Ken Warkentin Selections for January 27, 28 & 29, 2023

Wednesday, January 25, 2023

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Selections – Friday, Jan 27

RACE 1

9-Takeittotheface – Classic horse-for-the-course is real good right now, put together a pretty strong back half to just miss in a blanket photo last week & he’s a threat with the right set up

 

6-MV OK Palacio BR – Sat a three-hole, angle out, then dove to the inside to land in a five-ply photo last week, a bit tougher draws here, but trending right for Team Harmon

 

3-Bilbo Hanover – Took a couple of starts on the comeback trail to break through with a perfect trip @ Monticello, qualified well here back in mid-December & draws inside to contend

 

RACE 2

2-Super Girl – Promising Downbytheseaside filly from a productive family shook loose late to finish third in :26.2, draws inside again to make the obvious step forward off that solid debut

 

4-On the Money GB – Off a sneaky good qualifier lived up to the 4-5 favorite hype with an assertive score in his US debut for Team Burke & gets another shot in the same class

 

5-Speak Your Mind – Lightly-raced 4YO mare was much more aggressive in her second start back on Lasix, has logical license to improve & possibly turn the tables on the standout

 

RACE 3

1-Amador – Beat this class twice last month when he went on a quite a roll recently, drops back down & has a big chance to trip out from the rail & flaunt his big late kick

 

3-Hockey Hanover – Hockey has come to life win two straight mild upsets, the first from post ten & then parlayed a perfect two-hole trip, now moves inside to tackle another step up

 

7-Platinum AS – Shows that 1:52.4 career best @ Dayton back on December 19, an even fifth against Delayed Hanover & company last Sunday in a much-needed acclimating mile

 

RACE 4

1-Sauble Delight – Nine-time winner last season bumped into a 1:52.4 winner in her Big M debut, won her Izzy Estrada debut before that & has a chance to shine from rail off an acclimating mile

 

3-Cherie Amour – Had to look at this race a few extra times to find anything to latch onto, this 10-time winner last year was pace compromised & got parked last Sunday from the same post

 

9-Mymonstersarereal – Just two for 31 & saddled with post nine, yet this is a softer spot for her & she can outkick several in here with the right speed set up

 

RACE 5

10-William Mcwhiskers – Gave a strong indication with that bounce-back qualifier, then just missed in a strong comeback for Peter Kleinhans, who has the skill to handle post ten

 

3-Harry Terror – Was able to turn it around big time with a patient pocket trip & got nosed out last week, now he’s rewarded with an improved for Lee Morris & looms large

 

4-Sunshine’s Finest – Paid the price for a real slow start from post nine, rallied from a tough spot to score the upset back on December 30 & draws better to stalk closer

 

RACE 6

6-Cash Roll – Converted a perfect second over trip to romp in the slop as the favorite back on December 16 & drops back down to that winning level

 

2-Cousin Mary – 10YO veteran just wasn’t up the task last week, but now gets some much-needed class relief & draws inside to employ a stalk n pop strategy

 

1-Gottalovemyshadow – Revived her form with the recent switch to trainer Maria Alvarez, hikes up a notch fresh off a decisive upset last Sunday & draws much better here

 

RACE 7

5-A Better Game – Took a mark of 1:50.4 here last year & unleashed quite a wake up mile, grinding gamely to just miss last week, has the class & now the form to beat these

 

4-Addictivebehavior – Just missed with an excellent trip & try in her Big M 4YO debut for Team Miller, draws inside again to carve out a similar scenario with something positive to build on

 

8-Skateboard Chic – Was able to brush n crush a very weak TM 74 field last week, stuck outside again, but now brimming with confidence for this tougher task

 

RACE 8

2-Miss Dottie Mae – Upset these from post eight with a mighty late surge to kick off her season, drops back down a notch, draws an improved post & figures to get the right set up here

 

4-Pearl Harbour N – Beaten favorite sat close to a hot pace & finished a solid second in second US start & might have found an ideal spot to break through for Team Harmon

