Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, February 23, & Saturday, February 24, 2024

Wednesday, February 21, 2024

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Race 1

5-Laneside Logic GB – Added Lasix & acclimated as a perfect trip runner up, lands mid-pack again to take another step up in an field where several are far beyond consideration

 

6-Aryiana Star – Was caught too far off the pace after a slow starts from post eight, solid finish to grab the deuce before that

 

10-A B Collins – Finished an even fourth in a much-needed comebacker, so there’s room for improvement, but post ten creates a dilemma

 

Race 2

2-Stone Cold Savage – Added Braxton Boyd & offered plenty more late pace from post eight & moves inside a wide-open division

 

3-Believeinthespirit – Finished just behind Stone Cold Savage with a pretty lively effort last week, draws a bit better & long overdue

 

10-Skyway Billy – This 12YO went off as the even money favorite & just missed from the rail last week, now moves all the way outside, yet remains a contender

 

Race 3

1-I’ll Owe You One – Beaten favorite on a pressured lead faded to fourth, stole an easy win before that & draws inside again on a form spree

 

9-Bingo Brain – The Brain capitalized on a patient drive by Dexter Dunn to score her first lifetime win, stuck outside, but she continues to ramp it up

 

7-Ghibli – Left more alertly to secure a smooth stalking trip close to the pace & was right there a close third last week, she might be on the verge

 

Race 4

7-Bet Big On Blue – Really came to life & just missed with a mighty late surge last week, 8YO draws a demanding post, but he’s trending right & retains The Buckeye

 

6-Poker Play – Despite being pace & trip compromised he was right there in the photo with his stablemate Bet Big On Blue last week & rates a long look off that improved effort

 

8-Southwind Frost – Switched to the mile track & suddenly fired hard off the wings to just miss with a noteworthy acclimating mile, contender despite post eight

 

Race 5

4-Rockabilly Charm – Was left in the wake of an exceptional 1:52.1 Sunshine’s Finest, just missed before that & draws well as a major stalking threat for The Judge

 

1-Atta Boy Dan – The classy 15YO Dan was a well-beaten favorite last week, yet was on a bit of a roll before that & draws much better to trip out

 

3-Ferdinand A – Suddenly went back to his familiar spot on the lead, was pressured throughout & only missed by a length, he could be the one to knock off

 

Race 6

2-Miss Italia – Closed stoutly to hit the board in a noteworthy Big M debut for her new barn & now draws better after that much-needed start

 

1-Badditude – Was looking for three in a row, left out of there & squandered a perfect trip, now she moves inside to atone for sizzling Team Estrada

 

5-Roma Amor – Stormed home in a wicked :26.4 to grab second in a rousing comeback, then tried it on the point to no avail & has a chance to rebound from mid-pack

 

Race 7

3-Devious Mojito AS – Lightly-raced 3YO trotted a lifetime best in his second qualifier @ Dover, has missed more than three weeks, but draws inside for a strong trotting barn

 

1-Touchpoint – Lightly-raced 3YO by Six Pack shuffled & pace compromised in most recent, lands the rail for Nifty Norman & has license to step up

 

4-Polo Bar – Just one for 23, but was doing some solid work @ Plainridge, decent qualifier here & lands post four again in a wide-open affair

 

Race 8

3-Rock On Line – He was done in by tough trips in his last two, we know what he’s capable of & this definite threat draws well to set up a smooth stalking trip

 

2-My Wish Came True – This gelding has been knocking on the door in his last two, runner up to a 1:52.1 winner last week & almost went from last to first before that

 

9-Rollinwitdaponyzzz – Mere words can’t describe that blatant turnaround tally @ 8-5 last week, now tries to prove it was no fluke from post nine

 

Race 9

2-American Way – After some much-needed freshening he changed barns to Per Engblom & went all the way in a standout qualifier & draws inside

 

4-Hold My Drink – Some bright moments recently @ The Meadows, solid runner up to Lincoln Boulevard in an excellent acclimating mile & draws inside that rival

 

9-Lincoln Boulevard – Followed up a dynamite nose loss with a dominant score & career best of 1:53.3, stuck outside, yet remains a hot item

 

Race 10

3-Village Jade – Pace & trip compromised from post eight last week, drops another notch & moves inside for Team Burke

 

8-Santafe’s Appetite – Kicked off her season with back-to-back explosive romps in a personal best of 1:52.3, moves outside, but tough to hold off at this level

 

