Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, March 29, & Saturday, March 30, 2024

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

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Race 1
3-Final Justice – 12YO almost tripped out & just missed against these two starts back & returns to The Big M in an ideal spot

5-Atta Boy Dan – 15YO has faltered on the lead in his last two, yet now launches mid-pack & might be line for a prime stalking trip

7-Stolen Art – Somehow came up with a better effort to hit the board two starts back, then got parked & pace compromised last week

Race 2
5-Western Depth – Showed stark improvement & offered some late pace in his Big M debut & continues to trend in a positive direction

3-Just A Rocket Man – Owns a mark of 1:52.4 @ The Big M, has regained some form @ Pocono & draws inside a field that is a combined one for 65 this season

6-Cloudbreak – Was racing well prior to last week’s disappointing finish when well supported & lands a wide-open field to rebound

Race 3
8-The Will To Play – Changed barns, drivers & venues & promptly blasted down the road to a sparkling new mark of 1:51 & tough to go against despite a tougher post

7-Select Friday – Romped in the Saturday finale as the heavy favorite from the rail & looks to build on that alongside a standout Leg 1 winner

1-Ferragamo Hanover – Sparked something with that explosive upset two starts back, followed up chasing a revved up The Will To Play & draws inside that rival

Race 4
1-Camlachie Chrome – Chrome overcame some road trouble from post ten to finish a close third by a neck last week & finally draws inside a camera-shy field

9-Tidal Shark – Abruptly turned things around with a huge rally to just miss two weeks ago, stuck outside, but now has something positive to build on

8-Thundrfrmthethron N – 10YO on a pretty nice consistent roll, right there in the photo from post nine with pace at both ends last week

Race 5
4-Transfer The Era – Has indicated he’s come around in his last two, rallied for the deuce after Lettuceriprita A had already let er rip & has a chance to turn the tables

8-Lettuceriprita A – Steamrolled first over to a decisive score as the heavy favorite last week & looms as a logical threat to repeat despite post eight

3-Coin Flip – Took a couple of starts here to acclimate before finishing a much-improved second to a runaway Farragamo Hanover & now draws much better

Race 6
1-Im Princess Bella – Got off to a slow start & closed from far back to grab a minor share last week, gets some class relief, lands the rail & long overdue

3-Abuelita Hanover – Went all the way from post nine in handy style two starts back, trip compromised last week & moves inside to show speed

2-Eileen’s Wish – Was knocking on the door before fading to sixth last week, drops into a softer spot & draws inside again

Race 7
1-Jayport Roadrunner – Runner up to a big favorite with a much-improved effort in an inspiring Big M acclimating mile & moves inside for his new barn

2-Massive Matter – Just missed with a sharp late move two starts back, then closed from last to hit the board last week & now draws better

3-C You Again DK – 10YO makes his 2024 debut off a pretty solid season & decent qualifier @ Yonkers & draws inside for Per Engblom

Race 8
1-Dandy Idea – Beaten favorite & solid runner up in two of his last three & draws inside Rock On Line & can turn the tables on an improving trend

7-Rock On Line – Finally broke through this season with a first over crush last week & has license to repeat despite a tougher task

4-Racing Money – Beaten favorite off a rare miscue, runner up in his previous three draws well again to rebound for his second start off the claim

Race 9
5-Virtual Kiss – Shows a narrow loss against tougher N/W 4 @ Pocono three starts back & lands in a prime drop n pop scenario

6-Phelgon – Steady check earner against tougher claimers @ Yonkers & she knows how to get it done at The Big M

1-That’smytype – Took advantage of a slightly lesser TM rating & finished an improved second last week & gets another inside draw

Race 10
5-Focus Pocus – Took three months off & regrouped with a superb Big M qualifier & now returns at an easier level for the red-hot Team Cullipher

1-No Drama Please – Lets give him that much-needed comeback mile, now he gets class & post relief & chance to trip out

2-Smart As Hill – Brett Beckwith patience paid off with the Drive of the Weekend & rewarded with an improved post for the step up in class

Race 11
5-Jenden Strike A – Beaten favorite was used too hard & just missed in a sparkling Big M debut & looks to keep her momentum going from a mid-pack launch

3-A Better Game – Todd McCarthy tracked her second over from a challenging post seven & she somehow had more late zip to score the upset & can’t rule out another

