Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, March 15, & Saturday, March 16, 2024

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

---

Race 1

3-Texas Miki – That narrow loss from post eight back in mid-February is worth noting, bumped into some tougher fields in two starts since the claim, lands in a softer spot & draws better

 

8-Atta Boy Dan – Classy 15YO suddenly set a rated pace & settled for third as the beaten favorite, now post eight might dictate a more patient approach

 

1-Laneside Logic GB – Perked up in his first two with the addition of Lasix, then failed to get involved from post nine & moves inside to pave the way for a better effort

 

Race 2

1-Kinesiology – Lightly-raced Walner filly won her Big M qualifier with a perfect trip & nice late burst & has a big chance to attempt similar from the rail for Team Burke

 

4-Striking Tactful – Encountered a bit of stretch traffic in a :27.4 sprint to the wire last week, a solid runner up before that & draws well to trip out

 

5-Internationalcraze – Product of the PASS fair circuit turned a pretty creditable Pocono qualifier, not sure how he measures up in his 3YO debut, yet could surprise

 

Race 3

3-Pinebushdragonroll – Caught out of position after an unusually slow start from post two, just missed a huge upset before that & draws inside again in a complete toss up

 

8-Rock Jagger – Shipped here off a win @ Hawthorne & got away slowly after missing almost a month & has license to show more despite post eight again

 

7-Moneymakehersmile – She has been dropping positive hints recently while facing the boys, fresh off a narrow loss last week & tackles a more challenging post

 

Race 4

2-Thndrfrmthethron N – Thunder has clearly been better in his last two, just missed from post eight two starts back, a solid third last week & draws inside again

 

7-Select Friday – No checks in four starts since the mid-January claim, yet this is a softer spot for him to revive some of his form from last season when he won nine times

 

1-Bionic – Has simply been too far back after slow starts in his last two, now he moves inside a field riddled with question marks

 

Race 5

4-Bluebird Bishop – The Bishop responded to a class drop with a solid second to Papa Doc last week & lands post four again to crank it up another notch

 

5-Papa Doc – Hammered down to even money, added Dexter Dunn, stayed flat & delivered a rousing career best bounce-back score & remains at the same reduced level

 

6-The American Eagle – Suddenly found himself on the lead & settled for third last week, remains at the level of that winning rally back on February 16

 

Race 6

3-Racing Money – Steady gelding a solid runner up in his last three, was claimed again, draws better to trip out & looms large in top form

 

2-Kissinbytthebeaches – Beaten favorite roughed up first over, grabbed a late lead & collared by a surprisingly good MV OK Palacio BR, wire-to-wire from post two before that

 

4-Dandy Idea – She finished a much-improved second off a sick scratch, Big M lover draws inside, yet hasn’t raced in a month & that might be a concern

 

Race 7

6-Unique Kemp – Looks to snap a winless drought this season flashing some keen final quarters & this is a tailor made class drop scenario for her

 

8-Allindotime – Followed up an overdue win with a game grind & impressive repeat last week, tougher post here, but this 9YO has a definite top form advantage

 

9-Fashion Cantab – Fresh off a new mark of 1:56.3 two starts back he was a solid second from the rail last week, moves outside, yet remains on his toes

 

Race 8

2-Throwing Copper – Has been dropping positive hints in only four starts this season, missed over month prior to last Saturday’s deceptively good effort & gets class & post relief

 

10-Mariner Seelster – The amazing 15YO Mariner has reeled off three straight romps, his latest a methodic post ten wire-to-wire & he might simply be too good for these

 

9-Dealer’s Table – Finally woke up & exploited a real soft spot, going all the way from post seven, now a fresh claim, expect another blast off for his new connections

 

Race 9

4-Coalfordsnshine GB – Makes her first start for Team Burke & season debut on Lasix off an excellent Big M qualifier against her world champion stablemate Beach Cowgirl

 

3-Badditude – Team Estrada-tuned mare on a long form spree, fresh off a dominant tally in a TM Final, draws inside again & logically looms large

 

2-Chevrons Bypass N – Finished an even fourth in her sloppy track comeback @ Pocono, figures to show more in her second start off the bench with the class drop & inside draw

 

Race 10

3-Sauble Delightful – Stung showing early speed & outsprinted by a sizzling 1:50.3 Side Piece last week & draws better for another shot at this reduced level

 

5-Laurie Lee – She came roaring out fresh off the bench to romp as the heavy favorite @ Pocono, knows her way around this track & looks to have a class edge

