Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, June 28, & Saturday, June 29, 2024
Wednesday, June 26, 2024
Race 1
5-Gazoo – Got to go back to that sharp rally for a new mark of 1:52.4 when well supported on April 27 & finally draws a decent post to attain a better start
4-Kissinbythebeaches – Bounced back off the latest sick scratch, went all the way & dug in gamely for a new mark of 1:53.2 & expecting a similar effort from post four again
3-Persimmon A – 11YO owns some back class, changed barns to Kelvin Harrison, off a solid Gaitway qualifier, draws inside & might be ready for his 2024 debut
Race 2
3-Hildago – Brother to a few good ones like Brooklyn Hill, Kings County & Swiss House Onfire, won that second baby race with a nice late burst & could lead the Team Burke trio
1-Noble Wine – Gelding from the initial offering of Greenshoe & first foal from his dam, modestly-priced yearling been doing good things @ Gaitway & fresh off a winning rally there
2-Blue Cartier – Chapter Seven brother to Fourth Dimension, Valentina Blu & Heart On Fire, solid efforts in both Big M baby races & draws inside for Team Alagna
Race 3
5-Maryland – First foal from a half-million dollar winning sister to the millionaire Venerable, hefty $475,000 price tag & won his second baby race with authority for Team Melander
6-Mr Walner Fashion – Brother to Real Cool Sam & fourth foal from the world champion Cooler Schooner, rebounded to win his second baby race in an eye-catching 1:56.4
3-Tactical Dynasty – Tactical Landing colt just missed in his first Gaitway mile, then finished a strong third to Noble Wine (#1 in Race 2) & part of a strong Team Burke trio
Race 4
3-Duration – Captaintreachrous sister to Exploit, 1:50 ($575, 827), won both Big M baby races with strong finishes, her latest in :26.4 & draws inside to lead a six-ply Alagna Armada
6-Odds On You – First crop of world champion Papi Rob Hanover, jogged in both baby races, her latest here with a :55.3 back half & could be anything for Team Toscano
2-Chakra – By world champion Lather Up, she just missed in her second baby race with a nifty :26.2 in a 1:52.4 mile, lands an inside post & gives Team Alagna another spark
Race 5
3-Smoken Bob – Bettor’s Wish brother to 1:49.3 performer Dean B Hanover ($414,623), two-for-two in Big M baby races for Team Toscano & draws inside off an impressive wire-to-wire
5-Papis Pistol – Another new one by world champion Papi Rob Hanover, exploded out of the pocket to win his third baby race in :26.4
4-Robbed By Force – Solid runner up chasing a couple of headstrong winners in both baby races @ Gaitway & draws well to make an immediate impression for Team Burke
Race 6
5-Namaste Hanover – Papi Rob Hanover brother to 1:48.2 performer Nautical Hanover ($445,666), made some positiove moves in both baby races & stalks mid-pack
8-World Beater – Captaintreacherous first foal from his Art Major dam, stepped up in his second baby race here with a :26 kicker, tough draw, but give this Team Alagna trainee a long look
9-Railroad Station – Sweet Lou first foal from his Well Said dam, eager to please winning both Gaitway qualifiers for team Burke & rates strong consideration despite an outside draw
Race 7
2-Fashion Cantab – Reeled off back-to-back upsets this month, lowered his mark to 1:56.3 in the process & draws an improved post to stalk n pop this bunch
10-Empereurthebest FR – French bred made a smooth mile-track transition, moves outside, yet remains a contender, while making his second start for new connections
4-Zlatan – Just one for 17 this season & that came @ Freehold, twice second to Fashion Cantab here recently & stalks that rival from a better post
Race 8
6-Ferragamo Hanover – Woke up with a thunderous rally from a real tough spot, took a mark of 1:52.1 here this season & that major move might’ve sparked something
2-Gemini Express – Took a new mark of 1:53.2 fresh off the recent claim, then just missed in his last two, draws better & retains Dexter Dunn
7-Kingston Panic – Stepped up to this TM level off a perfect trip upset & new mark of 1:52.4, then finished a hard-charging third by a neck, so this 4YO is in top form
Race 9
4-Just A Rocket Man – Sprung a barn change bonanza last week, while taking a new mark of 1:52.2 with a perfect trip from post nine & now moves inside to prove that was no fluke
6-Warrawee Yankee – Burned the chalk while squandering a taylor made trip off the speed, steady 4YO got nosed out before that & may kick the door in with the right set up
2-Brazen Brazilian – The Brazilian clicked the light bulb on when well supported two starts back & returns to the MADC Series with an inside post
Race 10
5-No Words – Lightly-raced 4YO was competitive with TM 83 types before taking a month off & now makes his second start off the bench in a field with no standouts
