Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, March 1 & Saturday, March 2, 2024

Thursday, February 29, 2024

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Race 1

3-Kissinbythebeaches – Had some moments of success here late last season, draws inside fresh off a sick scratch & solid Freehold qualifier for the always capable Kleinhans

 

7-Cloudbreak – Well driven by Matt Zuccarello to be a distant runner up in a much-better result last week, tougher post this time, this is a wide-open field ripe for the taking

 

9-Thndrfrmthethron N – Don’t ask me why he was a favorite last week, forced wide from an impossible spot & flashed a bit more, now post nine in his fourth start since a sick scratch

 

Race 2

8-American Way – Lived up to the chalk hype by steamrolling first over to take a new mark of 1:52.2 in his Per Engblom debut, moves outside, but primed off an impressive win with Dexter

 

3-Skyway Billy – Held on to post a well-earned post ten score for The Buckeye, just missed before that, now rewarded with a far better post & Julius Czermann, Jr. has a strong 1-2 punch

 

1-Lincoln Boulevard – Dominant Leg 1 winner with a career best of 1:53.2 from post eight, too far to come from post nine last week & finally draws inside

 

Race 3

3-Importer Exporter – Just one for his last 34 & winless this season, yet has flashed some encouraging late life in his last two & draws inside a pari mutuel puzzler

 

1-Bingo Brain – The Brain took three starts on the comeback trail to rally for his first win, then was used a bit too hard from post nine & now lands the rail for Dexter Dunn

 

4-Fashion Cantab – Regained his confidence with back-to-back air-out missions @ Freehold, draws well off an even acclimating & plays an opportunist role

 

Race 4

1-Drazzmatazz – This 11YO veteran has been gradually cycling forward, 10-time winner last year just missed from post eight @ Freehold & gets a rail start here for Yogi Sheridan

 

2-Allindotime – 2023 Amateur Driver of the Year John Calabrese picks up a live mount, beaten favorite @ Freehold has been better in his last two & draws inside here

 

7-My Big Kadillac – 10Yo was able to turn his game around with smooth trip @ Freehold, demanding post here, but knows his way around this track

 

Race 5

6-Gotta Minute N – Locked wheels & re-rallied to grab the deuce from post nine last week & his narrow loss three starts back was monstrous

 

5-Heart Of Rock – Steady sort & beaten favorite cut inside two consecutive pylons & DQed last time & has a big chance to atone

 

8-Magritte – Hit the board in his last two @ Yonkers, dips into a TM 74, challenging post, but plenty of back class in his arsenal

 

Race 6

4-Stormont Divide – Parlayed a perfect second over trip from post eight to nail his Big M debut for Team Burke despite missing a month & draws better with license to show more

 

3-Dylan The Great – Paid off as the heavy favorite in his Big M debut for Edwin Quevedo, then settled for second as a beaten favorite & draws well again for the class hike

 

5-Call Me Dani – 1:53.2 performer here last season seemed to turn a corner two starts back @ Yonkers, followed that with a fourth, placed third here & drops another notch

 

Race 7

3-Lachie Maguire N – Fresh claim just missed with a game grind as the beaten chalk & this 14YO warhorse draws inside

 

2-Texas Miki – Second by a head from post eight two starts back, now a fresh claim draws an improved post & long overdue

 

1-Bank Sea – Three-time beaten favorite fired out & settled for third last week & now grabs the rail to trip out & atone for The Judge

 

Race 8

2-Abuelita Hanover – Picked up Braxten Boyd, who put a great drive on her last week, she got nosed out by Badditude & now draws inside that rival

 

6-Badditude – Went all the way to score her third in her last four, including a neck loss & the needle keeps pointing north for this Team Estrada trainee

 

5-Shake It Twice – Perfectly driven by Dexter Dunn to hit the board chasing Badditude, now lands mid-pack & does own a win here this season

Race 9

5-Seeuinnashvile A – Flashing plenty of positive signs against TM 80 types, drops into a near blank field & can stalk from mid-pack to snap a losing skid

 

7-ER Vegas – Fresh off two straight nose losses, consistent type on board in five of seven this season & his persistence could pay off

 

1-Odds On Lauderdale – Rallied to upset a MADC event fresh off the bench, so logically has license to show more from the rail

 

Race 10

4-Twin B Sunkissed – Dropped to this level @ Yonkers, perked up & almost went all the way as the beaten favorite @ Yonkers & draws well here for Team Burke

