Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, July 5, & Saturday, July 6, 2024
Wednesday, July 3, 2024
Race 1
6-Marty Monkhouser A – Marty has been better in his last two, bumped into a runaway winner from post nine last week & no such standouts in this wide-open affair
4-Kissinbythebeaches – Went all the way as the favorite off a most recent sick scratch, used early & left in the wake of a sizzling 1:51.4 Gazoo last week & lands post four again
8-Brazen Brazilian – The Brazilian suddenly romped to an overdue win three starts back, hasn’t been able to get involved in his last two, yet despite a tougher post rates contender status
Race 2
3-Hunt You Down – Was well supported & overcame a tough uncovered trip from post eight to grab the deuce, draws better & there might be more in the tank
7-Never Easy Z Tam – Finally snapped his 2024 losing skid with a pretty sharp rally off a slow pace, draws a tougher post, but has something bright to build on
10-Chip Walther – 0 for 14 this season + post ten, but he’s been better in his last two despite being the twice beaten favorite & shown versatility
Race 3
2-Ascendance – 7th foal from the world champion Higher And Higher, Captaintreacherous sister to 1:48 Free For Aller Highalator, draws better fresh off an impressive Kindergarten romp
4-Bequeath – Lazarus N filly out of a sister to millionaire Artspeak was really good in both baby races, he latest a more than willing runner up in :26.2
3-Point Breeze – Sweet Lou shows nothing terribly exciting in her pedigree, yet the $135,000 price tag & dominating second baby @ Gaitway says one to monitor closely
Race 4
3-Fallout – $250,000 Captaintreacherous brother to 1:47.2 millionaire Blue Diamond Eyes, crushed both Big M baby races, draws inside & could be anything for Team Alagna
7-Namaste Hanover – From the first offering of world champion Papi Rob Hanover, posted a game score in his Kindergarten debut with a sharp :26.2
2-Manolete – From the first crop of world champion Cattlewash, captured both baby races, then paid the price for a slow start & now draws better
Race 5
4-Noble Wine – From the first crop of 2019 Trotter of the Year Greenshoe, prepped sharply @ Gaitway, then just missed to a heavy favorite Hildago in an inspiring debut
2-Maryland – $475,000 first foal from a half million dollar winning sister to millionaire Venerable, basically stole her Kindergarten debut, off a 1:00.2 half sprinted home in a nifty :26.2
1-Jeffery J – $175,000 Bar Hopping colt stepped up substantially to go all the way in his second baby race @ The Big M & lands rail to stalk the favorite
Race 6
7-Captain Optimistic – $160,000 Captaintreacherous colt, fifth foal from a pretty strong family, both Big M races were eye-catching with a :26.2, then a wicked :25.4 on his own for Team Takter
3-Smoken Bob – Bettor’s Wish colt smoked both Big M baby races, then got gunned down as the chalk in a :27.3 sprint, benefits from that experience & draws post three again for Team Toscano
2-Making History – American History brother to 1:48.3 performer El Rey stepped up to wire his second Big M baby race in a sharp 1:53 & draws inside for his anticipated Team Alagna debut
Race 7
4-Warrawee Yankee – Twice beaten favorite was right there with a serious :26.4 last week, seldom misses the board, draws better in a prime spot & long overdue
3-Harry Hanover – Everybody was mad about Harry & he wired them two starts back, then came right back to repeat in a low level TM finale & draws inside again
10-T Dog – You can never count The Dog out, capable of overcoming outside draws, chased a 1:51.2 winner last out & could take advantage of the right speed set up
Race 8
5-Kendra – Walner fourth foal from a sister to 2020 Trotter of the Year Gimpanzee, eager to please in both Big M baby races for Team Takter & has future star potential
3-Champagne Problems – Tactical Landing filly rebounded from an initial miscue with a confident wire-to-wire in her second baby race & draws inside for Team Takter
6-R Lady W – Walner filly from a sister to 1:51.1 performer Raised By Lindy, both baby races were superb, a winner, then a pace-compromised runner up in a crisp :27
Race 9
3-Lite N Sweet – Dipped to this level & flew home from a tough spot to hit the board in :26.4 & gets another shot at these from an improved post in a wide-open affair