 

6-Lady Rocknrolla N – Saw her five-race winning streak snapped despite a big effort to finish second, now somehow she gets to drop a notch & can bounce back despite a tougher draw

 

RACE 9

8-Safensound Hanover – Dipped down to this price, added Andrew McCarthy & stormed home as the 8-5 favorite last week, based on the opposition he can easily repeat despite post eight

 

5-Sports Advisor – Don’t know why he never got involved from post eight last Saturday, finished a hard-charging second before that & seemed to be ramping up for The Money Man

 

2-Lenwoods Real Deal – Somehow he was able to step up & finish a solid second to Safensound Hanover last week & draws inside again to trip out & crank it up further

 

RACE 10

5-Call Me Dani – Beaten favorite languished in never-never land @ Yonkers last time, a close second here with a solid rally before that & now drops dangerously

 

2-Gotwuteverittakes – This guy used to drive me nuts, but seems to have settled down, closed out 2022 with a winning rally at this level, now drops back down & moves inside

 

1-Muscle Fashion – Just missed to Gotwuteverittakes despite a first over grind back on December 30, twice beaten favorite moves inside & needs a bit more stretch punch

 

RACE 11

4-Free On The Beach – Fresh off an energetic Big M qualifier, draws inside with a big chance to regroup since switching to Virgil Morgan, Jr. & note the strong number in the win column last year

 

1-Windsong Jack – Sometimes all you need is a hint of form & last week this classy 13YO stepped up with pace at both ends & now draws better in a wide-open field

 

9-Raptor’s Flight N – Has been a productive sort since the claim by The Dream Besim, beaten favorite just missed with a game effort last week & rates highly despite post nine

 

RACE 12

2-Southwind Petyr – Petyr is gradually getting into better shape, makes his fourth on the comeback trail, drops another notch, moves inside & may present some value in this toss up

 

4-Park Official – Signaled a return to form with that solid third two starts back, then got parked from post seven, this is a significant drop from tougher claimers & his post improves as well

 

1-Texas Miki – Slow start & no chance last Saturday, broken equipment before that, now gets class & post relief, reunited with Yannick Gingras & long overdue

 

RACE 13

2-SD Watch Me Now – Liked him last Sunday & finished a solid second from the rail with a :27.2, draws inside another soft field, trending in the right direction & Juan Cano has him figured out

 

5-Its Rockin Randy – Just one for 23 last year, but cruised in an energetic qualifier, then a beaten favorite with a strong speed try last Sunday & has license to step up

 

7-Spectacular Sunset – GSY 1 winner back on December 1 was pace compromised & finished well last Sunday, will need the right speed set up & trip from another demanding post

 

RACE 14

1-Halliama – Lands the rail fresh off a decent comeback for Team Chartrand after missing seven months, so look for more this time from this proven winner here

 

7-C You Again DK – 9YO imported from Denmark won his lone qualifier with a nice late burst & lands a cozy spot he can exploit for Per Engblom

 

4-Fix-It-Up – Took a 1:53.2 mark @ The Big M last season for Team Bongiorno, bounced back with a lively effort, draws well in a soft finale, but hasn’t raced in a month

 

Selections – Saturday, Jan 28

 

RACE 1

8-Dontpassme Hanover – Forced wide from a tough spot & landed in the photo with a solid :55 back half, sharp at this level moves outside & banks on the right set up

 

3-Undrthsouthrnsun N – Beaten favorite worked to secure a dreamy two-hole ride & couldn’t quite nail it, now moves inside & gets another shot at this reduced level for Team Bongiorno

 

7-Idraintheswamp A – Gathering momentum with Lasix added on the comeback trail for Team Miller, was right there flashing speed at both ends last week

 

RACE 2

6-Skyway Kon Man – Jumped on The Kon Man bandwagon two starts back when he just missed, drops another notch & trending right for Team Cullipher

 