7-Shezafreaklikeme – Fresh off a gigantic first over upset with a :27.3 for Team Chiodo & gets another shot at this level from a more challenging post

 

Race 11

2-Bank Sea – Drops further down the TM ladder after fading on the lead & draws better in a field that is begging to be beaten

 

5-Dynomites Peak – Fired his best out of striking range last Saturday, scored as the favorite before that & draws a massively improved post

 

1-Xmarxthespot – Launched a premature late bid & came up just a length shy, draws inside again with trip potential & long overdue

 

Race 12

1-Speak Your Mind – Landing on the edges in her last few, drops another notch & lands the rail for a barn starting to turn the corner

 

3-Moneymakehersmile – You can easily tell she’s been dropping positive hints, she was right there a tight third in the photo with pace at both ends from post eight

 

6-Cash Roll – Drops a notch off a much-improved third @ Yonkers, certainly knows her way around The Big M & just needs the right speed target to shoot at

 

Race 13

5-Glide In The Wind – Drops back down to the level of a mild upset rally back on January 12 & trotted home in :27.3 last week

 

4-Dylan The Great – Shipped from Cal Expo into the Edwin Quevedo barn & dug in gamely as the heavy favorite & draws well with something positive to build on

 

6-Hockey Hanover – 9YO Big M lover took some beneficial time off, sneaky good in the qualifier & returns at a reduced level

 

Race 14

6-Miss Maycee – Shipped from Mohawk into the Izzy Estrada barn & finished an energetic second in both starts @ Freehold & now debuts here second time Lasix

 

4-Ursula Blue Chip – 0 for 24, but last week’s Big M debut from post eight was more than adequate & now she draws much better in a dartboard division

 

8-Shellie De Vie – Picked up minor spoils in her last two, moves outside, but doesn’t face much & she’s long overdue

 

Saturday, February 24 Selections

Race 1

4-Somiki – Stormed home from an impossible spot to grab a minor share last week & draws better for his second start off the Justin Sodano claim, while protected in a TM event

 

7-Paduka – Has conjured up some of his back class since switching to Juan Cano in his last two, versatile 10YO tried to air it out last week & now gets Hot Toddy

 

8-ER Vegas – Draws a tougher post, but fresh off a nose loss out of a shuffle, parked from post nine & held third before that, productive sort can’t be ignored

 

Race 2

1-JK Lucky Charms – Toss out the sloppy track loss @ Freehold last week, was on a nice roll before that for The Buckeye & Team Estrada & lands the rail

 

3-Sports Hero – Perfect trip upsetter & equaled his lifetime mark of 1:52.2 from post eight two starts back, faded on an easy lead from the same post last week, which Hero shows up tonight?

 

2-Southwind Dredge – Acclimated well with a narrow loss from post ten, then paid off the chalk in 1:53 last week, merits the slight step up in price with an inside draw & Dexter Dunn

 

Race 3

6-King Alphonso – Used his gate speed to secure a pocket trip & just missed, this Per Engblom trainee & former stakes performer continues to regain form

 

2-Some Chapter – Has rallied to hit the board back-to-back at this level, moves inside to stalk the amply speed on view for a hot trotting barn

 

8-Little Expensive – Looks to rebound off a rare yet costly miscue at the start & has been razor sharp on the comeback trail for Team Orange Crush

 

Race 4

4-Global Crush – 1:51.2 performer @ Harrah’s Philadelphia been trying to ramp it up on Lasix, exits tougher claimers @ Dover Downs, changes barns & draws inside for The Buckeye

 

2-Hereititiz – No factor after a slow starts from post eight last week, but that was a solid rally for third two weeks ago, now he draws better & gets Jason Bartlett

 

9-Slick N Quick – Seems to have gathered some momentum in his last two, thundered home from never-never land to just miss last week & looms large despite post nine

 

Race 5

5-Challenger – Lightly-raced 4YO regaining form with lively efforts @ Yonkers, solid runner up here in his 2024 comeback on Lasix & picks up Hot Toddy in a headscratcher

 

4-Call Me Dani – Tried to steal one on an easy lead @ Yonkers, only making his fourth start of the season & returns to a winning level @ The Big M with Dexter Dunn

 

7-Pencils Down – Freshened with an energetic wire-to-wire Big M qualifier after finishing 2023 with back-to-back tallies & might be ready to resume his winning ways for Team Cullipher

 

Race 6

6-Sheer Terror – Came back with a wire-to-wire career best of 1:52, then bumped into a raging Oakwood Arden IR, no such standouts for this key third start off the bench