2-National Sport – Has resumed his form spree off a recent sick scratch & rates the class hike fresh off a game score from post eight last Saturday
1-Vandalism – Rose up the TM ladder reeling off three in a row this month, pace & trip compromised last week, moves inside & switches to Yannick Gingras
Race 11
1-Flamboyance – Came right back to repeat with a new mark of 1:53.2 in a Trackmaster Final, finally draws inside for the class hike & reunited with Todd McCarthy
5-Phelgon – Has caught fire winning two of her last three as the favorite, secured an easy pocket & got up in time with a nice late burst & she’s a threat from mid-pack
8-Gaitway Gal – Has been toiling against some salty condition foes @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, tough draw, but she knows her way around this oval
Race 12
5-Absolute Power – Soundly beat these with a sparkling new mark of 1:49.3 two starts back, stung for an early lead from post eight last week & draws better
2-Santafe’s Appetite – Unleashed her wicked late surge to make it three in a row & fresh off a new mark of 1:50.3 in a Trackmaster Final & draws inside for the class hike
4-Dontkarenifido – Upset these with a powerful rally & career best of 1:50.3 back on May 25 & draws well off a no-chance mile
Race 13
7-Tailgate Buzz – Just two for 17 this season & draws a challenging post, yet didn’t mind his latest effort here & gets some class relief
5-Swan Captain – Consistent gelding was caught in a never-never land while chasing a runaway winner & now makes his third start off a sick scratch
2-Uno Mas Blue Chip – Just missed with a solid finish in his Big M debut, now we comes off a sick scratch, but draws inside a wide-open field
Race 14
2-Chaparmbro – Prepped well in NYSS, then finished a solid second to a fellow Hambo prospect in Bright Star & draws inside again to set up another stalking trip
3-Bella’s Muscle Hill – Followed up a commendable second to Diplomacy with a game first win for Nifty Norman & draws inside with pedigree & potential
5-Alamo Mission – Was left in the wake of a serious Hambo propect is Daiquiri Hanover, now makes his second start as a 3YO & has license to step up for Team Takter
Selections for Saturday, June 29
Race 1
2-Cereal Assassin – First crop of Captain Crunch, brother to millionaires Heston & Sunfire Blue Chip, flying from far back in his comebacker & draws inside for Team Toscano
3-Miki Ray – Got a reprieve from top level colts, dictated his own terms & came up a length shy with an excellent acclimating mile & draws well again
6-Port Royal Hanover – Captaintreacherous brother to world champion Papi Rob Hanover sat the pocket behind Miki Ray & couldn’t sprint with the top ones, yet that was still an improved effort
Race 2
1-Jiggy Jog S – Dan Patch Award winner & defending champion picked up where she left off by storming home with a career best 1:50 fresh off the bench to beat the boys in the Cutler
5-M-M’s Dream – 2022 Indiana Trotter of the Year kicked off her season four-for-four, just missed in the Armbro Flight Final & upset Jiggy Jog S in last year’s Steele Memorial
2-Call Me Goo – Pride of the Maryland Sires Stakes & Rosecroft track record setter rallied to upset M-M’s Dream in the Armbro Flight & lands inside for The Bionic Man
Race 3
1-Sylvia Hanover – Canada’s Horse of the Year in 2023 & two-time Breeders Crown champ came up second best in the Roses Are Red, lands the rail & was three-for-three here last year
4-Twin B Joe Fresh – FanDuel winner caught fire early this season with crushers in the Betsy Ross & Roses Are Red, recall she just missed to Sylvia Hanover in the 2024 Mistletoe Shalee
2-Silver Label – Defending champ & Lady Liberty winner in 1:47.3 got off to a pretty good start to her season before a pair of fifths in the Roses Are Red & draws inside to spark something
Race 4
4-Sambuca Hanover – Won finals of the TSS & Kindergarten Series in a strong 2YO season, has now had some excellent tune ups in PASS action & draws well for Nifty Norman
5-Walcango – Chased a couple of Svanstedt Hambo prospects last out, Fashion Farms Walner filly trending right & finds a cozy mid-pack spot
2-Sunkist Beauty – Daughter of world champion Six Pack jogged in both qualifiers, draws inside & lands a prime opportunity for her 3YO debut
Race 5
5-Joemikiyoursofine – Returns to The Big M where he took a 1:49 & nosed out Mad Max Hanover three starts back, drops back down to that level & stalks from mid-pack
1-Stonebridge Reef – Long, productive season so far, that was an eye-catching :25.2 chasing a couple of tough ones last week, drops a notch & lands the rail
7-Wise Thinking – Was used pretty hard to take charge & still responded with a :27 kicker & new mark of 1:49.3, hasn’t raced in three weeks & demanding draw in a drop down derby