8-Shezafreaklikeme – Fresh off another solid second to standout Kickupyaheels N in two of her last three & tackles a tougher post in fourth start off a sick scratch

Race 12
7-Interview Fra A – Lived up to the heavy tote hype with an amazing recovery & new mark of 1:54.3 last week at age six & could have a new lease on life here for Noel Daley

9-Southwind Frost – Came right back with a rousing 1:54.4 repeat in a TM Final & rates a long look in top form despite an outside draw

4-Pencils Down – Gets another dose of class relief & draws well off a solid third @ Pocono & trending right on the comeback trail for Team Cullipher

Race 13
1-Stay Classy – Maintained her winning form by equaling her lifetime mark in her Team Cullipher debut against N/W 4 @ Pocono & lands the rail here

2-Shine On Susan – Lightly-raced Nifty Norman-tuned filly finished with a flurry in her Big M qualifier & draws inside with a big chance to step up

6-Evas Sports Czech – Expected a bit more from her last week, yet we’ll give her that acclimating mile & she could be heard from with the right set up

Race 14
6-Heart Of Rock – Stung early with a :26.4 from post seven & held for a check, has been on the edges & was DQed as the favorite back on February 17

7-Rock Jagger – Used in a fast early pace from post eight, noteworthy closing kick before that & rates contender status in a dartboard finale

4-Slick N Quick – Slick wasn’t quick enough off the wings & paid the price last week, draws better & note the narrow loss in the slop three starts back

 

Saturday, March 30

Race 1

10-Mariner Seelster – Amazing 15YO millionaire rang up his 74^th career win with ease & if he maintains that kind of form we know post ten can’t stop him from his fifth in a row

 

6-Ferdinand A – Bounced back with an emphatic wire-to-wire score two starts back, then just missed with another strong effort & could give mighty Mariner a serious tussle

 

7-Yer So Bad – Forced wide & hit the board again chasing the runaway Da Delightful last week & has been on a roll since the injury scratch

 

Race 2

2-Love Your Work A – Third straight class drop after flashing a :26.4 last out, sub 1:50 performer here last year trounced much better in early January & lands in a prime spot

 

4-Mr Matt Major N – Lightly-raced 6YO suddenly unleashed a perfect trip qualifier win over a much classier Mad Max Hanover, draws well & could be anything

 

8-Heza Real Diamond – Gets his fourth consecutive class drop & known to wake up from time-to-time with back-to-back wins here in early February

 

Race 3

4-El Yerno – Returned to The Big M & rebounded off a Pocono miscue with a solid second to the impressive Mccrunch last week & now draws better as his form ramps up

 

9-Da Delightful – Was hinting of a big mile & blasted down the road in a sizzling 1:51.3 as the heavy favorite in a MADC event, stuck outside, yet his back class continues to resurface

 

5-Mask On Mask Off – The Mask has been on in three of his last four, tripped out & gunned down Air Guitar two weeks ago & now launches mid-pack off that career best

 

Race 4

5-Watchulookin At – After a three-month layoff added Lasix for an even qualifier against the likes of Mad Max Hanover & returns at a reduced level for Team Cullipher

 

9-Hurrikane Jonnyboy – Sports a 1:49.2 mark @ The Big M last season, makes his key third start off the bench from a tough post here & among the drop down candidates

 

6-Adam Crocker A – No factor from post seven @ 42-1 in a needed comebacker, now this proven winner @ The Big M drops a notch & eligible for a wake up call in a headscratcher

 

Race 5

1-Mccrunch – Captain Crunch colt unleashed an eye-catching career debut win for Team Takter, had that look of a future star & draws inside several main concerns in here

 

10-Rush In – Wow, once this colt was fed racetrack in the stretch he uncorked a vicious rally to nail Americagreatagain in a sparkling first start, now the tall task is post ten, yet he might be up to it

 

8-Americagreatagain – Favored in all three starts this Pelling trainee committed to a late lead & was barely outsprinted by Rush In & like that rival has the talent to deal with a tougher post

 

Race 6

8-Always B Naughty – Grand Circuit performer in her first season for Team Takter, just missed in the Breeders Crown & her Big M qualifier was as good as it gets

 

6-Miss Chantilly N – Vastly improved & on her toes for Team Stratton winning three of her last four, her latest a career best upset in 1:51

