Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, Feb 24 & Saturday, Feb 25, 2023

Wednesday, February 22, 2023


RACE 1

6-Bilbo Hanover – Neil Glasser edged his brother David two starts back, then bumped into a sizzling 1:52.4 William Mcwhiskers & remains sharp & fresh from midpack again

 

4-MV OK Palacio BR – Beaten favorite was forced wide from post eight, then interfered with in the stretch, two solid seconds before that & now gets an improved post

 

3-Jerrytone – Has bounced back from a mid-January injury scratch with two straight on the board finishes, the latest holding second into wicked stretch headwinds & draws better

 

RACE 2

2-Panettone Hanover – Lightly-raced Team Burke son of Captaintreacherous finished a well beaten fifth behind stablemate Idiosyncratic in his 3YO debut, yet has license to step up

 

4-Idiosyncratic – Homebred son of Sweet Lou came right back to win again from post eight last Saturday fresh off his first career win & this Team Burke 3YO continues to soar

 

5-A Deal’s A Deal – Improving 4YO has been a steady force on Lasix, chased Idiosyncratic in his last two finally draws a decent post & plays stalking opportunist

 

RACE 3

5-Violence – Lightly-raced 4YO hit the board slicing through wind gusts, second try off the bench, $115,000 brother to 2017 Hambo finalist Enterprise for Team Burke worth a swing

 

7-Big Christian – Late-blooming 4YO made it two-for-two with a noteworthy rally into vicious headwinds last week, one to beat again despite a tougher post

 

4-Princess Caitlyn – Team Burke-tuned filly finished a solid third to Big Christian, then missed last week & now she draws well again to tap into her potential

 

RACE 4

2-Trans Meanie – Beaten favorite & strong third in her Team Bongiorno debut, then flashed some pace at both ends, while closing into headwinds & draws better in a wide-open affair

 

6-One More Try – Simply too far back again from post nine last week, hit the board in her previous three, draws a bit better & just needs the right set up to swoop this bunch

 

7-Shes A Sassy Beach – Landed on the edge fifth, yet did finish well into those headwinds last week, gathering momentum on the comeback trail & reunited with Yannick Gingras

 

RACE 5

3-Halliama – Changed barns, added Dexter Dunn promptly put forth a very strong second by a nose, has a winning history here, now draws better & trending right

 

7-Garibaldi – Responded to a patient drive & made a well-timed late move to repeat in style last week, another challenging post, but can’t rule out another

 

5-Levitation – Took that much-needed tour of the oval while coming back off a lame scratch, drops to the bottom condition & moves to midpack

 

RACE 6

5-Titanium Alpha – Off a memorable Big M debut from post 10 after missing 22 days, parked every step & just missed into wicked winds, second start for his new barn from midpack

 

2-Lincoln Boulevard – Knocking on the door in his last three, made up a ton of ground to hit the board in his last two here & now draws better in a competitive field

 

4-DL’s Big Elvis – Elvis was in the building & rallied to a 12-1 upset last Saturday, switches from claimers to a evenly-matched TM dash & draws well to trip out

 

RACE 7

10-Lookatmyart – Wasn’t heard from in her first start of the season & draws outside, yet she sports a solid summary last year & can exploit this drop the bottom condition

 

5-The Gypsy Queen IR – UK import for Team Burke arrives off a couple of acclimating miles against tougher @ Yonkers & lands in a softer spot here

 

3-That’smytype – Went on an air-out mission from post eight & hit a wall late into the headwinds, has been sharp since her big upset & draws much better

 

RACE 8

7-Wow Lester – Has picked up some checks in three of his last four, while dropping steadily in class, lands a challenging post, but reunited with Yannick Gingras

 

2-Bet Big On Blue – Beaten favorite off a much-improved second, then scratched sick, draws inside after missing 22 days, his barn has a 1-2 punch in this wide-open match up

 

5-Workout Girl – Fresh off one of her best efforts in awhile, gaining the deuce with a patient Steve Smith drive into those tiring headwinds, so she has something positive to build on

 

RACE 9

2-Sports Hero – Outsprinted by the faster claimers last Saturday, parked the mile before that, lands in cozy spot to steal away for Nicole Dicostanzo

 

8-Mister Daytona N – His third start off a sick scratch was an energetic second two weeks ago, draws outside again, but gets another shot at the softer GSY 1

 

