Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, June 14, & Saturday, June 15, 2024

Wednesday, June 12, 2024

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Race 1

3-So Take That – Well, everybody saw that hard-charging second from post seven last Saturday, this 15YO has hit the board in three of his last four & draws better on the verge

 

2-Atta Boy Dan – 15YO steamrolled to a decisive score two starts back, then had an off night from post ten & gets a big chance to bounce back from a better post for our Driver of the Week

 

6-In Nevada N – Just one for 18 this season, yet made up some decent ground to hi the board two starts back & at the very least he’s found a field he can be competitive with

 

Race 2

8-Literl Lad Hanover – Patiently handled & shot home in a brisk :26.3 to just miss while transitioning to The Big M & hence a big threat despite the outside draw

 

4-Hunt For Cash – Owns a mark of 1:50.4 here this season, drops to the basement condition & draws well to employ his stalking style

 

7-Kootney Santanna – Crushed this kind with a new mark of 1:51 two starts back, followed by a nice effort from post eight last Saturday

 

Race 3

2-St Pauli Girl – Third placed second with trot at both ends from post nine last week, romped in her previous three & draws much better with plenty of upside

 

1-Tove Palema – Walner filly has blossomed with the addition of trotting hopples, overcame the second tier with a solid rally as the favorite & rewarded with the rail

 

5-Valentina Ritchie – Fresh off an easy score she lost it in deep stretch last week, chalk it up to inexperience & she could easily rebound for Team Orange Crush

 

Race 4

4-Majorly Sexy A – Third try off a sick scratch was indeed the charm, 8YO took as new mark in the process & draws well off that convincing upset

 

5-Muscle Factory A – Moves to mid-pack off a slow-start no-chance mile from post nine, won three of his previous four & just might be too fast for these

 

3-Terra Haute – Bounced back off a sick scratch & month away with a gallant narrow loss & finally draws inside while long overdue

 

Race 5

2-Glamorous Hanover – Tactical Landing sister to Father Patrick from Hall of Fame broodmare Gala Dream, wire-to-wire in a NJSS division in her 3YO, miscued in the final & draws inside to rebound for Team Alagna

 

7-Bright Star – Muscle Hill colt, second dam is double millionaire Passionate Glide, huge upset in Leg 2 of NJSS, fourth in the wake of Karl in that final & trending right for Team Alagna

 

3-Chaparmbro – Flashed some talent here & elsewhere as a freshman, on the edges in both NYSS divisions & draws well ramping up on the comeback trail

 

Race 6

3-Benjamin Hanover – Shipped in on a form spree & tripped out to a new mark of 1:50.3 here two starts back, stung hard in the Maxie Lee & draws inside to rebound

 

2-Special Way – 2022 Dan Patch Award winner, 2023 NJSS champion won her qualifier with a nifty :26, draws inside & certainly looks ready for Team Svanstedt

 

7-Hasty Bid – Third in last year’s Canadian Trotting Classic, solid runner up in Leg 1 @ Mohawk, arrives in the Team Takter barn, while regaining form

 

Race 7

9-Port Royal Hanover – Here’s a Captaintreacherous brother to world champion Papi Rob Hanover doing excellent work in PA for Erv Miller & deserves a long look despite post nine

 

5-Principle Interest – Captaintreacherous colt suddenly found his best stride for Brett Pelling with a mighty :26.2 late surge last week & just missed to Hungry To Win

 

6-Hungry To Win – Added Lasix & tripped out to score his first lifetime win @ 46-1 for Team Alagna & logically can’t rule out a repeat

 

Race 8

3-Betterinpinehurst – Pulled off the easy class drop n pop last week, owns a mark of 1:51.4 in the slop here this season & draws inside as a big threat to repeat

 

7-Outside The Fire – Fresh off a narrow loss @ Pocono he was a distant runner up to standout Periculum here last week, tougher draw, yet rates major contender status in current form

 

1-Shinkansen – Has found another gear since changing barns to Mark Silva, that was some eye-catching 1:51.3 career best blowout last week, yet this is a huge step up

 

Race 9

4-Huntinthelastdolar – Followed up his win in the Juravinski with another aggressive wire-to-wire from post seven @ Mohawk & draws well to assert himself here

 

5-Christchurch – Just missed with a wicked :25.1 in Leg 1 @ Mohawk, 1:48.2 Open winner here last July revving up on the comeback trail & his speed puts him in play

 

8-Ken Hanover – This Ken was a close second in both starts so far this season, tough draw in a competitive affair, but tuned up with a handy Big M qualifier

 

Race 10

4-Winner’s Bet – Stanley Dancer Memorial winner in 1:51, just missed in the Canadian Trotting Classic, now with Team Takter & reeled off three straight impressive qualifiers