Race 6
6-Karl – The Hambo favorite is back after 29 days off, Dan Patch Award winner looked was an ultra impressive three-for-three in NJSS & trained sharply here on June 14
8-Bright Star – Ranked #7 in the Road to the Hambo Top Ten, draws outside, but upset a division of NJSS & fresh off a dominant/confidence-building new mark of 1:52.1
5-French Kronos – Not Hambo eligible, but keep your eye on this Team Melander trainee, perfect trip winner here back on April 26 & returns fresh off a career best 1:53.2 @ Pocono
Race 7
1-Paulina Hanover – Finished fourth to Elista Hanover two starts back, then a strong finish for the deuce in PASS @ Pocono & pushes off from the rail on an improving trend
9-Elista Hanover – Stuck outside, but rides in on a seven-race winning streak, including three divisions of PASS & fresh off a new mark of 1:52.3 @ Pocono
5-Spy Coast – Kicked off her 3YO season three-for-three before fading to fourth in NJSS Final, now a 29-day layoff to consider, yet she has the speed & talent to bounce back for Team Burke
Race 8
3-Captain Luke – Reportedly tied up after getting shuffled in the NA Cup Final, that post ten crush in 1:49.3 here back on May 25 sticks out & draws inside for Team Alagna
1-Rush In – Late-bloomer sparked a five-race winning streak here back on April 20, freshened off a new mark of 1:49.4 in PASS, qualified with zeal & lands the rail for Team Toscano
2-Nuclear – Took last week off after a flashy trip-sitting 1:48.4 from post eight, proven he’s a Grand Circuit caliber & now moves inside to sharpen his sword for the Pace
Race 9
6- T C I – O’Brien Award winner set an earnings record for freshman trotters, two-for-two in PASS as the #2 in the Road to the Hambo Top Ten, off three weeks & faces a competitive division
9-Tony Adams S – Not Hambo eligible, but continues on a positive trend for Team Svanstedt, third in the NJSS Final & fresh off a new mark of 1:51.4 & a threat depite post nine
3-Benny J – One of four Team Alagna 3YOS in the Hambo Top Ten, nice run in the NJSS Series, distant runner up in that final & has a big chance to rebound from an improved post
Race 10
3-Southwind Tyrion – Capped off last season with decisive scores in the Breeders Crown & FanDuel, draws inside off two tighteners & ready to fire his best for Team Svanstedt
1-Asteroid – Cutler runner up when he returned on Lasix, then romped to a new mark of 1:51.4 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & now has the rail for his third start off the bench
5-Venerate – Last year’s favorite & runner up perked up with a new mark of 1:50.1 & Maxie Lee upset & tuned up with a handy qualifier for Team Melander
Race 11
5-Abuckabett Hanover – 2024 runner up tuned up with a post nine upset in 1:49.3 @ Mohawk, then a hard-fought third by a head in the Gold Cup & works it from mid-pack
1-Ruthless Hanover – Last year’s winner in a track record equaling 1:46.4 has returned with two straight sizzlers, including a 1:47.2 in the Auger Memorial & lands the rail in a great field
11-Ken Hanover – 4YO has emerged as a top level sar, just missed in the Auger Memorial, fresh off a new mark of 1:47.4 in the Graduate, top contender despite the second tier
Race 12
2-Honey’s Sweet – Chapter Seven filly from a productive family, added trotting hopples & promptly went two-to-two & fresh off a new mark of 1:52 in the EBC she draws inside for Team Alagna
6-Buy A Round – NJSS champion developed into a Grand Circuit player last year, looked well on her way before the sick scratch from the NJSS Final, now a 42-day layoff to consider
5-Chapalonia – Won her 3YO debut here with a career best 1:54.2 & finished well for fourth behind Hambo prospect Bright Star in a much-needed start
Race 13
3-Bet A Bundle – Has been forced to close from tough spots in some sizzling sub-1:50 miles, now gets class & post relief & retains Todd McCarthy
6-Kootenay Santanna – Gets a well-deserved bump up in class after winning three of his last five & fresh of a new mark of 1:50.3 with speed at both ends from post seven
4-Interest Free A – Was a fringe player along with Bet A Bundle in his last two, drops back to a competitive level & draws better, but 0 for his last 33 a major concern
Race 14
6-Better Than Some – Notched his seventh win of the season with a convincing upset two weeks ago, hikes up in price, but still fresh on the comeback trail
7-Sunny And Eighty – Beaten even money favorite gunned out & settled for second to a raging repeater in Rock Jagger, tougher post here, but this versatile sort is going well right now
1-Golden Gesture – Not terribly excited about his rally to hit the board last week, but this 11YO veteran is back on the rail to round out the exotics