7-Chief Of Staff – Finished a much better fourth in :27.2 at long odds last Saturday, draws a tougher post, but switches to the GSY 1 & picks up Joe Lee

 

RACE 10

5-Shezafreaklikeme – Stormed home from a tough spot to hit the ticket, just missed with a similar rally before that, drops back down a notch & might be on the verge

 

10-Lady Rocknrolla A – Scored a perfect-trip fresh off the claim, assigned post ten for another new barn & remains a hot item

 

2-Virtual Success – Twice a runner up to the red-hot Sauble Delightful, beaten favorite steps up off the loss, but draws better in sharp form

 

RACE 11

3-Southwind Bronn – Not much in the way of form on view, but ships south to debut for Team Estrada, gets Dexter Dunn & draws inside a camera-shy field

 

1-Always A Panther – Faded from the rail after a 3-race run in the GSY 1, fresh claim by Edwin Quevedo lands the rail again & figures to be forwardly placed

 

5-Matters Most – Vastly improved rally into stretch headwinds & runner up in a much-needed Big M debut for his new barn, has a big chance to step up further

 

RACE 12

4-Texas Miki – Bothered early in most recent, flashed sudden speed before that, faced tougher earlier this season, draws an improved post & long overdue

 

2-Like Clockwork – Draws better off an impossible trip, owns plenty of back class, retains Dexter Dunn & has license to dominate these

 

5-Bullville Frank – Has tackled better so far this season & gets a midpack post to set up a possible stalk n pop scenario

 

RACE 13

1-Jekyl N Hyde – Forced to dodge a stretch breaker & picked up minor spoils last week, takes a dip into a softer TM level & lands the rail again

 

6-Crazy For CJ – Failed to negotiate those wicked stretch headwinds last week, a solid third before that & rates contender status off that mile

 

5-Scirocco Patrick – Faded at a tougher level in the Poconos, an even fourth here before that, now makes his third start off the bench in a toss up finale

 

Selections for Saturday, February 25

RACE 1

6-Saulsbrook Raptor – 4YO just three for 34 lifetime, yet has been hinting with solid late surges recently, fresh off a needed acclimating mile & makes his second start for his new barn

 

4-Spectacular Sunset – Beaten favorite sat a trip off dueling leaders & blocked into the stretch, solid runner up in his previous two & lands post four again

 

3-In Nevada N – Took full advantage of an ideal set up & stormed home into strong headwinds to score the upset & now rewarded with an improved post for Stacy Chiodo

 

RACE 2

7-High Baller – That was a eye-catching upset rally here back on January 21, returns to the mile track off an excellent speed try @ Pocono & picks up Jordan Stratton

 

5-HP Lis Shadow – Just missed in a sharp Big M debut, then a solid runner up to a raging Stonebridge Reef last week & now makes his key third start off the bench

 

2-Raukapuka Ruler N – Just one for 28 last year, but freshened, qualified with zeal & shot home in :26.2 from post nine in a noteworthy comebacker & draws better for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 3

5-Bet The Limit – Was used too hard to clear the lead from post eight, reclaimed by Team Estrada, who put a new mark on him three starts back

 

7-Marcus Seelster – Capped off January scoring back-to-back & lowered his mark to 1:52.3, dips back down in price & reunited with Joe Bongiorno in a tricky affair

 

4-Somiki – Badly beaten favorite fresh off the claim, but allow for new barn adjustment, returns to claimers, gets Andrew McArthy & his post improves

 

RACE 4

2-Concur – His narrow loss back on January 28 was a positive indicator, drops out of claimers, gets away from a red-hot Bizys Beatle & draws inside again

 

3-Raptors Flight N – 10YO been on a pretty good roll recently, that was some upset rally from post ten two starts back, reunited with Andrew McCarthy & finally draws inside

 

6-Campora N – 11YO has suddenly come to life with two straight blowouts @ Freehold, certainly knows his way around this oval & picks up Todd McCarthy

 

RACE 5

5-Double Account – Took awhile to clear the lead from post eight & settled for third as the beaten chalk, classy 8YO gathering momentum for Team Cullipher & moves to midpack

 

4-Frank The Elder – Frank was our top pick at $14.60 last week, kicked home in :27.3 for a new mark of 1:53.2 in his second start off the bench & lands post four again for Team Burke

 

6-Tad Krazy Hanover – Made breaks in two consecutive starts, won the Big M qualifier full of late trot & she has license to bounce back for Per Engblom

