qualifier for Team Miller & debuts in a real soft spot

 

8-Congress Hill Eva – Has hit the board in four of her last five & last two @ The Big M, another demanding post, but note the :27.3 finish two starts back

 

6-Fashion Cantab – Lightly-raced 4YO makes his key third start off the bench, draws a tricky post, but has a chance to get more aggressive in this wide-open field

 

RACE 5

4-William Mcwhiskers – Just missed to a well-rated Sports Hero before the sick scratch, 1:52 performer @ The Big M last year draws well as a fresh threat the highly capable Kleinhans

 

3-Sunshine’s Finest – Upset these at 10-1 with a gutsy 1:53.4 score two starts back, returns to the GSY 1 Series & draws inside a competitive dash for William Clark, Jr.

 

9-Bilbo Hanover – Neil Glasser launched a well-timed late move & held off his brother David last out, classy 13YO fresh off his 50^th career win draws a tougher post for the three-peat attempt

 

RACE 6

2-Super Girl – Downbytheseaside filly was nosed out by heavy favorite On the Money GB in her second career start & lands the same post with potential for more

 

9-American Halo – Returns with a drop out of N/W 6 @ Yonkers, won her Big M qualifier with a sharp :26.2, lands outside, but looms large for Team Alagna

 

5-Coalfordsnshine GB – Team Burke now cashing in on imports from the UK, this grey mare qualified with vigor here & might be poised to make an immediate impression

 

RACE 7

3-A Better Game – Sports that sparkling 1:50.4 mark @ The Big M last year, finished a close second two starts back, then got parked first over last time & draws better to rebound

 

1-Lady Rocknrolla A – Had that hot streak going coming into the new year, took a mark of 1:51.4 in the process, beaten favorite drops back to the bottom condition & draws the rail

 

9-Little Honey Badger – Switched to this bottom condition & turned things around with a sterling rally to just miss last out & stuck outside at the mercy of pace & trip

 

RACE 8

4-Frank The Elder – Returned from a three-month layoff & won his qualifier in energetic style, 1:53.4 performer here last year makes his 4YO debut from an inside post for Team Burke

 

2-Kelly’s Baby – Lived up to the tote hype with a lively new mark of 1:54.2 in her Big M debut for Team Burke, that was over a month ago, draws better & note the barn change

 

9-Bully Boy Hill – Erupted from the clouds to edge Adore Me, took a new mark of 1:55 & lit up the board in his Big M debut despite missing 42 days, now post nine to prove that was no fluke

 

RACE 9

6-Lincoln Boulevard – Fresh off a narrow loss @ Freehold, was facing tougher claimers here before that, picks up Dexter Dunn & worth a long look in this complete toss up

 

2-Thndrfrmthethron N – Perked up with a mild upset in January, then finished a solid second in 1:51.3, big finisher gets some class & post relief in a real headscratcher

 

9-Illini Duke – Bounced back with a thunderous rally to just miss from a tough spot, draws farther out & banks on an ample speed target to shoot at

 

RACE 10

3-Nylander – Seven-time winner last year was knocking on the door before the sick scratch & draws better for a possible class drop n pop

 

6-Chapheart – Finished a rock solid second to a decisive winner in a much-needed 4YO comeback for Team Burke & looms large for the anticipated follow up

 

9-Call Me Dani – Was forced into a double class hike & got wiped out, lands outside, but drops back a notch, remains in career form & retains Dexter Dunn

 

 

RACE 11

3-Bet The Limit – Fresh claim by Richard Johnson looked like a new horse romping to a new mark of 1:52.1 with a barn change, draws well for the step up in price & keeps Dave Miller

 

4-Risky Buddy – Sat a more patient trip & rallied for a much-improved second chasing runaway Bet The Limit last out, draws better & ramping up since the late-December sick scratch

 

1-What The Luck – 1:51.3 performer @ The Big M last year on a form spree, hounded by Lenwood’s Real Deal last time & back on the rail

 

RACE 12

1-Mcmatters – More than ten lengths back at the half & stormed home in :27.1 to grab second last time, now has something positive to build on from a vastly improved post

 

9-Chiplosive – Solid runner up to a razor sharp Hockey Hanover two starts back, drops back down to that level, tougher draw, but has some back in his arsenal