7-Three In Heaven A – Shows two narrow losses in his last three against TM types, tougher post, yet seems sharp right now & just needs the right set up
10-Bet A Bundle – Beaten chalk aggressively handled & just missed last Saturday, moves outside, yet gets another shot at this reduced level
Race 10
3-Torrisi – Walner second foal from world champion Barn Girl won her second Big M baby race with authority, draws inside & looks like a future star for Team Takter
1-Margareta Hanover – Maharajah sister to Jiggy Jog S romped in her Kindergarten debut with the look of a champion & lands the rail again for Team Melander
4-R Dutchess – Second foal from an O’Brien Award winner, who’s a sister to world champion Ice Attraction, bounced back from an initial mistake with a superb winning Big M baby race
Race 11
4-Bringitonhometome – Took some strong tote action, got parked from post ten & held for minor spoils in a much-needed Big M debut & draws better
3-Ferdinand A – Displayed his usual speed & almost took them all the way in a gallant try from post nine & moves inside to make a similar attempt
2-Rockabilly Charm – Beaten favorite obviously had an off night, finished a game third before that, long overdue & draws better to carve out a stalking trip
Race 12
7-Madrid A – Has changed barns, was freshened with a sharp qualifier for Team Tritton & returns with some class relief in a real suspect field
6-Celcius – Just one for 18 this season, but a 3YO filly with potential & trending right fresh off back-to-back narrow losses here, her latest a game speed try
8-Hers Hungry – Persistently knocking on the door since her 25-1 upset back on May 24, draws another demanding post, but could be dangerous within striking range
Race 13
1-Papis Pistol – The Papi Rob Hanover Pistol fired fresh off a winning baby race here, nailed that debut with a furious :26.4 & rewarded with the rail
2-TH Colby – $250,000 Papi Rob Hanover colt from a very productive family, runner up in all three attempts, including a post eight debut @ Harrah’s Philadelphia
4-Chief Bogo – Always B Miki first foal from his Bettor’s Delight dam tripped out & put it all together in his third baby race & draws well for The Big M’s top barn
Race 14
1-Downbythebanks – Tried to close from the clouds & picked up the show in a solid effort, gaining momentum on the comeback trail, plus gets class & post relief
8-Dandy Idea – Scored a hard-fought win as the heavy chalk two starts back, then chased a runaway Gazoo in the MADC Series, post eight again, yet she’s in good form
10-Bellacache – Kolten Noble picked up his first Big M win with a well-driven performance, this mare now makes her third start off a sick scratch & rates a long look despite post ten
Race 15
4-Landia – This mare came right back to repeat & lowered her mark to 1:55.1 & draws well to capitalize on her form spree with very capable The Judge at the helm
6-Empereurthebest FR – French-bred 10YO has picked it up recently with back-to-back thirds, hampered by a slow start last week & aims to rebound in a wide-open finale
10-Bacardi – Just one for 20 this season, but hit the board in his last two with a couple of solid speed tries, stuck outside, yet might be heard from with any trip luck
Selections for Saturday, July 6
Race 1
6-Diplomacy – $425,000 Muscle Hill no doubt has some raw talent & speed, bounced back off another miscue with a wicked :26.3 to just miss last Friday
2-Chaparmbro – Beaten favorite was allowed to dictate his own terms & faded to fourth, might be forced back into a pace setting mode from post two again in a field of question marks
7-Secret Agent Man – With breaks in three of his last his last five he tackles a challenging post, yet his furious :26.4 rally to finish a close second in 1:51.4 two starts back gives reason for hope
Race 2
3-Terre Haute – Just missed off the recent sick scratch, then wasn’t heard from in his last two, yet draws inside again & perhaps a stalking trip closer to the pace is in order
1-Gazoo – Hammered down to 3-5, suddenly flipped the switch & blasted away from them in a sizzling career best of 1:51.4 & now gets the rail in a very soft TM 74.5
9-Magritte – Faces a class hike & tackles post nine, but comes off a perfect trip upset & this classy 10YO is capable of blasting off the wings in this wide open affair
Race 3
6-Caribbean Sports – Forced wide from post eight & DQed for interference in deep stretch last Friday, his post ten upset & new mark of 1:52.2 before that is certainly worth noting
