Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, March 3, 2023

Wednesday, March 1, 2023

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RACE 1

7-Meet The Creeper – Has been struggling against stiffer GSY opposition, draws a bit better, barn hitting on all cylinders & might be worth a swing

 

3-Bilbo Hanover – Beaten favorite grinded gamely & just missed into strong headwinds last week, draws better off that nice rebound mile & logically the one to beat

 

4-Takeittotheface – Landed on the edge fifth with a decent effort from post ten last week, now moves inside to set up his preferred stalk n pop strategy & overdue

 

RACE 2

9-Crazy For CJ – Flashed plenty of late life to hit the board in two of his last three, stuck outside, but has a serious chance to swoop this bunch with the right set up

 

8-Jekyil N Hyde – Forced wide & fired prematurely into headwinds when well supported last week, tougher post this time, yet did rally to beat these back in late January

 

7-Bet Big On Blue – Came up empty off the sick scratch & 26-day layoff, just missed as the beaten favorite before that & that kind of effort can put him across

 

RACE 3

4-All Alone – Heston Blue Chip colt from a productive family shook loose late to just miss as the heavy favorite in his 3YO debut & stands out here for Team Toscano

 

5-El Yerno – Exhibited a hint of talent in his lone start at two, gotta like the way he kicked home out of the pocket in his second qualifier & certainly worth a long look

 

6-A Deal’s A Deal – Has been slugging it out against hot items like Idiosyncratic, steady 4YO now has to figure out a pair of sharp 3YO prospects

 

RACE 4

8-Sheer Faith – Lightly-raced 3YO qualified with zeal chasing Open type Stormy Kromer, tough post, makes her second start for Per Engblom, who has found the key to this filly

 

9-Big Christian – Late-blooming 4YO lived up to his press clippings going two-for-two before getting nosed out last week, moves further outside, yet continues to tap his potential

 

2-Flaming Roads – Sixth foal from a half million dollar winning dam, an even fourth in his career opener, draws inside again with Dexter Dunn & gives Per Engblom a 1-2 punch

 

RACE 5

1-MV OK Palacio BR – A solid third into the stretch headwinds last week, always a stalking threat & lands the rail to trip out off the expected action in this competitive division & long overdue

 

6-Texas Terror N – Responded to a ideal close-to-the-pace trip to score the mild upset last week, 15YO warhorse on an every-other pattern to consider, yet look out when he’s right

 

3-Rock To Glory – Another 15YO warhorse stormed home off a solid pace to nail a gallant favorite Bilbo Hanover & rewarded with an improved post for a hot barn

 

RACE 6

1-Denmark Seelster – Not much in the way of form in three starts so far this season, but note the barn change to Per Engblom & Yannick Gingras gets the call from the rail

 

2-Party Boy – Came up with much more late pace to hit the board in his second start off the bench, moves inside a soft division & in line to trip out

 

6-Illini Duke – Go back to when he erupted with a big romp in his first start of the season, switches to The Money Man & that could spark another big late move

 

RACE 7

7-Beach Boy Hill – 4YO just one for 18, yet did like the comeback effort in the GSY 1 Series here, toss out his latest @ Yonkers & might have a say late in the mile

 

6-Final Justice – In what shapes up as a Freehold affair this 11YO has been on a roll there recently & has cornered the market on form in this dartboard division

 

1-Master Conrad – Just one for his last 36, but that’s theme of this grouping, has been steadily picking up checks for Team Chiodo, lands the rail & doesn’t face much

 

RACE 8

7-Taxi Out S – Swedish import for Per Engblom a beaten favorite parked first over, draws another demanding post, yet gets some class relief, gathering momentum & retains Dexter Dunn

 

8-I Da Princess – Just missed in a wild five-horse photo last Saturday, now makes her third start off the bench on Lasix for Team Burke, moves outside, but drops a notch

 

4-Fix-It-Up – Beaten favorite was knocked offstride making his late move, a solid second in his previous two on Lasix & draws inside again for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 9

4-Cash Roll – Suddenly erupted with a wire-to-wire score when she dropped to face this kind three starts back, returns to mile track with a better post & reunited with Mark MacDonald

 

3-The Gypsy Queen IR – Team Burke UK import lived up to the hype & came to life in her third American start & Big M debut last week & draws well to tackle a class hike

 

1-Kaitlyn N – 10YO has kicked off her season with five thirds in five start, persistent type has been a constant threat despite tough draws & now gets the rail

 

RACE 10

2-Fox Valley Exploit – Took a couple of starts here to turn things around & regain winning form for Noel Daley, onwards & upwards from an improved post in this tricky puzzle

 

5-So Irresistible – Didn’t lose a step off the recent sick scratch with a pair of sharp efforts when favored @ Pocono, her latest a game grind & no doubt deserves a long look

 