5-Plumb – Coming off a very productive campaign she bounced back with a solid second when dropped to this level, so has something positive to build on

 

3-Mushana – 9YO stayed flat & finished well for minor spoils, nice acclimating mile & draws a bit better for his second try at this reduced level

 

RACE 3

6-PJ Lou – Here’s a new one for Team Bongiorno, tangled with top colts last year, sports a noteworthy Big M qualifier & goes second time Lasix in a wide-open field

 

1-Rifleman – Has come around recently, was charging home from a tough spot last week, nosed out before that & finally moves inside for The Minister

 

10-Mister Spot A – Might be the sharpest of the two outside class droppers in here, stuck outside, but picks up Yannick Gingras & has license to surprise these

 

RACE 4

4-Lone Wolf American – Didn’t think he’d get there for the repeat, but kicked in with that little extra :27.2 last week, draws well again & three in a row is certainly not inconceivable

 

5-Maddox Hanover – Sharp 4YO has worked his way up from the bottom claimers here, beaten favorite was well rated by Bartlett & just missed last week

 

8-Thanos – Was able to leave alertly, sustained a late attack, only to get nosed out by Lone Wolf American, stuck outside again, yet that was an excellent bounce-back effort

 

RACE 5

4-Golden Quest N – Took her mark of 1:52 here at age seven, after three months off she qualified in sharp fashion here, returns at a reduced level & draws well for Team Bongiorno

 

5-Sweet Charlie – Charlie took some tote action last week, grabbed the lead, appeared to have a stranglehold on it & just missed, draws a bit better for Team Cullipher follow up

 

8-Trick Of The Light – Took her requisite tour of the oval from post ten, was stakes caliber filly, another tough draw, but makes her second start for Noel Daley, who has a big 1-2 punch

 

RACE 6

4-Baileys Rock N – 10YO put together a nifty :53.4 back half to just miss last week, that was a huge turnaround mile with the class drop & now his post improves

 

7-Water Sports Teen – Twice beaten favorite tried it on a rated lead & failed to hold on again, tackles another demanding post, yet remains razor sharp for Team Bongiorno

3-Linnycalledfrankie – Beaten favorite fired out, sat a trip, had room on the rail & was outsprinted while all out fourth last week, draws better to possibly atone for The Money Man

 

RACE 7

3-Sporty M Three – Has landed on the edges fourth in his last two, makes his fourth start for Team Burke from an improved post, while freshened with a couple of weeks off

 

1-Dontlikeitleave – Fresh off the claim he took control & battled back in an eye-catching :27.2 to make it three in a row, now draws a much better post to extend his heater

 

2-Luc Rocks – Wired them for the upset two starts back, then sat a pocket behind Dontlikeitleave & lost ground in the sprint home, draws inside again to rebound for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 8

3-My Pal Joe – Flaunted his class & speed with a wire-to-wire two starts back, then chance from post ten last week & now Joe lands back inside to take charge again in a competitive affair

 

6-Mysweetboymax – Took a new mark of 1:51 to kick off his season, dropped back down to this winning level & took full advantage of a perfect drive by Jordan Stratton last week

 

7-High Baller – Got the fast pace set up he needed & capitalized with a mighty late surge for the upset last week, post is a bit tougher this time, but can’t rule out a repeat

 

RACE 9

5-Balleratboomerang – Beaten favorite blasted off & came out of a shuffle raging late to just miss again & this classy 10YO rates highly again in an ultra competitive affair

 

4-Pickup Man Hanover – Steamrolled first over off a rated pace & finished a close third last week, lightly-raced 4YO on the rise & draws post four again

 

1-Secrecy – 10YO speedster romped from post eight two starts back fresh off the claim & now moves inside off a solid third last week

 

RACE 10

2-Runrunjimmydunn N – Reeled off five in a row @ Yonkers before taking two months off, bumped into the sizzling Preferred in last Sunday’s comebacker & now poised to follow up

 