 

1-Speak Your Mind – Love the effort finishing second to a raging Side Piece from post eight two weeks ago, steady mare move inside & merits the step up in class

 

Race 11

6-Bette Tina – Just one for her last 36, landed on the fringe again fourth from post ten, draws a bit better for her key third start off the bench & owns a big late kick

 

5-Milady Denver A – Left alertly & got stuffed inside chasing a dominant Badditude last week & this 14YO has been on a roll

 

7-Miss Maycee – Got parked first over & had to settle for fourth last week after winning two in a row & she has a chance to bounce back for Team Estrada

 

Race 12

8-Beach Cowgirl – World champion just missed to Sylvia Hanover in last year’s Shady Daisy, returns fresh off a pair of winning qualifiers for Team Burke

 

2-Shezafreaklikeme – Bounced back off a sick scratch with a sharp narrow loss to Kickupyaheels N, draws inside that rival & remains a live item for Stacy Chiodo

 

10-Kickupyaheels N – Sparked by an easy won @ Pocono she came right back to score a gutsy upset here last week, slammed with post ten, but her arrow is pointing up

Race 13

8-Virtual Horizon – Beaten favorite battled bitterly & just missed in the slop, moves outside, yet continues to ramp it up on the comeback trail

 

4-Gotta Minute N – After persistently knocking on the door he finally broke through with a two-move score as the heavy favorite & draws better to step up in class

 

7-Oh Coffee Bean – Dropped back to this level & just missed with a perfect trip, more demanding post here, but she’s capable of taking charge

 

Race 14

4-Mansai – Fresh/lightly-raced 4YO ships in off three preps @ Dover Downs, lands in a new barn, draws inside & faces a highly beatable field

 

3-Jerrytone – Just finished a much better third last week, draws inside again, retains Todd McCarthy & might hold a slight edge in a dartboard finale

 

7-Transfer The Era – Has been a steady check earner at this level, Braxton Boyd gets the call again & early speed can put him in play

 

Selections for Saturday

Race 1

1-Homestretch Wes – Steady sort on the ticket in six of seven this season, gets away from some salty TM types & lands the rail in a competitive opener

 

8-Somiki – Only took a couple of starts off the recent claim to regain his winning form, then was a solid runner up with a less than ideal trip, contender despite post eight

 

9-Sunshine’s Finest – Brushed n crushed as the heavy favorite last Friday, moves outside, yet remains razor sharp & retains John Calabrese

 

Race 2

7-Dynomites Peak – Put together an eye-catching back half in the slop, closing from tenth & last to land in the photo with Slick N Quick last week & looms large with the right set up

 

2-Slick N Quick – Slick stormed home quick & from a tough spot to just miss a huge upset in the slop, draws post two again & might get within closer striking range

 

5-Its Rockin Randy – Was able to turn his game around with a well-rated wire-to-wire for our Trainer of the Week Carl Tirella & can step up with Dexter Dunn back in the bike

 

Race 3

7-Betterinpinehurst – Came roaring off the bench with a sizzling new mark of 1:51.4 in the slop, then got rolling too late as the heavy favorite, this fresh threat can rebound for Team Cullipher

 

5-Sidd Finch – Came to within a fifth of his career best with that two-move win from post five two starts back, look for him to get involved early with another mid-pack launch

 

4-Dribbling Bi – Draws better on a three-race form spree, fired out from post seven & battled back to win again & just missed to Sidd Finch before that

 

Race 4

2-Americagreatagain – Brett Pelling-tuned son of Captain Crunch just missed in his career debut @ Pocono, then bumped into Bonaparte there & draws inside that rival here

 

10-Bonaparte – Promising 3YO by Bettor’s Wish went all the way for an 8-1 upset in his 3YO debut & first start for Richard Johnson & deserves strong consideration despite post ten

 

3-Stomp – Two solid seconds back-to-back to close out February, then got parked & pace compromised last Friday & post gods continue to shine on him

 

Race 5

6-Strengthfromabove – Indiana stakes player makes his 4YO debut & first start for Besim Odza fresh off a strong Big M qualifier over an off track & faces a serious test right off the hop

 

9-Write Me A Rose – Runner up in an OSS Super Final, zipped home in :25.3 in his second qualifier here, makes his first start for Darran Cassar & deserves a long look despite post nine

 

