Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, January 5, 2024

Wednesday, January 3, 2024

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RACE 1

8-Aryiana Star – Only three for 30 last year, but she hit the board back-to-back in December with some pretty solid finishes & could be heard from with a patient trip

 

5-Bettorbytheseaside – Struggled against $20,000 claimers @ Yonkers last month, yet she arrives here fresh off the bench for new connections who have had success in this series

 

6-Lovethewayyoulie – Cumberland shipper debuts here for Team Chiodo fresh off a narrow loss, lands in a soft spot & might make an immediate impression

 

RACE 2

5-Windsun Mojito – The Mojito comes off a very productive 2023 campaign elsewhere, lands in a soft spot for her Big M debut & looms a stalking threat from midpack for Team Stratton

 

6-Steal My Thunder – 12YO made a prompt n sharp transition here with a close second two starts back, finished well again for minor spoils last out & poised to pounce here

 

2-Shake It Twice – Just one for 27 last year, yet has been a steady check recently, displayed an encouraging rally for third two starts back & finally draws inside

 

RACE 3

1-Knickknack Hanover – No factor from post ten last time, stung from post eight before that, moves inside & gets another shot at this bottom condition

 

3-Fix-It-Up – Brushed to the top & faded to seventh in his return to The Big M for his new barn, needed to acclimate & draws inside again

 

2-Brookroad Master – 0 for 29 last season, but grinded gamely & held for a board spot two starts back & draws further inside a real head scratcher

 

RACE 4

8-Rock On Line – Stormed home from a tough spot to grab the deuce in three of his last four, so if they mix it up this could be a scenario where his persistence pays

 

4-Dandy Idea – Scintillating turnaround & sparkling new mark of 1:51.4 two starts back, followed by a solid third as the beaten favorite to Camlachie Chrome & she draws inside that rival

 

9-Camlache Chrome – Tripped out from the rail for new lifetime mark last week, just missed before that & can’t rule out a repeat despite post nine

 

RACE 5

4-Allindotime – 9YO has been a picture of consistency, solid runner up in three of his last four & draws inside again to set up his usual stalking strategy

 

5-Fashion Forever – Just two for 31 last year, on the edges recently, back on the mile track & his latest win came at this level from post seven

 

7-Feast Day – Gets another class drop off after two much-improved acclimating miles, challenging post here, but trending in the right direction

 

RACE 6

4-JK My Girl – Launched her late move out of the pocket & just missed last week, remains at this reduced level & draws inside again

 

3-Chevrons Bypass N – Regrouped with a solid qualifier, game speed try in the slop back on December 1 & this fresh threat draws inside for Team Miller

 

5-Cash Roll – 1:52.3 winner here last year has a chance to rebound off a slow start & no-chance mile & was capping off a strong 2023 season on a form spree

 

RACE 7

8-Better Than Some – Makes his fourth start on the comeback trail, carves his claiming tag in half, prone to wake up & rates a long look despite post eight

 

1-SGT Papa Daddy – 10YO has romped in both starts here & claimed both times, now Team Stratton takes a swing, jams him back in for $7,500 & lands the rail

 

5-Henry the Dragon – Surprised more than a few with his solid rally for second to The SGT last week & has license to show more in his second try off a sick scratch

 

RACE 8

4-Bontoni Degato S – Beaten chalk pace & trip compromised in his second US start for Per Engblom, so that’s two solid acclimating miles & drops another notch

 

3-Swan Captain – Moves inside off a brutal trip from post ten, two solid efforts before that & rates top contender status with an inside draw this time

 

2-Full Rights – Getting further class relief & draws inside again, just two for 30 last year, yet could be gathering momentum since his early November sick scratch

 

RACE 9

1-Phenom Seelster – 0 for 41 last year, but what a turnaround with speed from post ten, a solid third in her first start for Per Englbom & now moves inside

 

5-Santafe’s Appetite – Thundered home from a tough spot to score decisively with a new mark & this lightly-raced 4YO looks poised to show more

 

