Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, July 4 & Saturday, July 5, 2025
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Race 1
4-Never Easy Z Tam – Left alertly, got shuffled & shook loose out of stretch traffic to just miss as the beaten favorite & lands post four to take another serious shot
1-Ferdinand A – Beaten favorite has ramped up his form in his last three, set a rated pace & came up just a length shy two weeks ago, finally moves inside & we know where he’s going
10-Captain Terminator – This 10YO Captain grinded gamely & was right there two starts back, then pace compromised chasing a well-meant winner & rates contender status despite post ten
Race 2
5-Duck Into The Nite – Sports a mark of 1:52.4 here this season @ this TM 71 level, toss out her last three @ Yonkers & returns to The Big M to play a stalking role with a mid-pack launch
2-Pull Me Through – Broke her 2025 goose egg in rousing style back on May 30, just missed as the chalk two starts back, solid runner up last week, bumped up a notch & lands post two again
6-Giovona By The Sea – Just one for 21 this season, yet she took more tote action last week with The Bionic Man in the bike & kicked home a stronger fourth
Race 3
1-Wave Dancer – First crop of Perfect Sting, second foal from a sister to millionaires American Jewel & Luck Be Withyou, almost went all the way in her second qualifier & lands the rail
4-Papi’s Crush – $70,000 Papi Rob Hanover first foal from her dam, who banked $253,191, stepped up & tripped out to win her second Big M qualifier
2-Lochinvar Matilda – Captaintreacherous eighth foal from a sister to double millionaire Bettor’s Edge made an impression in all three trials, his latest a solid third to Papi’s Crush
Race 4
2-Seize Control – Stormed home from tough spots for a win, second & third in three of his last four, finally draws inside & figures to have ample speed to shoot at
1-Jim Strikesitrich – Beaten favorite two starts back atoned emphatically when the money was down again & promptly wired them unchallenged, so which Jim shows up tonight from the rail?
6-Whammer Jammer – The Jammer romped with an ideal trip three weeks ago, then scratched sick, so the layoff might not matter, however you must guess his current form
Race 5
6-Mr Penner – $200,000 gelding from exciting first crop of Captain Corey, first foal from a sister to half million dollar winner Two AM, jogged in his lone Big M trial for Team Svanstedt
5-Diabolic Hill – $300,000 Muscle Hill from the family of Brigham Dream & Crys Dream scored impressively fresh out of the box, then didn’t have the same pop chasing Mr Penner
4-Spycatcher – Father Patrick brother to 1:50.3 performer Secret Agent Man won at first asking, then faded in a quicker mile, seems eager to please & draws well for Team Takter
Race 6
6-Bee Aware – Only making her fourth start of the season, seems to be gathering momentum, pace compromised/rallied nicely from a tough spot last week & long overdue
3-EA Mushu – The Mushu got parked two weeks ago, hit the board in her previous three, draws inside a soft affair & retains The Big M’s leading pilot
4-Baby Doll Jen – Go back to her hard-charging narrow loss three starts back, hurt by slow starts in her last two, draws much better & could snap her season skid
Race 7
3-Highball Hanover – Bar Hopping brother to Hankins Hanover ($213,286) won both Magical Acres qualifiers with strong finishes & draws inside for Noel Daley
6-Southwind Alamo – Tactical landing brother to Southwind Arturo ($266,510) & Southwind Admiral ($154,005) went all the way authoritatively in his second qualifier @ Harrah’s Philadelphia
1-Captain Vodka – From the raved about first crop of Captain Corey, first foal from a sister to Bella Bellini, cruised in his first Magical Acres qualifier & draws the rail to rebound off a miscue
Race 8
9-C Can Trot – Ontario shipper sports some lively form, off three weeks, stuck outside, but arrives in a new barn that can spark them right off the hop & faces a camera-shy bunch
1-Fashion Forever – One for 17 this season, lacked a threating rally two weeks ago, just missed in his previous two & garners attention with a rail ride in store
5-Bank Box Treasure – Steadily 9YO has hit the board in five of his last six, solid runner up last week stalks again from mid pack & resumes his opportunist roll
Race 9
2-Magic Punk – Son of world champion Wishing Stone tripped out to win both qualifiers with strong finishers, draws inside & looms large for Team Svanstedt