 

4-Kickupyaheels N – She’s prevailed on the lead in three of her last four, wire-to-wire last Friday & draws well to take charge, step up & take another shot at Miss Chantilly N

 

Race 7

2-Commanding Officer – Has been on the fringes against tougher recently, gets another inside post & has a big chance to stalk n pop for an overdue win

 

1-Caveman A – Capitalized on his fourth straight class drop with an ideal trip score as the heavy favorite & lands the rail as a repeat threat for Team Cullipher

 

3-C-Bet Hanover – Followed up an explosive new mark of 1:51.3 at the bottom rung with a solid pace-setting second to Caveman A & draws inside again while razor sharp

 

Race 8

2-Bestfriend Volo – Polished off his 3YO season with four in a row in Kentucky, lightly-raced 4YO was eager to please in his Big M qualifier & draws inside with plenty of upside for Team Takter

 

3-Chapercraz – NYSS champion has prepped well for Team Burke, his latest trial chasing his stablemate Lexus Kody & draws inside as a fresh threat

 

8-Keg Stand – Multiple KYSS winner took a Graduate division here in a swift 1:50.4 last Summer, makes his second start off the bench & has license to step up for Team Takter

 

Race 9

4-Binge On Yankee – Kicked into high gear with a narrow loss to Combustion in his second start of his 4YO campaign & gets another inside draw while on the verge for Team Burke

 

6-A Rocknroll Star – Beaten chalk made a sharp mile track transition & just missed with a mighty late surge last week, won half of his 26 starts last season & logically looms large

 

1-Midnight Thunder – Doing strong work against salty foes like Combustion, faded to fourth behind that one & Binge On Yankee last week, yet back on the rail & reunited with Dexter Dunn

 

Race 10

2-Red Right Hand – Fought off the streaking Oakwood Ardan IR to score fresh off the bench, back at The Big M off a miscue in the Borgata with another inside draw for Team Takter

 

5-Combustion – Brushed into a :54.2 back half & held on to take his 4YO debut & this major stakes player continues to thrive for his new connections

 

6-Big Skewy N – Not sure what we have here with this NZ import, but cruised all the way in Lasix-added Big M qualifier with a :54.1 back half & sharp :25.2 sprint & might be worth a swing

 

Race 11

6-Stonebridge Reef – Gets further class relief after chasing the likes of Red Right Hand & Blazing Banner N, retains Dexter Dunn & has a fierce late kick to gun these down

 

5-Colossal Stride A – Gathering steam on the comeback trail, fresh off a narrow loss last week, drops a notch & this midpack stalking type could have a slight edge in a tricky puzzle

 

1-Cant Stop Lou – Solid finish in the qualifier back on Lasix & this promising sub-1:50 performer makes his 4YO debut in a favorable spot to make an immediate impression for Team Takter

 

Race 12

8-Hunt For Cash – Gave it a gallant try when collared by the relentless Needham Hanover when back at this level & post eight again dictates another blastoff to possibly turn the tables

 

6-Needham Hanover – Off to a great start this season winning six of eight, just kept steamrolling first over to take his last two & obviously the hot horse is tough to go against

 

7-Gentlemanjim II IE – Just missed to Hunt For Cash with a late lunge when last seen here, draws another challenging post, but his barn always sends them ready

 

Race 13

2-Concur – Has been hinting of snapping his winless skid this season, solid runner up to the raging Needham Hanover two starts back, then had too far to come from post nine & moves inside

 

1-Abel De Vie – Fresh off that narrow loss two starts back he got roughed up first over last week, still fresh on the comeback trail he has a chance to rebound from the rail

 

9-Virtual Horizon – Stuck outside & has missed a couple of weeks, but kicked off his 4YO season in fine form, finished well behind Abel De Vie last time & needs some pace & trip help

 

Race 14

5-BB Lucky Boy – Sub-1:50 performer here was strong in the win column last season, makes only his fifth start of 2024 & this is a massive class drop that simply can’t be ignore

 

1-Hurrikane Chuck – Did flash a bit of encouraging speed from post seven @ Pocono last out, makes his fourth start on the comeback trail & gets class & post relief

 

3-Mindtrip – Zipped right out there from post eight & settled for minor spoils again, this 11YO Big M lover has a lot of wake up potential & draws better to trip out in a wide-open finale