 

1-Santafe’s Appetite – Stormed home from a tough spot in :26.3 last week, drops back to a winning level & moves inside

 

5-Absolute Power – Handled the class hike nicely as a solid runner up last week, just one for her last 23, yet she has certainly sharpened her sword

 

Race 11

4-Southwind Frost – Nosed out by Shinkansen with a game effort from post eight, just missed before that & draws better

 

7-I’ll Owe You One – Rallied to take his second of his last three in a career best of 1:55.4, now his post is tougher, but this 4YO remains on the rise

 

1-Shinkansen – Was able to launch his winning move through a soft pace, held off Southwind Frost & draws inside again at this TM 74 level

 

Race 12

9-Southwind Dredge – Fresh claim off two in a row, just missed from post ten three starts back, live item draws outside, but doesn’t face much

 

8-Sports Hero – Beat $10,000 stock with a perfect trip from post eight three starts back & has a chance to turn things around

 

7-JK Lucky Charms – Fresh off a lively effort from the rail, note the 1:52.3 romp back on January 26 & hails from a high percentage barn

 

Race 13

6-Side Piece – Well-bred former star in BC took her requisite tour of the oval, drops a notch & has a chance to step up in a wide-open affair

 

5-Village Jade – Classy mare flashed some strong late pace in her last two, gets another class drop & can stalk from mid-pack for Team Burke

 

1-Lets Ryde Girl – Forced wide from a tough spot to grab second last week, draws much better & could be on verge of an overdue win

 

Race 14

9-Miss Maycee – Has revived her form in three starts with Team Estrada, fresh off a new mark second time Lasix & rates top billing despite post nine

 

4-Milady Denver A – 14YO mare blitzed a soft MADC division last week, draws well again & picks up Todd McCarthy with something to build on

 

3-Miss Italia – Displayed plenty of late pace to hit the ticket in her first start for Edwin Quevedo, draws inside, yet the injury scratch makes her a mystery

Saturday, March 2 Selections

Race 1

2-Paduka N – Classy 10YO has definitely been knocking on the door since returning to The Big M for Juan Cano & draws an improved post in a competitive opener

 

10-Mariner Seelster – Amazing 15YO warhorse with 72 career wins has simply come to life with two straight blowouts & might just blast off again & take no prisoners

 

4-Brazen Brazilian – The Brazilian gave off a strong indication he’s about to turn the corner with a mighty late surge to hit the board & finally draws better

 

Race 2

8-Needham Hanover – Trainer Besim “The Dream” Odza has found the key to this one & patience has paid off for Driver of the Week Andrew McCarthy with two straight sterling rallies

 

5-Racing Money – Beaten favorite bumped into a sharp winner in Southwind Dredge, runner up to Needham Hanover before that, draws a bit better & continues to thrive off the recent claim

 

7-Posh Onthe Beach A – Just one for his last 46 & winless this season, but drops into a claimer, keeps Jordan Stratton & note the sharp narrow loss three starts back

 

Race 3

5-Sidd Finch – Steady closer was pace & trip compromised in his last two, drops back down to a winning level with a mid-pack launch in a tricky puzzle

 

7-Global Believer S – One of two Per Engblom trainees in here, looking to rebounded off a miscue with some class relief third time Lasix & from a more challenging post

 

4-Dribbling Bi – Fresh off a well-driven upset from post eight, tackles a double class hike, but now has renewed confidence from an improved post

 

Race 4

5-Duddie’s Lor – Classy 8YO makes his key third start off the bench, drops another notch & this might be a prime spot for him to perk up at a price

 

2-Mister Donald A – Beaten favorite just missed with an aggressive effort two starts back, drops back to that level & draws inside again

 

10-Bettor Not Talk – Has been tangling with some salty condition foes this Winter, strong in the win column last year, slammed with post ten, but drops further

 

Race 5

2-Bicorne Hanover – Been trying to fire his late shot from out of range in his last two, has been competitive with $20,000 claimers, now drops & draws inside with Joe Lee

 

4-Somiki – Recent Justin Sodano claim won a bitter battle to pay off the chalk players & lands post four again fresh off that career best

 

3-Passa-Grille Beach – Somehow conjured up some of his back class to suddenly romp off a sick scratch & finally draws inside with something positive to build on