4-Rock On Line – Capitalized on a perfect drive by Anthony Verruso to score a mild upset over stablemate Dragon Said & draws better off his best mile of the season
3-Gemini Express – Was on quite a form spree since the April 1st claim before having an off night last Friday & draws inside again to rebound in a pari mutuel puzzler
Race 4
8-Vibrance – This Team Burke trainee took a new mark with a 1:51.4 upset fresh off the bench @ Pocono, demanding post here, but gets some class relief in a very intriguing headscratcher
3-Village Jade – Has come alive in his last three elsewhere for Team Burke, gets class & post relief & no doubt knows her way around this track
6-Parisian Blue Chip – Stepped up her game with a solid second to a headstrong upsetter in AVF Claire & note the aggressive post eight score in 1:50.3 back on June 1
Race 5
4-De La Hoya Hanover – Delivered a wire-to-wire knockout @ Harrah’s Philadelphia two starts back & this 3YO draws well in a soft spot here to employ aggressive tactics
3-Ferragamo Hanover – Last Friday’s Price Play scored a well-earned 9-1 upset, draws better for the class hike & faces a camera-shy bunch
5-Air Guitar – 0 for 24 this season, beaten favorite in two of his last three, got parked from post seven last week & now works from mid-pack while trying to snap his long skid
Race 6
4-Grace Hill – 2023 Dan Patch Award winner returns here fresh off a confidence-boosting rebound romp @ her home track Scioto Downs & draws well to show her class
6-Man Dontforget Me – Ships back to The Big M on a four-race winning streak @ Yonkers & fresh off two straight F & M Invites there for a red-hot barn
7-Silk Cloud A – Strong first half to her season as a prominent player in the Yonkers F & M Invite, slow starts have cost her recently & longer stretch here might help
Race 7
3-Legendary Hanover – 2023 O’Brien Award winner was caught first over from post eight in the NA Cup, draws inside here where he can rebound & assert himself
4-Captain’s Quarters – Used pretty hard & finished a solid second as the NA Cup beaten favorite & draws well here with a strong start to his season so far
1-Mirage Hanover – Won last week’s 3YO Open by equaling the fastest last quarter ever, a wind-aided :24.3 & moves inside to stalk the speed
Race 8
4-Captain Albano – 2023 Dan Patch Award winner was completely blocked fourth in the NA Cup, draws well here & continues to ramp it up on the stakes trail
5-Nijinsky – NA Cup champ arrives five-for-five this season, responded to a perfect Louis Roy drive to take a new mark of 1:48.1 & tough to go against
6-Funtime Bayama – Shuffled & shook loose late to grab third in the NA Cup, this proven commodity now makes his debut for Andrew Harris & picks up Dexter Dunn
Race 9
5-Winner’s Bet – Rallied to a track record equaling 1:50 in a sparkling 4YO debut, came right back to lower that mark to 1:49.3 & this exciting prospect has been a wrapped up two-for-two under Team Takter
3-Hasty Bid – Back-to-back lifetime marks of 1:51.3, then 1:50.2 to go two-for-two @ The Big M with Team Takter, draws inside his impressive stablemate & reunited with James MacDonald
8-Oh Well – Has hit the board in his last two with a couple of furious rallies, last year’s Hambo runner up draws a tough post, yet still gearing up on the comeback trail
Race 10
5-Coach Stefanos – Took a new mark of 1:47.3 with a nifty :25.4 kicker in Leg 2, then used too hard in Leg 3 & has a chance to set up an ideal stalking trip off the expected speed
9-Ken Hanover – Ken erupted with a 1:47.4 career best in a Leg 3 upset here, parked & seared from the second tier in the Brower last week & can rebound with speed despite post nine
4-Seafire – Just missed to No Control in a 1:47.3 Leg 2 division, then got parked through a rapid clip & draws well to regroup in a fantastic field
Race 11
7-Oakwood Ardan IR – Early season sensation returns to The Big M off a disappointing fifth in the Mohawk Gold Cup where he was out of striking range & can re-assert himself here
8-It’s My Show – Millionaire went off Lasix again & just missed in a Graduate division, flashing wicked speed @ both ends of that mile, while race timed in 1:47.4
5-Command – Fringe player in the Graduate Series, chasing a couple of 1:47 & change winners in his last two, now acclimated this 4YO makes his third start for Team Burke
Track Conditions
Updated
11/16/2024
Fast
Variant:
42°F