8-She’s So Sweet – Rallied stoutly from a tough spot to snag the deuce with an excellent acclimating mile & this 10-time winner last season looks for another off-the-pace set up

 

RACE 10

2-Velvet Style – Took his mark of 1:55 @ The Big M last season, fresh off a solid third last week he gets some class & post relief

 

5-Havehorswiltrvel N – 9YO NZ-bred trotter equaled his lifetime mark in a lively Big M debut for Team Cushing & looks more than capable of stepping back up a notch

 

8-Lexus Ranger – Ships in on quite a roll @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, gate speed can help overcome post eight & matches up well against these

 

RACE 11

3-ER Vegas – Just two for 38 last year, yet cycled forward & tripped out to an overdue win @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside a soft spot here

 

7-Ferdinand A – Exits to amateurs with a win & two seconds in his last three, demanding post here, but this 11YO always gives his all

 

4-Shore Of Himself – 1:51 winner last year on the fringe fifth in his last two against these, yet draws better in a field ripe for the taking

 

RACE 12

5-Boiler Maker – Classy sub 1:50 performer @ The Big M last season got roughed last Saturday, gets another shot at this rock bottom condition & note the barn change

 

2-Bullville Terror – Draws much better fresh off an improved third from post eight, note the two for 36 record last year, yet lands in a camera-shy field

 

6-Midnight Lightning – Stormed home for a narrow loss @ Freehold last Saturday, lands in a wide-open field here & could be a factor with the right set up

 

RACE 13

5-Plzdontlietome – Only three for 33 last season, on the edges against tougher claimers @ Yonkers & finds an easier assignment here for Team Stratton

 

2-Ute Blue Chip – One for 25 last year, chased a standout in her Big M debut, faces easier, draws inside, yet hasn’t raced in a month, so remains a mystery

 

9-P L Portia – Bounced back off a tough trip with a solid second last week, tougher draw this time, her form is rising for Justin Sodano

 

RACE 14

2-Mount Royal – 8-time winner in 2023 made a quick adjustment to The Big M with a close second at this level & draws an improved post

 

6-Briar’s Desire – Really turned the corner with a solid third behind Mount Royal two weeks ago, just one for 19 last year, but has a chance to step up

 

4-Always A Force – Not much in three starts on the comeback trail & only four races last year, but she has a history of success here & due for a wake up call

 

Saturday, January 6 Selections

RACE 1

8-Unique Beach – Solid runner up second time Lasix last week, tougher draw & just two for 38 last year, but makes his third start off a sick scratch & returns to claimers

 

4-Lyons Pride – Bounced back off the injury scratch on 12-1 with a solid third, took a mark of 1:50.4 @ The Big M last season & draws better with something positive to build on

 

7-Smokin By N – Didn’t appreciate the parked trip last week, was on a form spree @ Yonkers before that, more challenging post, yet dips in price to rebound

 

RACE 2

4-War Of Will – Suddenly caught fire with a perfect trip win for his hot new barn, then stepped up this level & just missed on the engine last week & now draws better

 

3-King Of Aces – Beaten favorite in two of his last three, fresh off a well-rated narrow loss two weeks ago, draws well in sharp form & has options

 

8-Art Of Endurance – Ships in on a five-race winning streak @ Cumberland, faces a tougher task here, yet he’s worth a long look with the confident way he has won

 

RACE 3

3-Lovin On You – Cycled forward & rallied to take a new mark of 1:52.3 two weeks ago, draws inside again & continues to gather momentum since the 12-2 sick scratch

 

4-Select Friday – Convincing winner in two of his last three, returns to the Big M after romping away from $15,000 stock @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & looms large

 

2-Stick With Cramer – Only three for 37 last year, but has sparked a three-race form spree @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & lands inside off a sharp narrow loss

 

RACE 4

4-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

 

6-Hereittiz – Beaten favorite forced wide with not quite the same late punch, was on a nice roll before that & now a fresh claim

 