3-Onassis – Greenshoe brother to Once In A Lifetime, 1:52 ($713,637), nothing wrong with both Big M baby races, a rally to win, then a solid second & draws inside for Team Takter
1-Who’s Eyes Blues – Chapter Seven first foal from a sister to Sister Sledge, 1:51.2 ($842,815), stole some soft fractions @ Gaitway & cruised in his first trial, then brushed & broke on the final turn in his Saratoga debut, has a chance to rebound for Team Burke
Race 10
5-High Fashion Star – Wasn’t heard from in her first start of 2025, but lands in a more suitable spot to step up, beat TM 86.5 types here late last year & can conjure up her back class
8-Hers Hungry – Challenging draw off a tough trip, but on a long form spree, gets some class relief & owns gate speed
6-Remy Brown N – Fired out in a snappy :26.3 & faded to fifth, now drops to make her key third start off the bench & was pretty strong in the win column last year
Race 11
4-Dax Seelster – From the first offering of the almighty Bulldog Hanover, $350,000 first foal from a 1:51.2 performer, rebounded to zip his second Gaitway trial in 1:54.3 & draws well for Team Burke
8-Drink To That – Tall Dark Stranger second foal from world champion Tall Drink Hanover, rallied to win both baby races for Tony Alagna, tough draw, but could be anything
5-Talbot Andretti – Sweet Lou brother to 1:52 performer Alritealritealrite has progressed nicely in his morning trials & uncorked an eye-catching :26.3 chasing Drink To That & Signal Caller
Race 12
8-Islandgirl Hanover – First crop of Captain Corey & first foal from her dam, tripped out to win her pari mutuel debut with a crisp :27.3 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & rates a long look despite post eight
5-Sheza Single Lady – Walner first foal from a sister to Pinkman, was willing to lead the way in both baby races & held on to win both, look for her to continue building confidence for Team Takter
7-Abbey Blue Chip – Tactical Landing filly followed up her first win with a more authoritative take-no-prisoners mile @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & she has license to take charge
Race 13
6-Carve – First crop of Captain Corey & first foal from a dam with Miss Paris & Pizza Dolce in her family, cruised all the way in her lone baby race, then just missed to Islandgirl Hanover as the beaten favorite
3-Kickan – Walner first foal from a sister to millionaire Ari Ferrari J, runner up to Carve in her first outing, then took it all the way with plenty & draws inside for Nifty Norman
7-Waldon Fashion – Walner third foal from a multiple Dan Patch Award winner sure to attract plenty of attention fresh off back-to-back morning wins, both with a special late kick
Race 14
6-TH Summer Lovin – Cattlewash filly scored her only win in 20 starts with an impressive 1:50.2 three starts back & just missed in a NJ SDF Final with Brett Beckwith
3-Beach Babe – Nosed out in the NJSS Final & right there in the photo TH Summer Lovin in the NJ SDF Final, draws inside that rival & might hold a slight edge for Team Burke
5-Lily White Hanover – Lightly-raced Captaintreacherous filly won both big M qualifiers, tightened up against tough N/W 5 @ Pocono & has some serious upside
Race 15
3-Grand Reserve – Walner filly has gained confidence with trotting hopples in her last two, beaten favorite got underway too late & draws better on the upswing
1-Java Jukebox – Late-blooming Muscle Hill Hambo eligible finished a solid second in both starts & looks promising on the rail again for Team Burke
6-Tacky Sugar – Tactical Landing filly has matured & come back with a pair of solid efforts here & has Hambo Oaks aspirations for Team Melander
Saturday Selections
Race 1
6-Awesome Times Two – Wheeled right back off a wire-to-wire romp with a sharp rally & upset with Beckwith last week & looks capable off another class hike in top form
2-Majestic Kiwi N – Was no factor in his comeback at this more challenging level two weeks ago, yet benefited from that tightening mile & draws inside again in a very tricky puzzle
4-Gemini Express – Fresh off a blowout with Bartlett he fired hard, got shuffled & shook loose with plenty late last week, steps up further, but draws well as one of the sharpest of this bunch
Race 2
3-Saulsbrook Raptor – Dropped n popped with a huge turnaround two starts back, then had no chance last week, moves inside & has a chance to be aggressive in a laid back field
7-National Sport – Dipped to the TM 74.5 level & really perked up with an energetic score last week, draws a tougher post, but his form has been pretty steady
