Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, January 12, & Saturday, January 13, 2024

Wednesday, January 10, 2024

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RACE 1

4-Magritte – Classy 10YO sports that mark of 1:50.4 @ The Big M last year & draws well fresh off a rousing overdue score @ Freehold

 

7-Mask On Mask Off – Well, as you can plainly see The Mask was clearly on two starts back, then severely pace compromised last week & now switches to Joe Lee

 

9-Sunshine’s Finest – Was able to sit close to a rate pace from the rail & grabbed the deuce last week, moves outside, but can kick home close with the right set up

 

RACE 2

4-Bellatricks – Classy 11YO mare been trying to gather momentum on the comeback trail @ Yonkers, lands in a real soft spot here & eligible for a wake up call

 

2-Shake It Twice – Just one for 27 last year, yet has hit the board in two of her last three & lands post two again off a solid second to heavy favorite Windsun Mojito

 

6-Celcius – Took charge from post eight, carved out a solid pace & held third last week, look for more positive things from this lightly-raced 3YO filly

 

RACE 3

5-Cool Trixter – Lightly-raced Nifty Norman trainee romped in the recent comebacker, then had too far to come & this homebred is headed in the right direction

 

8-Kovu AS – Has come back sharp for Anette Lorentzon, runner up from post ten here two starts back, then a confidence-boosting romp @ Harrah’s Philadelphia

 

3-Gatsby – This gelding worked his way up to N/W 5 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside to set up a stalking trip in a wide-open field here

 

RACE 4

10-Elm Grove Qwiggly – Has continued to do solid work @ Yonkers since the mid-November sick scratch, stuck outside, but Per Engblom drops him in price

 

7-Racing Money – Team Estrada-tuned gelding has caught a case of seconditis, nothing wrong with that money-making scenario, tougher post, yet persistence pays

 

8-Rojan’s Way – Simply cycled forward & steamrolled to an overdue upset, now faces an uphill climb from post eight, yet brimming with confidence

 

RACE 5

6-Infinity Stone – Drops further to face a field ripe for the taking & picks up Jason Bartlett & this 1:54 winner @ The Big M last year finds a tailor made spot for an overdue win

 

5-Glide In the Wind – Tripped out to a big overdue upset here from post eight two starts back, then had too far to come from post ten & now shifts to midpack & changes barns

 

1-Senna – This gelding won his share last year, revived on Lasix recently, roughed up first over in the much-needed comebacker & lands the rail again

 

RACE 6

4-Cash Roll – Draws a bit better fresh off a lively bounce-back mile with Jordan Stratton, finished a close second with sharp pace at both ends

 

2-Santafe’s Appetite – She came roaring right back to repeat in style & took a new mark of 1:52.3 as the heavy favorite & draws a better post to spark a Pat Lachance 1-2 punch

 

5-Chevrons By Pass N – Finished an all-out forth behind Cash Roll in a beneficial tightening mile & has a logical chance to show more with a midpack stalking trip

 

RACE 7

2-Bolt Of Beauty – Finished well after a slow start from post seven to hit the board in an inspiring comeback & draws better for Team Miller

 

3-Pink Ruby – Indiana shipper has won three of her last four, arrives in a new barn, draws inside, but remains a mystery after a 36-day layoff

 

4-Won’t Back Down – You gotta love the close second from post seven two starts back, then tried it on the lead & settled for third, draws well & merits the class hike

 

RACE 8

2-May Baby – Finished a solid second to the heavily favored Little Expensive last out, gets another shot at this reduced level & she draws better to beat the boys

 

1-Massive Matter – Just missed against similar @ Harrah’s Philadelphia two starts back, gets some class relief, lands the rail & knows how to win here

 

4-Chiplosive – Classy 8YO horse-for-the-course recovered nicely to chase a runaway Swan Flyer, draws a bit better & his form is trending right

 

RACE 9

2-Probert – Twice beaten favorite has come to life with two solid seconds, chased Silent Crossing two starts back & draws better for a hot barn

 

1-Silent Crossing – Beat these decisively with sharp pace at both ends two starts back, has acclimated nicely to The Big M & lands the rail

 

3-Pattybake Mooss – Just one for 16 last year, but fresh off a wide menacing move to grab a board spot behind Probert & draws inside again

 

RACE 10

7-Platinum AS – Kicks off a formidable Anette Lorentzon 1-2 punch in here, an eight-time winner in 2023, including an Open score @ Dayton in early December