1-Rockathon – Finished a solid third behind High On Rocknroll last week, back on the rail, has been dropping positive hints & overdue

 

RACE 5

9-Mr Ds Rock – Second to his fired up stablemate Boiling Oar in a benefical 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 the 9YO came right back to blow them away in 1:49.4 again, expect another blastoff from his assigned post ten in a pari mutuel puzzler

 

5-Sugar Me N – Was super sweet going wire-to-wire from post eight in a career best of 1:50.4, was claimed again & looks capable of stepping up with a midpack launch

 

RACE 6

2-Vintage Cheddar N – Finished a hard-charging fourth in :26.4 after a slow start from post nine, finally draws inside & might be poised to put one across

 

5-Stone Hanover – Drops back down off a no-chance trip, well-controlled wire-to-wire before that & he can also close like a freight train

 

1-My Pal Joe – Beaten favorite was stung to grab an early lead & got stuffed in heavy traffic, post ten winner in 1:49.3 back on 12-9 back on the rail with his classy resume

 

RACE 7

3-Stellar Yankee – Arrives off a tough trip from post seven @ Yonkers, closed from the clouds to hit the board before that & lands in a cozy spot to trip out for Team Stratton

 

4-Good Deal – Paid the price for slow starts in his last two, note his back-to-back wins in November & gets some class & post relief for a high percentage barn

 

5-Montana Storm N – Overmatched in his last two, drops back down to the level of his gutsy score back on 12-16 & stalks from midpack for The Crocodile Man

 

RACE 8

6-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

 

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

 

3-Southwind Sambucca – Steady 4YO hasn’t missed the board in his last four, second to Ventruesome Arden N last week & lands post three again

 

RACE 9

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

 

1-Oakwood Paddy IR – Another razor sharp Irish-bred ships in on a form spree, just a fifth off his lifetime mark last out @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, lands the rail & seem to fit well with these

 

5-Bettor Not Talk – Has missed a month of action & bumps back up a notch, but was right there in a 1:49.3 place deadheat last time & stalks from midpack

 

RACE 10

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

 

6-Coachellabound N – Notched her 11^th win of 2023 with a perfect trip last week & 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 her she looms large

 

RACE 11

7-Tito Rocks – Tito returns to The Big M at competitive level, can overcome post seven with his gate speed & shows a post eight win back on 11-18

 

1-Fika Time – Makes his second start after a long layoff, gets some class & post relief & lands the rail in a field riddled with question marks

 

3-Beach Chief – The Chief has romped in three of his last four, seems to measure up against most of his opposition in this one & draws inside again brimming with confidence

 

RACE 12

4-Straight Up Cool – Just three for 37 last season, but potent angle of fresh claim dropping into a condition race, plus he draws well & picks up Jordan Stratton

 

2-Whole Lotta Lou – Eight-time winner last year & sub-1:50 performer @ The Big M gets his fourth consecutive class drop, moves inside & retains Victor Kirby

 

1-Da Delightful – Tried to steal away with a :57.2 half & just missed as the beaten favorite, drops further & moves inside off that wake up effort

 

RACE 13

2-Hopnroll Heaven – 1:51.3 winner @ The Big M in 2023 struggling on the edges against tougher @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & gets some class & post relief for Per Engblom

 

5-Fulsome – $76k winner last year was right there in the photo last week, a solid second before that & drops back a notch in sharp form for Cameron Capone

 

3-Oregon Trail – Just missed at the 80 TM level two starts back, then failed to get involved from post nine, expect a more aggressive effort from an improved post

 

RACE 14

5-El Yerno – Lightly-raced 4YO fresh off a vastly-improved third to the standout Oakwood Ardan IR, so has plenty to build on in his third start off the bench

 

4-Midnight Thunder – Romped to his first two lifetime wins back-to-back in December, solid runner up to Oakwood Arden IR last week & draws better

 

6-Olympic Blaze – Was able to grab an early lead from post ten in just :28.1, then faded to fourth @ 78-1, 4YO makes only fifth career start & it’s his third try after a long layoff