6-He’s Half Naked – Note that big wake up mile/new lifetime mark @ 18-1 back on June 7, freshened with an even qualifier & might be primed for a lively comeback
Race 3
3-Raptors Flight N – Stormed home from a near impossible spot to just miss at this level last week, was sparked by a post seven blowout against TM 68s & now draws better
1-Bronsons Delight – Finished a gallant third to Raptors Flight N two starts back, continues to gain momentum on the comeback trail & can play a stalking role from the rail
9-Spirit Of Truth – 13YO continues on a form spree, employed a blastoff strategy again last week & was only a length short, so expect a similar effort from post nine
Race 4
3-Lite N Sweet – Draws much better fresh off a solid second to Iknowbetter from post ten, has been knocking on the door & this is an ideal spot for him to kick it in
1-Iknowbetter – Lightly-raced 4YO has been quite the new acquisition for Team Bongiorno, lowered his mark again to a nifty 1:50.3 & moves inside looking to go three-for-three here
4-Midnight Nation – Lived up to the favorite’s hype with a gallant/uncovered score with a :54.3 back half two weeks ago, draws well again & continues to ramp up his form
Race 5
2-Sabonis – Tough to go against the top two, but this fresh 4YO grinded gamely to be right there in the photo, can close with the best of these & draws better for Dexter Dunn in a great race
6-Nijinksy – Last year’s O’Brien Award winner & Pace runner up has come back guns blazing, held off Captain Albano by a nose with a well-rated effort & logically looms large in a classic match up
10-Captain Albano – Two-time Dan Patch Award winner scored fresh off the bench, then just missed to Nijinsky with a scintillating effort & rates highly despite post ten again
Race 6
5-Outside The Fire – Has enjoyed a very productive season for Team Cullipher, forced with one of his solid rallies for third two weeks ago & just missed on the lead before that
8-Ari Ferrari J – Fresh off a new mark of 1:50.1 two starts back he got parked & gave away two weeks ago, tackles post eight again & remains fresh on the comeback trial
7-Chapercraz – Looks to rebound off an unusually slow start in the Crawford Farms, his two previous efforts were well rated on the engine as the favorite & we’re expecting similar tactics
Race 7
2-Date Night Hanover – She just missed to Private Access in Leg 2, then finished a solid third, has comeback sharp for Team Melander & draws inside again to set up her stalking style
5-Private Access – Can’t start any better than three-for-three on Lasix this season, fresh off a new mark of 1:50.2 his mid pack launch seems ideal with his arrow pointing skyward
10-Elista Hanover – Remember she was the even money favorite in last year’s Hambo Oaks off ten in a row, she flew home in :26.3 just miss in Leg 3 & looms large despite post ten
Race 8
4-Captain Optimistic – NA Cup elimination winner finished a creditable fourth in that wicked final & lands in prime spot to sharpen his sword for Team Takter
2-Fallout – Got rough up in his NA Cup elimination, but rebounded with an energetic score here two weeks ago & moves inside to tighten the screws further for Team Alagna
6-Manolete – Just missed in the NJSS Final, then added Lasix for two solid thirds in the Messenger elimination & final, returns to familiar ground with controlling speed his asset
Race 9
3-Maxim Hanover – Uncorked a furious :25.4 rally from post eight to be right there in the photo last week & draws better off that excellent acclimating mile for a sharp barn
2-T H Tyson – On a tear for Team Ryder recently, thundered home in :26.1 to nose out DA Delightful in a career best 1:50 last week & draws inside that rival with more in the tank
6-Captain Crusader A – This Captain has risen to just miss at this level in his last two with miles of 1:49.2 & 1:50 for Team Cullipher & has to rate top contender status in a competitive dash
Race 10
5-Lou Grant – Beaten chalk barely outsprinted by Pace prospect Fallout with a :25.4, on the rise with three in a row @ Pocono before that & vaults forward off that sharp acclimating mile
8-Taranaki – Found his best stride this past Spring, taking a mark of 1:49.2 here, freshened & qualified with zeal, reunited with Dexter Dunn, so look for him to push forward in play
4-Remember The Alamo – Four-time winner @ The Big M this season regrouped with a sharp qualifier for Team Alamo, draws well & might hold a slight class edge