3-Whitecookie – The Cookie has been aggressive & was gunned down by the standout Carbine in his last two, draws a much better post for Team Burke in a very intriguing affair

 

7-Ignatius A – Open class winner here last season in 1:48.3 over a sloppy track makes his 2023 debut off a nondescript qualifier, 9YO assigned the outside slot & tough to gauge at this point

 

RACE 11

3-Dealer’s Table – Struggled coming into this season, but needed to re-acclimate here, gets his third straight class drop, draws inside again & retains Jason Bartlett

 

6-Ladyford Dollar GB – GB bred hammered down to 2-1 off a blank qualifier & jogged in 1:52.4 with a :26.3 in a sparkling US debut for Team Burke, think he can handle the double class hike

 

2-Gentlemanjim II IE – Team Bongiorno claim stopped as the badly beaten favorite in his Big M debut, then made a break at Yonkers, now has big chance to rebound on the class drop

 

RACE 12

4-Seriously Hanover – The real Seriously Hanover showed up with a sharp score two starts back, then broke launching a late move as the heavy favorite & now lands a better post to rebound

 

8-Deal The Cards – Lightly-raced 6YO lived up to the tote hype with a decisive career best of 1:52.4 two weeks ago & rates contender status despite the class hike & tougher post

 

3-Literl Lad Hanover – 1:50.1 performer here last season took a couple of starts to re-acclimate, runner up to the raging De Los Cielos Deo from post nine & draws better to step up further

 

RACE 13

5-Better Than Some – Beaten favorite gapped second over on the final turn, finished well, yet lost a position last week, has been knocking on the door & now the fresh claim angle could kick in

 

4-Capozzo – 12YO warhorse regained winning form with a lively score two starts back, reunited with Jason Bartlett & draws better in a wide-open field

 

9-Sports Hero – Nicole Dicostanzo took no prisoners in a sparkling upset last Friday, sharp son of Sportswriter has won two of his last three & can blast off to overcome post nine

 

RACE 14

7-Acton Hanover – Toss out last week’s broken equipment debacle, makes his fourth start for Team Burke after some tweaking & acclimating & rates a long look despite a tougher post

 

1-Homestretch Wes – Was a barn change bonanza when he stormed home from out of the clouds last week & now moves inside for the class hike off that sterling rally

 

6-Thndrfrmthethron N – 9YO on his toes off a solid rally for second & got up for the mild upset before that, lands in a real soft finale & retains The Minister

 

 

Selections – Sunday, January 29

RACE 1

6-Captain’s Reign – Returned to The Big M off a productive 2022 campaign & finished strong to hit the board despite missing a month, draws a bit better & retains Jordan Stratton

 

3-Bronson’s Delight – Just two for 34 last year, yet gradually getting over a mid-December sick scratch, drops a notch & draws inside to stalk n pop for Juan Cano

 

1-Setoncruisecontrol – Flashed plenty of late pace from an impossible spot second time Lasix, exits claimers, moves inside & could sitting on a winning effort

 

RACE 2

4-Brookroad Master – Might be gathering momentum after missing most of December, pace & trip compromised last week & draws better for another well-timed shot at this bottom condition

 

1-Bet Big On Blue – Rallied to upset these back on December 9, somehow got parked first over last week & lands back on the rail in a camera-shy field to atone

 

2-Takato – Only two for 35, yet this 4YO was right here in the photo three starts back, draws better for a sharp barn & in line for a smooth stalking trip

 

RACE 3

7-Guys In The Band – Wire-to-wire upsetter @ Harrah’s Philadelphia back in mid-December, went evenly in a much-needed start off a sick scratch, tougher post, but expecting more

 

4-Miss U Big Mike – Only two for 23 last year, but forced wide from post nine & kicked home in :27.3, now draws better to set up a stalking trip closer to the pace in a headscratcher

 

5-Par Intended – Coming off a two for 32 season, finished just behind Guys In the Band in last week’s comebacker from the same mid-pack post & has license to step up