 

6-Massive Matter – Took the trotting hopples off & blasted down the road as the favorite, now brimming with confidence & could be up for a double class hike

 

RACE 13

4-Skateboard Chic – 11YO mare romped away from TM 74 types in a nifty 1:52.4 two starts back, then got parked first over & now draws an improved post with the Buckeye

 

8-Speak Your Mind – Solid runner up to the heavily favored On The Money GB two starts back, then pace compromised & finished with a :26.4, draws outside, yet could be on the verge

 

9-One More Try – Steady mare has hit the board in her last two with smooth/patient trips, Dylan Huckabone-Miller is now stuck outside, but has no standouts to face

 

RACE 14

8-Somiki – Fresh Richard Johnson claim blew up the toteboard in his 2023 debut, draws a demanding post, but this is a 4YO with some upside & dips back to a weaker TM Rating

 

4-Marvalous One – Was much better in his second start off the bench, rallied stoutly to hit the board & now moves inside to ramp it up further in his third start for a new barn

 

3-SD Watch Me Now – Beaten favorite made another early break last week, was rock solid in his previous two right after Juan Cano had taken over & draws inside again

 

Selections for Saturday, February 11

 

RACE 1

7-I’m J Bee N – Fresh off a gallant nose loss he stormed home from a tough spot to land in a photo third last week, post is more demanding, but might be on the verge in a tight opener

 

1-Tam Major A – Suddenly hammered down to 2-1 favorite & just missed with a vastly improved effort, now a fresh Richard Johnson claim on the rail poised to step up third try off the bench

 

2-Restaurant Bully – The Bully tried to turn things around by switching to a claimer & was pace/trip compromised, gets another shot from an inside post for a sharp barn

 

RACE 2

1-Might Be Right – Added Lasix & solid runner up to heavily favored Idiosyncratic last week & could be graduation day for this steadily improving 4YO on the rail

 

8-Oakwood Vegas IR – Irish-bred showed positive signs in a pair of needed starts @ Yonkers for Team Burke, draws outside here, but this lightly-raced 5YO has some upside

 

3-Crown Of Thorns – Lightly-raced colt makes his 3YO debut for Team Burke, flashed some potential as a freshman, solid qualifier on a frigid day & inside draw

 

RACE 3

6-Keystone Steam – Got stuffed inside off a pedestrian :57.4 half & sprinted sharply in :26.4 to hit the board, game upsetter before that remains a live item for Jason Bartlett

 

3-Sports Advisor – Severely pace compromised from post nine on an icy night last Saturday, now makes his second start off the Ricky Bucci claim in a softer spot & retains Jordan Stratton

 

1-Homestretch Wes – Beaten favorite, left alertly, sat the pocket through a dawdling clip & outsprinting fourth last week, yet remains in career form on the rail

 

RACE 4

6-Pikachu Hanover – Steady 9YO revived on the comeback trail @ Mohawk, thrived here in the past, arrives fresh off a rousing score & gets Dexter Dunn

 

5-Rich And Miserable – Fresh off a mild upset two starts back he tried to steal a repeat & got nosed out by a classy Delayed Hanover, tough to deal with when he’s on his game

 

7-Dee’s Red Delicious – Took full advantage a slight class dip & got away with a soft pace enroute to a mild upset last week, expect another blastoff attept

 

RACE 5

1-Baileys Rock N – Forced to make a wide/late move & just missed for the second time in his last three with a furious :26.2, remains at reduced level, lands the rail & keeps Dexter Dunn

 

3-King James Express – Revved up with a thunderous rally from post eight to just miss last week, poised to step up from an improved post for Team Burke in a drop down derby

 

2-Decision Day – Nine-time winner last season with a mark of 1:48.3 drops along with several others in here eligible to revamp form & draws inside to trip out

 

RACE 6

1-Golden Quest N – Went two-for-two here last September & took her mark of 1:52, getting some class relief off a needed comebacker & draws the rail for Team Bongiorno

 

6-Fox Valley Exploit – Was thriving here against better last year when she took her mark of 1:51.1, now drops a notch for her second start off the bench for Noel Daley

 

7-So Irresistable – Had the table set sitting second over off dueling leaders & just missed by a neck last week, tougher post in a competitive field, but drops a notch