 

RACE 6

1-Water Sports Teen – Beaten favorite had no chance @ Pocono, post ten here before that, gets class & post relief back @ The Big M for Team Bongiorno in a wild start to the Early Pick 4

 

6-Sporty M Three – Go back to his solid second here three starts back, returns to the mile track in a lower condition for Team Burke & joins a field full of closers

 

2-Baileys Rock N – Based on his every-other pattern he could be on the verge, nosed out two starts back, forced wide two weeks ago & in line to trip out from post two

 

RACE 7

7-Tam Major A – Blasted down the road to a new mark of 1:50.4 fresh off the Richard Johnson claim, then had a tough trip & broken equipment, tougher post here, yet can rebound

 

2-Bizys Beatle – Hot item at the claim box has won three of his last four, his last two with a first over crush, draws inside for another new barn & gets Dexter Dunn

 

9-Boiler Maker – Steamrolled to score fresh off the recent claim, then miscued @ Freehold, back @ The Big M now he looks to get into a lively flow from post nine & banks on a hot pace

 

RACE 8

1-Dontlikeitleave – Finished a solid third despite missing three weeks, on a nice roll of his own, gets some class relief, lands the rail & switches to Hot Toddy

 

2-Acton Hanover – On a four-race form spree for Team Burke, grinded gamely from post eight & nailed late by Striking Impact, now moves inside for the bump back up in class

 

9-Shine A Light – Rejuvenated for his new trainer Per Engblom, rallied stoutly to hit the board in his comebacker, stuck outside & seeks the right speed set up

 

RACE 9

3-JK Standingovation – Improving 4YO fresh on the comeback trail, stepped up with a huge rally from far back last week & draws well for Team Bongiorno

 

6-Tuffenuftowearpink – A solid third in his last two against these, now the post is tougher, but gate speed puts him in play & could be ramping up for an even bigger one

 

4-Art Scaping – Rebounded with his second upset in his last three, thundering home from last, draws much better for another try at this 83.5 TM level

 

RACE 10

3-Bettor Memories – Runner up to the red-hot Seriously Hanover in his last two, the latest from post ten, 10YO Team Burke trainee moves inside & poised for an overdue win

 

2-Adriano Hanover – Despite a perfect two-hole ride settled for second to raging Dover invader Kinnder Jackson, nice upset rally before that, draws inside again & reunited with Jason Bartlett

 

9-Mysweetboymax – On fire with three in a row recently, including a new mark of 1:50.2, two weeks off after a sub par performance & can rebound despite post nine

 

RACE 11

2-Nylander – Landed on the edges in his last two off sick scratch, drops a notch, draws inside again & has a big chance to trip out & flaunt his class

 

3-Dribbling Bi – Added Lasix & Dexter Dunn & took advantage of some class relief with a wake up win into strong headwinds, look for more from this rejuvenated 4YO from a better post

 

6-Rock Of Cashel – 13YO warhorse with a long history here, makes his second start off the bench & has license to step up at a price

 

RACE 12

6-Leon David – Just missed with an improved effort from post nine after missing three weeks & gets another serious shot at this bottom condition

 

4-Arrhythmic Surge – Flashed plenty of late pace from a real tough spot last week, drops further & draws well in a field ripe for the taking

 

10-Rockeyed Optimist – Has clearly fallen off form so far this season & lands outside, but this is a substantial class drop & he owns a big late kick

 

RACE 13

1-Rockin The Aces – Stormed home from last to hit the board last week, remains at this reduced level, sub 1:50 performer @ The Big M last year moves inside & overdue

 

2-Barrage Hanover – Rallied right behind Rockin The Aces for minor spoils in a much-needed first try off the bench & now draws better with some upside

 

3-Revolver N – Has struggled making slow starts recently, but drops dangerously, draws inside & can employ a stalk n pop strategy

 

RACE 14

8-Apple Valley Art – Recent claim was out of striking range last week, draws another tough post, but drops back down, owns a big kick & several of his opponents can be safely eliminated

 

2-Skyway Fireball – On the edges in his last two here, faced vicious stretch headwinds last out, another recent claim draws inside to work out a smooth stalking trip in a dartboard finale

 

7-Our Third Rock – Missing three weeks off a sick scratch & wire-to-wire as the favorite @ Freehold, drops below the level of the early January claim & demanding post