 

4-Royalty Beer – Beer has been brewing sharp efforts @ Yonkers since switching to Pat Lachance, just missed in the Open two starts back & draws well here

 

3-P L Oscar – Oscar arrives on a nice roll & fresh off back-to-back upsets against $50,000 claimers @ Yonkers & draws better here in a very intriguing puzzle

 

RACE 11

10-Da Delightful – Came to life & tried to steal away from post seven when heavily favored, slammed with post ten, yet gets another class drop

 

6-Gentle Giant – Freshened 5YO with a 1:49 mark @ Pocono & seven-time winner last season returns fresh off a lively qualifier & plummets in class

 

8-Dance It Out – Gave it a sharp aggressive try & just missed from post eight, remains at this reduced level & might last longer with better rating

 

RACE 12

1-Sidd Finch – Was forced wide from an impossible spot & kicked home with extra zip, gets his third consecutive class drop & finally moves inside

 

3-Make It Easy – She’s been much better hitting the board in her last two @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, gets an improved post & matches up well with these

 

2-Unique Kemp – Continues to gather momentum on the comeback trail, took a mark of 1:54.4 back on December 15 & draws inside off a solid rally for third

 

RACE 13

5-Straight Up Cool – Just three for 37 last year, but a fresh claim drops into a basement condition here, a potent angle & has license to perk up & dominate

 

4-Mcclinchie – Dropped to this level & just missed with a perfect trip & draws an improved post to employ a similar strategy with something positive to build on

 

1-High Baller – Not liking his two for 30 record last season, but moves inside fresh off a solid speed try from post ten & owns some back class

 

RACE 14

6-El Yerno – Suddenly flashed some late life to hit the board at long odds & anticipating even more in his second start for Travis Alexander

 

4-Midnight Thunder – Solid runner to standout Oakwood Ardan IR, draws better on a form spree & the arrow continues to point skyward for this lightly-raced 4YO

 

5-Gretzky The Great – Gretzky is full regroup mode added Lasix & qualified with superb late pace, so here’s another 4YO with upside to seriously consider

 

Saturday, January 13, 2024

RACE 1

5-High On Rocknroll – Just three for 36 last year, off a narrow loss @ Yonkers he made a sharp transition to The Big M with a strong second to a revved up Sugar Me N

 

8-Hereittiz – Beaten favorite forced wider with not quite the same late punch, was on a nice roll before that & now a fresh claim hindered by a tougher draw

 

7-Gentlemanjim II IE – This 10YO Irish bred tries to rebound off a rare miscue, was razor sharp elsewhere before that & has stalk n pop potential

 

RACE 2

2-See You Friday – 10YO makes his third start since the latest claim, trip compromised in his last two, draws inside again & looms as a stalking threat

 

7-Select Friday – Capped off 2023 with his ninth win of the year in emphatic style @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, so Yogi Sheridan has a live item to brush n crush

 

1-Majestic Kiwi N – 10YO has been consistently on the edges against $15,000 claimers & can simply ride the rail & trip out for an overdue win

 

RACE 3

2-Fulsome – $76k winner last year was right there in the photo two weeks ago, a solid second before that & drops back a notch in sharp form

 

7-Hopnroll Heaven – 1:51.3 winner @ The Big M in 2023 struggling on the edges against tougher @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & gets further class relief

 

3-Brutallyhandsome A – Australian import made his US debut here off a solid qualifier, had an acclimating mile, dips a notch & lands post three again for Team Stratton

 

RACE 4

1-Lovin On You – Regained his winning form after an early December sick scratch, exploded home with a new lifetime mark & lands the rail in a very competitive division

 

3-Posh On the Beach A – Just one for 39 last year, but coming around in December, took charge & almost went all the way in most recent & draws inside

 

5-Stick With Cramer – Only three for 37 last season, yet sharpened his sword with three straight seconds @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, grinded gamely & just missed last out

 

RACE 5

3-Black Tie Bash – 10-time winner & hit the board in 20 of 23 starts last year, ships in a strong form, gets some class relief & draws inside for Pat Lachance

 

6-Little Expensive – Lightly-raced 4YO followed up a sharp qualifier with an effortless brush n crush without hopples & looks poised to take another step up for Team Orange Crush

 

5-Nextroundsonme – Bounced back with another solid second, so he’s proven competitive at this level, but that was a month ago, which makes him tough to gauge