 

RACE 4

1-Onlythetuffsurvive – Parlayed an easy win @ Freehold into a strong rally & solid second here last week, now moves inside & looms large for The Cutting Crew

 

6-Southwind Dredge – Relished his return to the Chuck Crissman, Jr. barn & acclimated with a strong third in his Big M debut, has a chance to build on that encouraging effort

 

8-Skyway Fireball – Nine-time winner last year just missed here on December 10, now a fresh claim off two in a row @ Freehold with Brett Beckwith, worth a long look despite post eight

 

RACE 5

2-Malone – Lightly-raced 4YO going the right direction, flashed a :27.4 from post nine after missing 23 days & now moves inside for his second try in a new barn

 

3-Headoverboots AS – Caught first over last out after a solid second to a standout in Forrest, draws inside, retains The Money Man & continues to ramp it up

 

5-A New Leader – Twice beaten chalk finished a lively second last Sunday, draws a bit better for Andrew McCarthy & regaining form third time Lasix

 

RACE 6

8-Marcus Seelster – After getting too rambunctious two starts back he launched a three-wide brush n crush last week, big threat to repeat despite a tougher spot

 

6-Doc Semalu – Doc rallied stoutly from second over to finish a solid second last week, that was quite a turnaround for the 9YO, perhaps we’ll see more today

 

5-Apple Valley Art – Just two for 40 last year, continued to struggle despite the recent addition of Lasix, but could switch gears as a fresh claim & picks up The Minister

 

RACE 7

4-Always Better – Finished well with a :27.3 in a much-needed comebacker against better, now he drops & draws inside for an anticipated second start off the bench

 

6-Truffle Dog – Got stung early from the same post & held for minor spoils last Saturday, 1:49.2 winner at The Big M last year now drops along with several others in this one

 

7-Game Of Change – Not sure which Game Of Change shows up today, but that sharp second two starts back would make him a major player in here despite a tougher post

 

RACE 8

4-Paduka – Been struggling from a long line of outside posts @ Yonkers, drops into a cozy spot to spark something where you know he’s thrived in the past

 

2-Dillinger – Trying to ramp it up on the comeback trail in three starts on Lasix, gets some needed class & post relief & poised for an overdue win

 

5-Da Ghetto Wizard – Trainer of the Week Nicole Dicostanzo & Joe Bongiorno got a bit more out this 5YO last week, closing in a crisp :27.1 & now draws better in a prime spot

 

RACE 9

4-Sunday Afternoon – Hunch bet of the year so far, beaten favorite forced wide from a tough spot, gets another shot at this bottom condition, keeps Andrew McCarthy & draws much better

 

10-Southwind Mina – Versatile mare ships from Dover Downs after winning two of her last three there, slammed with post ten, but makes the trip north on her toes

 

6-One More Try – Overcame a tough trip from far back to gain the place money last week, banks on the pace & looks for another patient drive by Dylan Huckabone-Miller

 

RACE 10

6-Ideal Beach – Liking the effort to finish a solid second to standout Lou’s Beach from post nine two starts back, draws a bit better here to continue improvement in a wide-open field

 

9-C-Bet Hanover – On a roll elsewhere & kicked off his season with a close second, then a perfect trip win @ Yonkers, lands outside here third time Lasix & Gingras back on

 

8-A Deal’s A Deal – Added Lasix  & did a complete 180 form wise, while upsetting a GSY 1 division, draws outside again, but switches to Andrew McCarthy

 

RACE 11

1-Paulie Walnuts – Rob Harmon may have found the key to this lightly-raced 6YO as his second start off the bench was a vastly improved third & he can keep it going from the rail

 

2-Massive Matters – Beaten favorite raced more competitively than his previous two, gets another big shot at this bottom condition class & draws farther inside

 

9-Goes Down Smooth – Beaten chalk has encountered some brutal trips against tougher @ Dover Downs, stuck outside here, but just needs the right set up