 

Race 6

1-Little Expensive – Lightly-raced 4YO with upside bounced back off a rare miscue with a solid second from post eight & now the beaten favorite moves inside for Team Orange Crush,

 

7-Nextroundsonme – Has had his moments this season such as the sharp narrow loss two starts back with trot at both ends & note the post seven wire-to-wire back on January 19

 

3-Outside The Fire – Addition of trotting hopples led to a career best of 1:53.2 with an eye-catching :27.2 & draws well with license to step up for a hot trotting barn

 

Race 7

5-Boiler Maker – Settled for fourth chasing the deadheat winners last week, sub 1:50 winner @ The Big M last year trending right in his last two after switching barns

 

6-Warrawee Total – 9YO suddenly went on a speed mission, deadheated with Trente Deo & earned a new mark of 1:51.1 & can’t rule out a repeat

 

10-Trente Deo – Winner in three of his last four, tripped out to tie Warrawee Total last week, grinded gamely from post nine before that & can’t be dismissed despite post ten

 

Race 8

9-Battlefield – Followed up an easy comeback score @ Pocono with a sharp narrow loss to Sheer Terror & this fresh Team Cullipher threat has a chance to turn the tables despite post nine

 

5-Sheer Terror – Fought off late pressure enroute to another game score over Battlefield & this lightly-raced 4YO will likely be tough to knock off again

 

6-Gretzky The Great – Steamrolled to equal his lifetime mark of 1:51.4 two weeks ago, now the post is tougher, but we certainly haven’t seen his best yet

 

Race 9

4-Primary Colors – Not much chance in just four starts this season @ Miami Valley, yet sports a mark of 1:48 @ The Big M, ships into the Per Engblom barn & draws well

 

2-Early Action – Makes his second start after a long layoff, former stakes player also gets some class relief & draws inside in a very intriguing match up

 

6-Ideal Feeling – Has been blitzed in his last few, beat these out of a shuffle back on January 20 & looms large as a in a stalking opportunist role

 

Race 10

2-Ferretti – Pace compromised from post eight two weeks ago, sharp upsetter from that same post before that moves inside & his barn always has them on their toes

 

4-Swan Flyer – Sparked a three-race winning streak with a 1:53 blowout here back on December 29, makes only his third start of the season, so he’s fresh n hot for Team Burke

 

7-Toccoa Falls – One of two steady Per Engblom trainees in this one was a solid runner up in the Presidents Day Trot & his gate speed often puts him in play

 

Race 11

5-Air Guitar – Dropped to this bottom condition & finished a solid second to a dominant winner & that could’ve set him up for an overdue score from mid-pack again

 

9-Rodman – Was overwhlemed in his requisite tour of the oval, he moves outside, but lands in a real soft spot to exploit off that much-needed start

 

8-Incredible Badger – Has paid the price for slow starts in his last few, draws outside again, yet this is an ideal class relief scenario to possibly snap a long losing skid

 

Race 12

1-American Dealer N – Got more aggressive & just missed to the streaking Oakwood Ardan IR last week & this sub 1:50 performer here is back on the rail for his third try off the bench

 

9-Oakwood Paddy IR – Kept that every-other pattern going with another rousing score two weeks ago, stuck outside a deep field, yet he can’t be dismissed for a high percentage barn

 

5-Dragononthebeach – Dropped n popped in a big way as the heavy favorite last week for Team Cullipher & poised to step up further in his third start off the bench

 

Race 13

7-Control Heaven – Team Cullipher have fired up their troops, this fresh threat sports a mark of 1:49.2 here, blew them away in his Pocono comeback & logically has more

 

5-Rockin On Venus – 1:48.4 performer @ The Big M last season just missed to Whole Lotta Lou in an inspiring post nine comeback for Team Cullipher

 

2-Nineteenth Man – His lone win this season came right here a notch above this @ 38-1 & returns to The Big M in a tailor made spot for Team Cushing

 

Race 14

5-Prince Mcardle N – Overmatched in most recent, post ten before that & this is an ideal double drop for Team Estrada from a mid-pack stalking spot

 

8-Majorly Sexy A – Took full advantage of a soft spot to regain his winning form last week, moves outside, but still fresh on the comeback trail

 

9-Good Rockin – Has had trouble revving up off the recent sick scratch, slammed with another outside post, but he drops from facing tougher claimers