Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, June 27 & Saturday, June 28, 2025

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

---

Race 1

4-Never Easy Z Tam – Left alertly for a three-hole ride, was blocked behind Arnie’s Army & finished well in stretch traffic last week & draws well off two acclimating miles

 

6-Backstreet Lawyer – 0 for his last 48, yet he could snap that long losing skid tonight, fresh off a close third @ big odds he lands in a wide open MADC division

 

10-Urban Renewal – Just missed with a much-improved :27.3 rally three starts back, moves out all the way outside, yet his early speed can put him in play

 

Race 2

1-Parklane Terror – Been struggling on the comeback trail @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws the rail in a real soft spot here & knows his way around the Big M

 

7-Sergeant Walt – Gave this lightly-raced 3YO some love last week when he launched what looked like a serious late move & broke, tougher draw here, but has a chance to rebound

 

5-Coachman – Intriguing 5YO with only eight career starts, makes his third start off the bench with an acclimating mile under him & launches mid pack to possibly step up

 

Race 3

3-Bronsons Delight – Rallied prematurely two starts back, then held third despite a tough trip last week, now draws better & continues to ramp up his form in a salty MADC division

 

2-Captain Terminator – Shifted his act from Pocono to The Big M, grinded gamely & was right there in a wild photo last week & draws inside again as a major stalking threat

 

4-Big Bad Bill – 11YO has been competitive ever since his upset rally over an off track back on May 9, forced wide & just missed in most recent & looms large from post four again

 

Race 4

2-Monserrate – Valley Victory winner at two, won both Big M qualifiers, second to Super Chapter in his 3YO debut, then a solid third in the EBC, in the Hambo Top Ten & draws inside

 

1-Prominence –Won her 4YO debut with a game grind, then broke, followed by a tough trip, twice a dominant winner here last Fall she gets a chance to bounce back from the rail for Team Svanstedt

 

3-Excalibur Bi – Lightly-raced 5YO doing good work on the comeback trail @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, adds Lasix & draws better here for a hot barn with license to show more

 

Race 5

6-Gazoo – Equaled his lifetime mark of 1:51.4 back on April 12, now makes his second start for his new barn after chasing a 1:50.4 runaway last Saturday & owns a lethal stretch kick

 

2-Good Rockin – Picked up Yogi Sheridan & blasted down the road in a dazzling 1:51.1 last week & draws inside again with something real big to build on

 

9-Nineteenth Man A – Was on a nice roll off the claim & before the recent sick scratch, slammed with an outside draw, but gets a bit of class relief

 

Race 6

5-Googoo Eyes – Dipped to this TM 71 level & finished a solid second to a big favorite Fix-It-Up last week & sets up a stalking trip from mid pack off that encouraging effort

 

3-Bank Box Treasure – One for his last 35 & winless this season, finished third in four straight before fading to fifth last week, yet draws better to be a prime opportunist

 

1-Masster Blue – Uncorked a game score against these three starts back, then encountered two impossible trips from outside posts, so he gets a chance to rebound from the rail

 

Race 7

8-Storm The Court – 5YO has quickly found his best stride in his last two for Mark Silva with a solid second, then a 1:51.3 blowout last week with a :26.2 & looms large despite post eight

 

7-Master Miki – One for 18 this season, but rallied for the deuce as Good Rockin was running up the score last week, tougher draw this time, but that was a beneficial acclimating mile

 

1-Hes A Sweetheart – Equaled his lifetime mark of 1:52.1 when he upset TM 74.5 types with an aggressive effort back on May 31 & figures to be prominent from the rail

 

Race 8

1-Lyons Miki – Rallied for the upset & new mark of 1:52.1 two starts back, then kicked home strong from a tough spot last week & now lands the rail in top form

 

3-Definingthe Moment – Beaten chalk grinded gamely for the deuce last week, gets another shot at this reduced TM 74.5 Rating & draws better

 

2-Polks Image – Recent Team Cullipher acquisition flashed plenty of late life after a slow start from post nine & moves inside off that positive acclimating mile

 

Race 9

3-Zappa – Shipped in from Harrington & shook loose with plenty of late trot to just miss in an eye-catching Big M debut & draws again for the anticipated follow up

 

2-Velociraptor – Came right back to repeat with the mile of his life two weeks ago & draws inside to set up another stalking trip with his arrow pointing skyward

 

6-Rocket Man Hill – Tripped out to a decisive score second time trotting hopples last week & his renewed confidence could possibly spell repeat

 

Race 10

6-Almost Karen – Was recently toiling against tougher TM 74.5 types here, returns to The Big M off a close second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & that might’ve signaled a turnaround

 

8-Thaneeya – Scored as a huge overlay with a perfect trip from post nine & this 9YO equaled her lifetime mark again & she figures to blast off again for the step up to TM 71

 