4-Momentarily – Beaten favorite while pace compromised @ Yonkers, 4YO gets some class relief & Dexter Dunn for her third US start for Team Cullipher & has license to step up

 

RACE 11

1-American Jazz – Ships in off a tough trip @ Dover Downs, was used hard before that, arrives in a real soft spot here with class relief & the rail & picks up Dexter Dunn

 

9-Its Mesmerise N – Hasn’t hit the board in six tries this season & stuck outside, but takes her act back to The Big M, drops to the bottom condition & retains Yannick Gingras

 

7-Be Best – Was able to take advantage of the rail & rallied for the deuce into the strong headwinds last week, tougher post, but that effort was encouraging

 

RACE 12

7-Scirocco Patrick – Fought off heavy pressure & put them away with a strong finish into headwinds as the favorite in last Friday’s finale & can’t rule out a repeat

 

5-HP Mighty Angus – Ships in with a decent Ohio form summary, fresh off a wire-to-wire career best, lands in a new barn & has a big chance to make an immediate impression

 

2-Karets – Still marveling how he came up with that 1:56.2 upset back on January 29 off a sick scratch, 12YO draws a better post off a parked out trip

 

RACE 13

6-Wildcat Antonia – One for her last 35, hasn’t raced in 27 days, ships south from Flamboro Downs where her recent form was sharp, now first time Team Burke in a wide-open finale

 

2-One More Try – Hard-trying mare once again had too much ground to make up last week, but flashed her usual late life into headwinds last week & finally draws inside

 

8-Midnight Zen – Ships in on a four-race winning streak @ Freehold, lands in a tougher spot here, but nobody else in here has won this year & this is a 4YO with some upside

 

Race 14

4-Levitation – Finished a much better third with the drop to this level, now makes that key third start off the bench from an inside post for Todd McCarthy

 

1-Wow Lester – Winless this season, but has been dropping positive hints recently, moves to the rail, retains our red-hot leading pilot & in line to trip out for an overdue win

 

5-Halliama – Forced wide & flattened out into the stretch headwinds last Friday, game nose loss before that for Dexter Dunn & rates highly based on that effort

 

Saturday, March 4 Selections

RACE 1

1-Better Than Some – 7YO has suddenly turned up the heat with back-to-back seconds, just missed to Tam Major A last week, lands his third straight rail, can trip out & turn the tables

 

3-Tam Major A – Bounced back from broken equipment & scored his second win in three starts since the Richard Johnson claim, 9YO took a new mark of 1:50.4 on February 11 & draws better

 

4-I’m J Bee N – Landed on the edges in his last two @ Dover Downs, was knocking on the door here earlier this season & draws inside to set up the stalk n pop scenario

 

RACE 2

5-Titanium Alpha – Has acclimated promptly here for his new barn with a gallant nose loss, then a took a new mark of 1:53.2 as the heavy favorite last week & lands midpack on the rise

 

8-Fox Valley Carlin – One for his last 29 & winless this season, this versatile 4YO tried speed & just missed as the beaten favorite, tougher post here, but now a fresh claim

 

9-Lone Wolf American – Second placed first in his latest @ Dover Downs, was on a roll here in January, challenging draw, yet just needs to get into the right flow & flash his late kick

 

RACE 3

7-Yayas Hot Spot N – 13YO erupted with a wide rally into strong headwinds to score a mild upset, makes a key third start off the bench & has license to be even better for Nicole Dicostanzo

 

8-Bet The Limit – Team Estrada reclaim just missed with a lively effort, took a new mark of 1:52.1 for same barn back on January 29, so they hold the key, big threat despite post eight

 

4-Marcus Seelster – Pace compromised & picked up minor spoils last week, fresh claim posted back-to-back in January & draws an improved post for his new barn in a wide-open division

 

RACE 4

7-Fitt Bitt – Team Burke-tuned gelding tripped out for a mild upset here back on January 20, returns to The Big M with a demanding post, but gets some class relief

 

3-Harry Knows IR – Irish import reeled off a sharp qualifier, then broke as the beaten favorite in his US debut, big chance to bounce back with another inside draw for Lauren Tritton

 

10-Rock Of Cashel – Fresh off an excellent try & narrow loss in a blanket photo last week, stuck outside, but loves The Big M & poised for his third try off the bench

 

RACE 5

10-High Baller – Big M lover has sharpened his sword, put together a :54.2 back half to be right there again last week, lands outside, but drops further for a potent combo

 

1-Raukapuka Ruler N – Beaten favorite stayed in & shook loose too late, just missed with a :26.2 before that, drops back down & primed for his third start off the bench for Team Bongiorno

 

7-Dontpassme Hanover – Regrouping from an early February sick scratch, hard-charging runner up as the beaten favorite, sub 1:50 performer last year poised to step up

 