 

3-Ponda Jet – Pride of Indiana has settled down to win his last two Opens @ Hoosier Park & draws well here to maintain his positive moment

 

5-Ghostly Casper – Steady sort rallied stoutly to hit the board in Leg 1 @ Mohawk & assumes his stalking opportunist role here

 

Race 11

1-Voukefalas – Took full advantage of some class relief to brush n crush them for a new mark of 1:48.4 last week & lands the rail while still heating up

 

2-Seven Colors – Worked hard to grab command from post nine & held on for a 1:48.2 mild upset in Leg 1 @ Mohawk & draws inside a viciously competitive field

 

4-It’s My Show – World Champion NA Cup & Jug winner from last year burned the chalk with a slow start in Leg 1 @ Mohawk & draws well here to rebound fresh

 

Race 12

5-Tony Adams S – Runner up to the mighty Karl in a NJSS division & finished a commendable third in that final & trending right for Team Svanstedt

 

7-Benny J – Ranked fifth in the Road to Hambo Top Ten, won a NJSS division off a nose loss, finished second to Karl in that final & progressing nicely for Team Alagna

 

6-Waterfall – Eye-catching rally for a win deadheat in a NJSS division, too far out of striking range in that final & this Team Alagna prospect is ranked sixth in the Road to the Hambo Top Ten

 

Race 13

3-Roma Amor – Capped a recent form spree with a new mark of 1:52 from post two starts back & draws inside to rebound off a no-chance mile

 

5-Santafe’s Appetite – Took advantage of a second shot at this reduced level & suddenly turn her light bulb on with an upset rally from the second tier & now lands mid-pack

 

8-Our Shell Belle – I have no idea where that 1:51.3 career best upset came from three starts back, grinded gamely for the show spot last week & rates contender despite post eight

 

Race 14

8-For July – First crop Greenshoe brother to Cuatro De Julio (1:51) cruised all the way in an eye-catching Big M debut & leads a strong 1-2 punch for Lucas Wallin

 

7-Life On The Bluff – Walner fifth foal from world champion Bluff bounced back off a miscue & more than lived up to his tote hype with an impressive 1:52.4 score

 

6-Diplomacy – Needed an Ouija Board to come up with this Leg 2 upsetter, lightly-raced brother to

Looks Like Moni (1:51.4) made breaks in four of previous five & must stay flat again

 

Race 15

2-Bellacache – Just one for 14 this season, yet that was a highly commendable third from post eight off the sick scratch & moves inside a wide-open finale

 

4-Lovely Lady May – One for 21 in 2024, played the fringe player just behind Bellacache last week, draws better & retains The Money Man off that acclimating mile

 

10-Dream Pillar – Lightly-raced filly rallied to hit the board from post eight in an inspiring Big M debut, stuck outside, yet could be heard from with the right set up

 

Saturday, June 15 Selections

Race 1

2-Lachie Maguire N – One for 17 this season & playing on the edges recently, yet returns to The Big M in a real soft spot to play a stalking game for Driver of the Week Yogi Sheridan

 

9-Thndrfrmthethron N – Beaten favorite fired hard & finished a solid second last week, abruptly blasted down the road before that, stuck outside, but in form right now

 

3-Just A Rocket Man – Employed more of his aggressive style, got a bit overanxious & settled for third, now draws inside to possibly rate better & conjure up more stamina

 

Race 2

1-Thatswhatisaid N – Runner up to standout Vandalism in a Trackmaster Final last week, posted a perfect trip romp before that & finally moves inside

 

4-Rose Run Uriah – Beaten chalk chased a surprisingly good Big Bad Bill last Friday, gets another shot at this reduced level & draws well to play a stalking role

 

3-Keep Us Happy – Got off to a slow start & finished well for a piece in a Trackmaster Final, solid second to Thatswhatisaid N before that & now draws better

 

Race 3

2-EA Audit – Was competitive with N/W5 stock @ Harrah’s Philadelphia recently, took her requisite acclimating tour of the oval & moves inside to facilitate a better start

 

5-Pattycake Mooss – Sports a mark of 1:51.3 here this season, been struggling against TM 83 types & drops into a prime spot to spark something

 

1-Uptown Lady N – Regaining form since the May 10 sick scratch, runner up to a big favorite two weeks ago & back on the rail for another quick start

 

Race 4

6-T Dog – Sparked his recent form spree with that mighty late surge & win three starts back, followed by back-to-back solid seconds from tough posts

 

2-Big Bad Bill – Impossible to figure that sudden wire-to-wire in a sizzling 1:51.4 last Friday, now the 10YO finally draws inside to prove that skid snapper was no fluke

 

4-Sunshine’s Finest – Bounced back with a smooth three-hole trip & late burst to score the 10-1 upset, strong in the win column & draws well to capitalize on his sharp form