 

4-Battlefield – Nine-time winner last year came roaring back with an easy 1:53.4 romp @ Pocono & draws well to resume his form spree for Team Cullipher

 

2-Midnight Thunder – Just missed off the recent sick scratch, the crushed as the chalk last week & now draws further inside to take another step up with Dexter Dunn

 

Race 7

2-Knockin Out – An ideal second over trip almost paid off last week & now it looks like he’s on the verge in his third start off the bench here from an inside post in a tricky puzzle

 

1-Johnny Badlands – Johnny lacked any late spark in his Big M debut, but you know Team Burke will fine tune him, he draws the rail & retains The Buckeye

 

8-Lovethewayyoulie – Fresh off the mile of his life, a gutsy, yet desperate 1:52.4 nose decision for Team Chiodo, moves outside, yet can kick home with the best in here

 

Race 8

1-Dragononthebeach – Bounced back off a sick scratch with an eye-catching 1:51.3 qualifier, then was pace compromised & forced wide, now drops a notch & moves inside for Team Cullipher

 

6-Love Your Work A – Scorched these in his second start off a recent sick scratch, blitzed by a sizzling 1:50 winner two weeks ago, definite contender

 

8-Kootenay Santanna – Has been a fringe player against tougher claimers @ Yonkers, tough draw, yet raced deceptively well when last seen here in early December

 

Race 9

4-Muscle Factory – Beaten favorite barely outsprinted by a well meant Trente Deo last week & this 9YO draws well for his third start off the bench for Team Tritton

 

1-Homestretch Wes – Wes grinded gamely, slugged it out with Better Than Some & just missed last week, razor sharp Richard Johnson claim draws inside that rival in a very competitive division

 

3-Boiler Maker – Hammered down to 9-5 favorite & caught in a tough spot last week & now draws better for his second start back with Crissy Crissman-Bier

 

Race 10

7-Hunt For Cash – Upsetter with two straight perfect drives by Jim Pantaleano & nailed Marcus Seelster for a new lifetime mark of 1:50.4 last week & certainly has a chance to keep it going

 

6-Odds On Boca Raton – Saw his four-race winning streak snapped when he shook loose late & was right there in the photo last week & can’t rule out a bounce-back win in current form

 

9-Marcus Seelster – Iron-tough recent claim first or second in five of six so far this season, gunned down by the pocket sitter Hunt For Cash last week & tackles a tougher post

 

Race 11

2-Oakwood Ardan IR – Despite a three-week layoff he exploded home in :25.3 to make it five-for-five here in the US & draws inside for a stiffer match up off that career best of 1:50.2

 

1-American Dealer N – 1:49.2 performer @ The Big M last season flashed plenty of late pace in the needed comebacker & lands the rail ready to roar for Team Toscano

 

10-Stellar Yankee – Has been simply stellar since that 1:50.4 blowout that started a three-race winning streak, now tackles post ten off a new of 1:50.1 from post eight two weeks ago

 

Race 12

2-Always B Sweet – 1:50.1 winner here in 2023 was able to leave more alertly into a fast pace & came up just a length shy two weeks ago, draws inside again for his fourth straight class drop

 

3-Majorly Sexy A – Twice beaten favorite forced wide & didn’t have his usual late pop, yet now his post improves for his third try off the bench & that might be enough

 

8-Straight Up Cool – The switch to free-legged has worked out, shook loose late out of a shuffle to just miss in :27.3 last week, now post eight is the obstacle

 

Race 13

1-Prospector’s Gold – 10-time winner last season finished a hard-charging third in a commendable comeback, now we get the second start off the bench from the rail

 

4-Southwind Sambucca – No factor while pacing home stoutly against superior foes, class & post relief makes this 1:51.3 performer here last season a major consideration tonight

 

7-Whole Lotta Lou – Solid rally to hit the ticket last week, now drops a notch for Trainer of the Week Stacy Chiodo & just needs the right speed & trip set up

 

Race 14

5-Country Squire – Just one for 17, but that was an eye-catching :26.3 rally to hit the board two weeks ago, launches mid-pack & Jordan Stratton looks to time his late move just right

 

3-No Words – Fresh off a new lifetime mark of 1:52.1 he was scratched sick last week, so remains a slight mystery, yet this lightly-raced 4YO has some upside & draws better

 

4-Tennessee Smooth – Pace compromised & rallied from a tough spot to grab the show in beneficial Big M debut off a winning qualifier here & no doubt has license to step up