2-Pull Me Through – Dominant winner at the TM 68 level back on May 30, hikes up a notch & draws better fresh off a hard-charging narrow loss as the beaten chalk

 

Race 11

3-Better Than Some – 0 for 16 this season, but he really turned a corner with a fierce rally to hit the board last week & draws inside off that positive indicator & owns some back class

 

6-Moonwards Hanover – 0 for 18 in 2025, yet give the 13YO credit for his much-improved back-to-back seconds from tough posts & rates serious player status with the right set up

 

2-Warrawee Xceed – Beaten favorite landed on the fringe fourth after a quicker start last week, just one for 18 campaign to factor in, yet he draws better in a pari mutuel puzzler

 

Race 12

4-Fix-it-Up – Credit Team Bongiorno with freshening & tuning up this gelding & Joe with a perfect drive enroute to a decisive romp last week & that makes him tough to go against

 

8-Craigieburn – Just two for 35 lifetime, but liking the way he stayed flat & finished in the much-needed comebacker, tough draw, but could surprise if the leaders somehow falter

 

3-Hoofbeats De Vie – Shows a modest 1:57.1 win here as the favorite three starts back & draws much better off a solid second from post ten two weeks ago

 

Race 13

7-Grand Reserve – Walner filly added trotting hopples & promptly romped to a new mark of 1:53.1 @ Pocono & this late-blooming Hambo Oaks eligible rates top billing

 

6-R Cee Cee – Lightly-raced $210,000 sister to Hambo champ Captain Corey returned guns a blazing Pocono, then faded to fourth two weeks ago, Oaks eligible worth a long look

 

1-R Beats All – Sister to Walner Payton, 1:51.4 ($801,071) rebounded off a miscue to romp in a career best 1:56 @ Pocono & lands the rail here in a wide-open affair

 

Race 14

6-Wiggling Jenna – Jenna comes off a late surge/nose loss last week, that was a noteworthy step up for her & she retains The Judge

 

5-Exciting Times A – Stormed home from a tough spot to land in the photo with Wiggling Jenna last week & draws a better post off that wake up mile

 

4-Bluebird Crush – Beat these TM 68 types with an ideal trip back on May 30, paid the price for a slow start last week & draws better as a major contender

 

Saturday Selections

 

Race 1

5-Mansertive – Rallied from a tough spot to upset with a career best in his Big M debut on Lasix, now he drops back a notch & moves to mid pack to set up a stalking trip

 

8-Spirit Of Truth – Has caught a case of seconditis off that upset at the TM 68 level back on May 31 & last week he blasted from post eight & chased a well-meant winner

 

3-Awesome Times Two – Took a couple of starts to acclimate & promptly took no prisoners in a very soft TM 68 affair last Friday, yet draws well with more in the tank

 

Race 2

5-Victory Joe – Lightly-raced 3YO made a quick adjustment to The Big M & just missed with a nifty :26.2 & continues to show more with a mid pack launch to key a fierce Team Bongiorno 1-2 punch

 

8-Iknowbetter – Despite a 35-day layoff & post eight he romped to a new mark of 1:51.4 in a sparkling Big M debut for Team Bongiorno & could prove troublesome with a similar effort

 

3-Iminurblindspot – 11Yo has no doubt ramped up his game with narrow losses in his last two, bumps up a notch, but draws inside again as a serious stalking threat

 

Race 3

6-Lyons Steel – Sat a pocket behind eventual winner South Beach Star & was locked for his life last week, now his post is tougher & this is a real salty field, but Mr. Saturday Night is back in the bike

 

4-Captain Crusader A – Forced wide, got underway too late & just missed as the beaten favorite last week & draws a bit better in a very competitive dash for Team Cullipher

 

5-Build The Wall – Encountered his second straight tough trip last week, we know how relentless he can be on his best day & he figures to get ample speed to shoot at

 

Race 4

3-Dial Square S – Swedish import has sparked her season going three-for-three, held off her stablemate Call Me Goo to take the Armbro Flight & draws inside to lead a Team Svanstedt quartet

 

7-Call Me Goo – Breeders Crown winner sharpened her sword @ Mohawk & fresh off a narrow loss in the Armbro Flight & despite post seven she could turn the tables on her stablemate

 

4-Nelsonbriteagle NO – Fan Duel champ in 1:49.4 was scratched from the Armbro Flight, but draws well here & reunited with Dexter Dunn, who won this last year with Jiggy Jog S

 

Race 5

9-Go Dog Go – Rated #6 in the Hambo Top Ten, flashed a :26.2 in his latest qualifier here, then romped to a new mark of 1:52.3 in the slop @ Pocono & looms large despite post nine

 

2-Top Gun Hanover – Late-blooming son of Walner added trotting hopples & just missed to Mountcastle on June, then an energetic second in a dead heat in the NJSS Final & draws better

 

5-Mountcastle – Tripped out to a sharp 1:51.2 NJSS division two starts back, no chance after a slow start in that final & this Hambo eligible has license to step up for Team Melander