 

Race 5

3-Landia – Finished third & fourth behind Zlatan in a pair of commendable acclimating miles & she draws inside again to set up an ideal stalking trip

 

9-Zlatan – Beaten favorite settled for second again with another bold performance, tougher draw here, yet he can outhustle most of these off the wings

 

4-Drazzmatazz – Tripped out as the favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia two starts back, then stretched it out a bit too much here last week & now draws better

 

Race 6

6-Toto Hanover – Took a few weeks off after he swept through a Play Meadowlands Series, romped to a new mark of 1:50.2 in the process & made it three in a row in that final

 

2-Air Guitar – Seeks to snap his 0 for 21 this season, game runner up in his last two to the raging Pinebushdragonroll & draws inside again

 

3-No Words – Lightly-raced 4YO returns from some needed freshening, qualified energetically & draws well to make an impact right off the bench

 

Race 7

6-Baileys Rock N – Has taken a few weeks off after an even fifth, liking those big late moves in three of his previous four & might get the speed set up he needs

 

8-Yayas Hot Spot N – Lived up to the tote hype with a big wake up brush n crush from post nine last week & no logical reason he can’t attempt similar

 

3-Bionic – Tried to go down the road like he did two starts back & faded to fourth last Friday, draws an improved post & could be tough to overhaul if he can rate his speed

 

Race 8

6-Apertif – 4YO blasted wire-to-wire for a new mark of 1:51.1 last week, now he’s a fresh claim with something big to build on

 

5-Concur – Just one for 21 this season, yet steadily piling up checks, runner up to Apertif last week & has a chance to turn the tables

 

7-Captain Terminator – Returns to The Big M fresh off a mild upset rally @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, so his confidence level is up & repeat is not out of the question

 

Race 9

2-Wise Thinking – Did some nice work in the Poconos this Spring, forced to rough it first over into a sizzling pace & still held third in a tough acclimating mile & draws better for Team Bongiorno

 

4-Interest Free A – 0 for his last 31, chased a 1:49.1 blowout winner out of stretch traffic last week, just missed as the beaten favorite three starts back & draws well while knocking on the door

 

10-Bet A Bundle – Twice beaten favorite stuck outside, yet he was finishing well from an impossible spot last week, just missed in 1:49.3 before that & romped in 1:50.2 on May 18

 

Race 10

1-Bounty Hunter – Only took two starts to serve up a decisive score & equaled his lifetime mark of 1:50.4, lands the rail & continues to flourish on the comeback trail for a hot barn

 

3-Congressional – Has risen up the ranks with three straight wins @ Pocono Downs, steady 4YO seems to be well spotted here & draws well to stalk the ample speed on view

 

4-Pinebushdragonroll – Really caught fire going three-for-three since the Team Bongiorno acquisition, fresh off a sparkling new mark of 1:49.4 he draws well for the step up

 

Race 11

8-Hers Hungry – 4YO has gotten on a nice three-race form spree, sparked by a 25-1 upset on May 24, grinded gamely for another deuce last week & she’s a closing threat from a tougher post

 

4-Phelgon – Answered the heavy tote hype with a brush n crush wake up call last week & draws better for another aggressive effort & possible repeat

 

6-Flamboyance – 3YO filly was somehow able to rate perfectly unpressured & took a new mark of 1:52.4 last week & can’t rule out a similar strategy

 

Race 12

3-National Sport – Rallied for an upset fresh off the bench @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, then just missed off a sick scratch here & continues to ramp it up with another inside draw

 

4-Vandalism – Dominated his last two in crushing style, took a new mark of 1:51.3 followed by a five-length romp in 1:52 & draws well again to handle the class hike

 

8-Gemini Express – Paid off the chalk fresh off the claim & Pocono tune ups, tougher draw here, but now comes off the mile of his life

 

Race 13

1-The American Eagle – Mired in a slump since winning at this level back on April 26, the class & post relief might be enough to turn things around for Per Engblom

 

5-Exchequer – Has been more energetic with some recent success @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, acquired by Vinnie Ginsberg & presents a mid-pack threat here

 

4-Swan Captain – Missed two weeks off a sick scratch, yet he was a solid third here last out, while trending right & draws inside again

 

Race 14

6-Charger Blue Chip – Been chasing 1:51 & change winners in his last two, 14YO warhorse drops into a much softer spot & Mark Herschberger patience could pay off

 

4-Chip Walther – 0 for 12 this season, off a no-chance mile, hit the board in his previous two & figures to be forwardly placed with another inside draw in a dartboard finale

 

9-Final Justice – One for 16 in 2024, yet picking up steady shares in the MADC ranks, challenging post here, but might be a closing threat with the right set up