4-Midnight Thunder – Lightly-raced 4YO has continued to gather momentum since the late-January sick scratch, solid runner up to a sub 1:50 winner in the slop draws well for Dexter Dunn

 

Race 6

5-Stonebridge Reef – Landed on the fringe fifth while sprinting home with his usual vigor last week, this is the right kind of class drop he needs & expect a more aggressive mid-pack launch

 

4-Blazing Banner – Added to Nik Drennan’s fast start here this season & woke up big time with the class drop n pop & new lifetime mark in the mud last week & can’t rule out a repeat

 

2-Ideal Feeling – Beaten favorite & runner up to a revved up Blazing Banner N last week, tripped out to a fiery 1:50.3 upset before that & The Money Man looms large from a better post

 

Race 7

7-Dean B Hanover – Sub 1:50 performer last year makes his fourth start on the comeback trail, gets his second straight class drop & Team Cullipher is on the rise

 

5-Warrawee Xtreme – Came right back off a Pocono score with an aggressive upset here in the slop last week & similar tactics could pay off again in a wide-open field

 

2-Whole Lotta Lou – Lou sparked his winning form with a class drop & perfect trip two starts back, then got parked from post nine last week & moves inside to rebound

 

Race 8

4-Knockin Out – Has been slammed with two straight ten holes, previously had his competitive flashes, now draws much better & might be worth a swing in a headscratcher

 

7-Mask On Mask Off – 0 for ten this season & runner up in half his starts this season, never know what you’re going to get with him, bounced back with a sharp narrow loss last week

 

3-Seeuinnashville A – Capitalized on a well-time move by Jordan Stratton & stormed home for the upset in the slop last week & draws better in a field ripe for taking

 

Race 9

3-Captain Cowboy – The Cowboy bounced back by almost going all the way from post seven for Team Burke & now he moves inside to turn the tables on Brutallyhandsome A

 

6-Brutallyhandsome A – Needed every inch of that perfect two-hole ride to gun down Captain Cowboy, took a mark of 1:52.1 here back on January 20 & has stepped up for Team Stratton

 

2-My Pal Joe – The classy Joe moves inside after flashing a :26.3 in the slop last week & that might’ve given him something to build on from an improved post

 

Race 10

6-Stable Genius – Stepped up to this level with a rousing repeat in the slop to go two-for-two on Lasix & continues to build momentum on the comeback trail for Team Cullipher

 

1-King Alphonso – Brushed n crushed them with authority last week for the Big M’s leading barn & he’s now a more than capable top contender from the rail

 

2-Nextroundsonme – Solid runner up to King Alphonso last week, gets post two again & has a big chance to trip out, stalk the speed & pounce late with Dexter Dunn

 

Race 11

3-Southwind Dredge – Beaten favorite barely outsprinted in a nice rebound effort for Dexter Dunn & draws better for his third start off the recent claim

 

9-Needham Hanover – Got parked in the slop as the even money favorite last week, three in a row before that, all from outside posts & returns to claimers

 

2-Mister Godro – Was right there in the photo with Southwind Dredge last Friday, sharp upset before that when he was reclaimed by Team Ginsburg & draws inside again

 

Race 12

3-De Los Cielos Deo – Back class & form has been gradually resurfacing since the recent sick scratch & now draws better in a camera shy field

 

2-Boiler Maker – Has been struggling to regain form, while re-adjusting to his former trainer, returns to The Big M with an inside post & has license to perk up

 

7-Mister Donald A – Has had some bright moments at this level recently, late bid & third in a deadheat last week, tougher draw here, but retains Dexter Dunn

 

Race 13

1-Kolby Two Step – Lands the rail fresh off a decisive wire-to-wire on the class drop & now makes his third start off the bench for Team Cullipher in a very competitive division

 

3-Jagger Rocks – Bounced back in a huge way with an impressive wire-to-wire in an eye-catching 1:51.3 in the slop last week & draws better brimming with confidence

 

6-Prospector’s Gold – 10-time winner last season has been knocking on the door in all three starts since coming back & chased Kolby Two Step with a brisk :26 last week

 

Race 14

3-National Sport – Flashed plenty of late life along with many others in the slop last week, owns some back class & draws well to follow up in a very soft finale

 

6-C-Bet Hanover – Chased a fired up Prince Mcardle N with decent efforts in his last two, no such standouts in this one & retains Dexter Dunn

 

2-Caviart Rockland – No factor in a Play Meadowlands Final last week, yet was a solid third in the slop before that & draws better for The Big M’s top barn