 

Race 6

3-Abuckabett Hanover – Brower defending champ & 2024 Dan Patch Award winner fired home strong in his latest two @ Mohawk & draws inside here set up an ideal trip

 

8-Ken Hanover – Ken took his mark of 1:47.4 here in a Graduate division last year, draws outside, but rides in on a four-race heater that includes a world record Battle of Lake Erie

 

5-Charlie May – Last year’s runner up & 2023 Wm. Haughton Memorial winner ships in fresh off an easy win as the heavy favorite @ Scioto Downs & owns plenty of back class

 

Race 7

9-Gap Kronos S – Ranked #5 in the Hambo Ten fresh off a solid second in the Goodtimes Final, slammed with post nine, but this is a two-time Grand Circuit winner at two with a mark of 1:51.4

 

3-Travolta Hanover – Late-blooming 3YO was a NJSS division winner, got roughed up from post nine in that final, & moves now moves inside with Hambo hopes for Team Takter

 

7-Nordic Catcher S – 2YO NJSS champ & Wm. Wellwood runner up tripped out to pay off the chalk in his sophomore debut & bolsters Team Svanstedt’s Hambo battalion

 

Race 8

4-Oakwood Ardan IR – Open upsetter here on June 7 returns after squandering an ideal trip in the Mohawk Gold Cup, dangerous stalker draws well & always thrives @ The Big M

 

3-Maximus Miki – Maximus shrugged off a three-week layoff & came right back to repeat in the Open, this only his fourth start of the season & he draws inside again in tip-top shape

 

7-Bythemissal – 2023 Ohio Horse of the Year ships in fresh off a 1:47.1 track record @ Scioto Downs in a supreme bounce-back effort & note his 1:49 triumph in the Auger Invitational

 

Race 9

3-Periculum – Cutler winner fresh off the bench, subsequently scratched sick, but appears primed for another comeback with an inside draw for Team Melander

 

6-Aetos Kronos – Maxie Lee winner in a career best 1:51 just a neck shy of being five-for-five this season, retains Dexter Dunn & gives Team Melander a potent 1-2 punch

 

9-Lexus Kody – Track record holder has been a dominant force so far this season, just missed in the Cutler & to a surprisingly good Up Your Deo last week & a big threat despite post nine

 

Race 10

7-Yo Tillie – Eight for 12 in her first season, has come out guns blazing for Andrew Harris, romped to a new mark of 1:52.3 in the Garden State & freshened with confident qualifier

 

9-Champagne Problems – Dan Patch Award winner broke after a near impossible trip from post ten in the NJSS Final, stuck outside here, but certainly has the class to rebound for Team Takter

 

4-Elaine T S – Lightly-raced Team Svanstedt filly regained her winning form in PASS @ Pocono & draws well fresh of that career best

 

Race 11

3-Twin B Joe Fresh – Defending Horse of the Year & 2024 Perfect Sting winner has effortlessly come back two-for-two, draws inside & returns to the scene of many exploits

 

1-Sylvia Hanover – Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2023 & 1:47.3 Allerage Farms winner last year has returned in prime form, strong runner in the Roses Are Red lands the rail

 

5-Aardie B Miki – Blue Chip Matchmaker champ was right there with Twin B Joe Fresh in a June 7 Big M qualifier & came back with a strong third in the Roses Are Red

 

Race 12

5-Deja Blu – Came out winning back-to-back NJSS divisions, then had no chance in that final with a slow start from post eight & this Hambo Oaks hopeful can rebound for Team Takter

 

2-Conversano – Followed up a sizzling 1:51.3 NJSS division with a dominant score in that final, draws inside & this Muscle Hill filly is off to rousing start this season

 

7-R Dutchess – 1:52.1 Grand Circuit winner at two stole one all the way as the heavy favorite, draws a challenging post, but continues her positive trend

 

Race 13

2-Fendi Hanover – Wow, this 5YO suddenly came to life with an emphatic wire-to-wire/career best blowout last week & draws inside again to prove that was no fluke

 

5-Mcwicked Time – Took a couple starts here to uncork a career best of 1:50.4 in a Trackmaster Final two weeks ago & rates a class hike for his third start for Rob Harmon

 

1-Boston Bound – Steady fringe player in the mid to upper ranks @ Saratoga makes his Big M debut for Team Bongiorno & lands the rail

 

Race 14

5-Do What U Do – 3YO making only his fifth start of the season, lands mid pack fresh off a huge wake up effort, finishing second at long odds & drops a notch for Go Johnny Go

 

7-Jojo’s Place – Lived up to the inexplicable tote action with a vastly-improved second with a :26.2 last week, tackles another tricky post, but rates a long look off that mile

 

9-Bluebird Time – Nosed out three starts back, stormed home from a tough spot to finish a close second two weeks ago, deals with another outside draw, but owns a lethal late kick