RACE 6

7-Mississippi Storm – Dominated the Dover Open before taking a couple of months off, recovered from an early miscue & stormed home in :26.3 in a sharp Big M qualifier & ready to do damage

 

2-Ahundreddollarbill – Finished a solid third with trot at both ends in a much-needed comebacker, 1:51.3 Open winner back in December looms large from an inside post for Team Alagna

 

3-Lexus Kody – Team Burke added trotting hopples & the 5YO promptly rebounded, took charge, rated & held on for the upset & new mark of 1:51.4, rewarded with a better post in a tight affair

 

RACE 7

3-Truffle Dog – Returned to The Big M & was caught out of position after a slow start, has been hinting of an overdue win, draws better & retains Dexter Dunn in a wide-open affair

 

4-Duddies Lor – 7YO has revived his form since the 1:51.3 upset three starts back, grinded gamely for another narrow loss & draws inside again to stay on a roll

 

10-Acton Hanover – Team Burke-tuned gelding has been excellent so far this season, slammed with post ten, but note his relentless rallies despite tough trips recently

 

RACE 8

5-Adriano Hanover – Flew home in :26.4 out of a shuffle after the sprinting had started, remains razor sharp in career form, drops back down & launches midpack in a competitive match up

 

3-As Always – Dips back down to the level of that wicked rally & upset on February 11, also draws much better off a couple of no-chance miles, hence this Big M lover rates highly for Team Burke

 

1-Whole Lotta Lou – Capitalized on a great trip & shot past Baileys Rock N to score the mild upset, bumped up a notch with the rail to facilitate another ideal trip in a challenging puzzle

 

RACE 9

1-Better Take It – Responded to aggressive Dexter Dunn handling again, almost gave them the slip & nailed by Shadow Cat, 1:49 winner @ The Big M last year moves inside & looms large

 

6-Shine A Light – You had to be impressed with the way he dominated wire-to-wire in a career best of 1:50.4 last week, now poised for his third start off the bench for Per Engblom

 

2-Shadow Cat – Fresh from a three-month layoff he tripped out & The Cat pounced on Better Take It to score a mild upset in a sparkling comebacker & draws inside again

 

RACE 10

6-Nandolo N – Thundered home off the torrid :52.4 half to take a sparkling new mark of 1:48.3 in the daylight back on January 22, off a sick scratch & 26 days, yet has the class to overcome

 

10-Jimmy Freight – Much heralded $1.6 million winner came out roaring fresh off the bench as the even money favorite, stuck outside a wicked field, but Jimmy can fly off the wings

 

9-Carbine – Dexter Dunn did an excellent job of rating him under pressure & he was barely outsprinted by Jimmy Freight, look for him to blast off again while on a form spree

 

RACE 11

5-Hopnroll Heaven – Stung early from post seven last out, flashed a :26.4 before that, now gets his third straight class drop for Per Engblom & retains Jason Bartlett in a headscratcher

 

1-Good Rockin – Just missed a huge upset by a nose two starts back, off a rare miscue from post eight again, moves inside, drops another notch & reviving since the late January sick scratch

 

2-Mister Spot A – Blasted off the wings again & had a bit more sustain last week, finally draws inside & don’t forget that 1:49.3 deadheat win from post ten back on January 28

 

RACE 12

9-Trashytonguetalker – The other Juan Cano trainee bounced back from a late miscue with sharp narrow loss, draws a tougher post, but gathering momentum for his third try off the bench

 

6-Its Showtime – Talk about a wake up call, hammered down to 2-1 favorite & brushed n crushed them for a new mark of 1:51.2, any semblance of that mile can put this tougher class away

 

5-Raptors Flight – Grinded gamely to secure a late lead & was swarmed in a blanket photo as the beaten favorite, Andrew McCarthy back with this live item for a midpack launch

 

RACE 13

3-Always A Panther – Was able to turn his game around by adding Yannick Gingras & parlaying a perfect trip to nail Southwind Brown fresh off the claim & draws inside again

 

8-Southwind Bronn – Shipped from Mohawk into the Team Estrada barn & made an immediate impression, moves outside, but keeps Dexter Dunn & has something positive to build on

 

6-Apple Valley Art – Appreciated the drop in price, left alertly for a two-hole ride & romped from post seven last week to give The Buckeye a grandslam, threat to repeat

 

RACE 14

3-Literl Lad Hanover – Shows a line finishing third against much saltier 83.5 TM stock back on February 4, so the class & post relief combo is too much to ignore

 

2-Dealer’s Table – Hasn’t hit the board in six starts this season, but gets his fifth class drop since mid-January, draws a better post & gets Dexter Dunn again to conjure up some back class

 

5-War Dan Delight – Dan has never been strong in the win column, yet might’ve sparked something with that improved effort @ Monticello & was facing tougher here before that