 

RACE 7

5-Hopnroll Heaven – Difficult to back a horse who finished ninth in his last two, the latest at 70-1, but go back to his close second three starts back, plus he gets some class & post relief

 

1-As Always – Sports a mark of 1:50.1 @ The Big M last season, finished a close third when last seen here in mid-January & returns with the rail for Team Burke

 

6-Better Take It – Sub 1:50 performer here last year sparked his form with back-to-back blowouts @ Miami Valley for Team Cullipher & gets Dexter Dunn in a wide-open affair

 

RACE 8

8-Majorca N – 11-time winner in 2022 with a mark of 1:48.4 @ The Big M took a couple of starts off a recent sick scratch to win the Open @ Dover, fresh threat looms large despite post eight

 

4-Incaseyoudidntknow – Major force in the Dover Open class finished third behind Majorca N last out, steady mare draws inside that rival & gets Jordan Stratton

 

2-Shecandance N – On quite a roll, while on the rise to trounce $50,000 claimers @ Yonkers, nice recovery to just miss here back on December 30, speedy contender draws inside

 

RACE 9

2-Ballerat Boomerang – Classy 10YO remains on a long form spree, solid runner up to the raging Mysweetboymax last week, blowout before that, post two again as a prime opportunist

 

4-Mysweetboymax – One of the hottest horses around winning four of his last five & lowered his mark three times, if able to wrestle control or stalk the speed he looks tough to go against

 

8-Seriously Hanover – Has really gotten serious winning three of his last four, fresh off a 1:49.3 crush he came right back with another decisive score last week, big threat despite post eight

 

RACE 10

7-Nicholas Beach – Almost overcame a pace compromised trip & zipped home in :25.3 last week, 1:47 performer here last year makes that key third start off the bench for Team Bongiorno

 

3-Belmont Royale N – Roaring late to finish a close second in the Preferred before another close third in the Yonkers Open, very live Nifty Norman trainee draws inside to stalk n pop

 

10-Burnham Boy N – His potential remains a mystery, impressive US debut win in 1:49, then a close second to Lochinvar Art A with a :25.3, beaten favorite can atone despite post ten

 

RACE 11

1-LadyFord Dollar GB – Blowout US debut at the bottom condition, then just missed against tougher, keeps ramping up & reaching higher from the rail to give Team Burke a strong 1-2 punch

 

2-Acton Hanover – Came right back with another decisive rally off cover & exploded home in an eye-catching :26.4, draws better to take another step up the TM Rating ladder for Team Burke

 

8-Adriano Hanover – Note the sharp narrow loss two starts back, then got parked first over, tougher post here, but this 1:51.2 performer here back in mid-December owns a big kick

 

RACE 12

2-Concur – Thought he might’ve been sitting on another big one & was out of striking range last week, now moves inside, keeps Yannick Gingras & can stalk the standout Thanos

 

1-Thanos – Brushed, battled & was dead game to score the repeat last week, 1:51.4 career best before that & raging on the rail for the hot combo of Stratton & Alexander

 

3-Midnight Day – Finished a close third to Thanos from post ten two starts back, then left in the wake of more Thanos exploits last week, now a fresh claim with a much better post

 

RACE 13

4-Rockin Marty A – Aussie import off an impossible trip as the beaten favorite, with a pair of acclimating miles under him he now moves inside to get more aggressive for Team Miller

 

3-Always Better –Gathering momentum making his fourth start on the comeback trail, slow start from post ten last week, solid runner up before that, moves inside for Stratton & Alexander

 

7-Real Peace – Flashed more late pace in his second start here for Team Burke, solid summary last year, has some back class lurking, tricky post, yet could surprise with the right set up

 

RACE 14

8-JK Standingovation – Gave it a gallant try closing from last to hit the board in a praise worthy comebacker, stuck outside, but this improving 4YO looms large for Team Bongiorno

 

5-Springsteen – Classy 8YO nosed out by JK Standingovation in the qualifier three weeks ago off a sick scratch, returns at the bottom condition & launches midpack as a fresh threat

 

6-Texas Miki – Was toiling against TM 83 types, dropped & tried it on the lead to avail, gets another shot at this reduced level & might revert to a stalking style