 

RACE 6

9-Venturesome Arden N – Lightly-raced 5YO NZ-bred has promptly gone two-for-two in the US, his latest a decisive 1:50.4 upset here from post nine

 

10-Oakwood Ardan IR – Irish-bred 5YO came right back to go two-for-two on Lasix, faces a stiffer task here, yet certainly has plenty of upside

 

5-Southwind Sambucca – Steady 4YO hasn’t missed the board in his last four, second to Venturesome Arden N last week & stalks from midpack

 

RACE 7

3-Oakwood Paddy IR – Another eye-catching Irish-bred ships in on a form spree, just a fifth off his lifetime mark last out @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws inside & fits well here

 

4-Beach Vibes – Caught fire last month, shot home in :26.4 to repeat with a career best 1:51.1, draws well & continues to climb the condition ladder

 

6-Nineteenth Man – No doubt needed his Big M debut after a sick scratch, strong in the win column last year & now drops further for Team Cushing

 

RACE 8

9-Mr Ds Rock – Second to his fired up stablemate Boiling Oar in a beneficial acclimating mile, stuck outside, but makes his key third start off the bench & knows how to win here

 

10-Boiling Oar – Fresh off a deadheat for win this 9YO came right back to blow them away with another 1:49.4, expect another blastoff from his assigned outside slot

 

2-Sugar Me N – Was super sweet going wire-to-wire from post eight in a career best of 1:50.4, claimed again & looks capable of stepping up drawing inside the main concerns

 

RACE 9

4-Vintage Cheddar N – Finished a hard-charging fourth in :26.4 after a slow start from post nine, finally draws inside & might be on the verge of putting one across

 

10-Jilliby Dynamite – Off a career best season, flashed a sneaky good :26.2 last out, tougher draw, but gets some class relief & trending right since the November sick scratch

 

3-Alta Classic A – Left Plainridge with a new mark of 1:50.3, toss out his no-chance pair @ Yonkers & ships into a real cozy spot here for Team Cushing

 

RACE 10

8-Queen Of Success – Romped back-to-back fresh of the bench, then was flying late after a slow start from post nine & she remains a very live item in a competitive affair

 

7-Coachellabound N – Notched her 11^th win of 2023 with a perfect trip last out & this 1:49.1 performer @ The Big M last season is still fresh on the comeback trail

 

5-Alexa Skye – Tried a pace-setting role & just missed to the trip-sitting Coachellabound N in her third start off a sick scratch & with that excellent acclimating mile under here she looms large

 

RACE 11

5-Tito Rocks – Tito returns to The Big M at a competitive level, draws a bit better to set up his usual stalking strategy & note the post eight win back on 11-18

 

1-Nuttin But Finesse – Kicked off 2024 going all the way in a confidence-booster @ Freehold, gets some class relief for his return here & post draw luck continues

 

6-Montana Storm N – Appeared overmatched in his last two, drops back down to the level of his gutsy score back on 12-16 & has a chance to take charge for The Crocodile Man

 

RACE 12

5-Mister Donald A – Fresh off a solid season, just missed a huge upset @ Harrah’s Philadelphia two starts back, drops a notch & can play a midpack stalking role

 

7-Beach Chief – The Chief has romped in three of his last four, seems to measure up to most of his opposition in this one & his speed overcomes a challenging post

 

4-Fika Time – Makes his second start after a long layoff, gets some class & post relief & might be ready to make a more aggressive effort in a field riddled with question marks

 

RACE 13

7-Stretch The Line – Winless in 26 starts last year, but his recent form & finishes have been strong & he could be heard from with a speed target to shoot at

 

2-Boiler Maker –Sub 1:50 performer @ The Big M last season finally showed his class with a solid rally for the deuce after changing barns & draws inside a headscratcher

 

1-Purple Poet – Chased a fired up On Accident with a :26.3 sprint, only three for 35 last year, but he can make his presence felt again & trip out from the rail

 

RACE 14

1-War Of Will – Suddenly caught fire with a perfect trip win for his hot new barn, then stepped up to this level & just missed on the engine & now moves inside

 

2-Seeuinnashville A – Only three for 34 last year, pace compromised in his last two, nosed out with a strong late move three starts back & now draws better

 

7-King Of Aces – Beaten favorite in two of his last three, fresh off a well-rated narrow loss he can blast off & be forwardly placed again while still on top of his game