Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, May 26 and Saturday, May 27, 2023

Wednesday, May 24, 2023

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RACE 1

3-Shortys Girl – Beaten favorite has now had a couple of acclimating trips here, pace compromised last week, post ten before that & draws inside again

 

1-Bruce’s Magic – 0 for 15 this season & one for his last 41, returns to The Big M off a decent third @ Freehold, has trip potential from the rail & James Slendorn likes to send them

 

8-Master Conrad – Landing on the fringes in this series recently, 0 for 16 this season & one for his last 47, draws outside, yet may have a say with the right set up in a wide-open division

 

RACE 2

1-Straight Talk – Perked up with a strong :26.3 finish in the slop to hit the board last Saturday, now hits the rock bottom condition & lands the rail still fresh on the comeback trail

 

4-Gingras Beach – Revved up his game with a hard-charging second here two starts back, toss out his latest @ Yonkers, stalking threat working on a one for 16 season

 

3-Homestretch Wes – Wes has struggled through a one for 19 season, but gets away from tougher claimers & draws an improved post in a very intriguing affair

 

RACE 3

3-Another Like Me – Sister to Really Fast (1:51.2) has shown plenty of speed in just three starts, broke as the chalk in her 3YO @ Pocono, but has license to rebound for Team Takter

 

4-Totally Relentless – Re-attached trotting hopples recently & bounced back with a flat & solid qualifier here for Team Toscano, a similar effort might suffice

 

6-The Empress Ice – Went all the way in a SRF division three starts back, beaten heavy favorite has a chance to steal this with another aggressive effort

 

RACE 4

6-Southwind Frost – Pace compromised & finished strong for the show chasing a dominant Nylander last week, tougher draw here, but drops a notch

 

3-Congress Hill Eva – Eva has been on a nice form spree, followed her upset with a solid second to Swan Carol, then right here a close last week from the same post

 

1-Swan Carol – Carol suddenly went all the way in a career best of 1:54.2 two starts back, toss out last week’s post 10 debacle & let’s see a rail rebound

 

RACE 5

7-Purple Lord – Top 10 player on the Road to the Hambo bounced back with an energetic score @ Pocono in his second sophomore start, serious contender despite an outside draw

 

6-Ari Ferrari J – One for 15 lifetime & caught a recent case of seconditis, twice beaten chalk just missed to am impressive newcomer in Air Power & no standouts in this one

 

4-Devilish Hill – Lucas Wallin-tuned gelding was a much-improved show horse in his second 3YO start, Hambo eligible with lofty goals & license to step up further

 

RACE 6

4-Doc Semalu – Ramping up since the mid-April sick scratch & with the recent addition of Lasix, strong runner up last week draws inside again

 

1-Rock The Casbah – Pace compromised by a pedestrian :57 half & kicked home in a crisp :26.3 last week, moves inside off that solid acclimating mile

 

5-Stolen Art – One for 18 season on view, yet signaled a turnaround with a :26.3 to hit the ticket last week & looms as a midpack stalking threat

 

RACE 7

9-Goldin Greatness – Took a mark of 1:52 making two moves in a sparkling 3YO debut, then a beaten favorite in a track record @ Plainridge, gets top honors despite post nine

 

8-Caviart Callum – 1:51.4 performer at two & brother to 1:48.3 world champion Caviart Camden took charge & won his second qualifier with authority

 

4-Gazoo – 1:53.2 maiden breaker in the slop back on April 15 needed the comebacker chasing the impressive Christchurch & draws an improved post

 

RACE 8

1-P L Portia – Lands the rail on a long form spree, nosed out last Saturday, first over chasing a big favorite before that & figures to be stalking close

 

3-Sheer Talent – Veteran mare ventures north fresh off a well-driven upset @ Freehold last week, seen her act here before & draws inside again

 

5-Diamond Official – Set a reasonable pace & faded to fourth in the slop as the beaten favorite & has a chance to snap her 2023 skid with a more patient stalking trip

 

RACE 9

4-Miss Lady Deo – Captaintreacherous filly lists I Luv The Nitelife as a sibling, rebounded off a miscue to win her second career start with a perfect trip @ Harrah’s Philadelphia

 

2-Alabama Hannah – Draws a bit better off a noteworthy third in her 3YO debut on Lasix, look for more in her second try off the bench for a high percentage barn

 

1-Treacherous Penny – Winless major stakes player at two looks ready to graduate from the rail fresh off a pair of solid qualifiers for Team Alagna

 

RACE 10

5-Rockabilly Charm – Lived up to the tote hype with an abrupt wire-to-wire, while stealing a :57 half from post eight last week & that plants a big target on his back

 

7-Takeittotheface – One for 16 this season, but a consistent type & strong runner up in his last two, plays the prime opportunist role

 

8-Thndrfrmthethrone N – One for 16 in 2023 & stuck outside, but has hit the board in three of his last four & looks for some speed to shoot at

 

RACE 11

3-Holy Moment – Has been gathering momentum against tougher N/W 3 company @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, severely pace compromised last out & draws inside for Per Engblom

 

7-Harry Hanover – Harry finished a solid third last week after making a big recovery to take a new mark of 1:53 before that, tougher draw, reunited with aggressive James Slendorn

 

5-Lou Ed Zeppelin – Lou is trending in the right direction & ships in fresh off a long overdue win @ Tioga Downs & faces a wide-open match up here

 

RACE 12

6-Miss Chantilly N – Beaten even money favorite just missed two starts back, returns to The Big M off a strong effort @ Harrah’s Philadelphia on the verge of her first US win

 

2-A Better Game – 1:50.4 performer here last season has been working her way back in top shape since the mid-April sick scratch & draws inside to stalk n pop

 

8-Hot Mess Express – Overpowered these from post ten in a sharp 1:51.2 two starts back, classy mare moves outside, but drops back down for Team Alagna

 

RACE 13

1-T Dog – Responded accordingly to the tote hype with a :26.4 & new mark of 1:52.1 in an eye-catching Big M debut & this lightly-raced 3YO lands the rail

 

3-Jonah – Fresh off a narrow loss this 7YO zipped right to the top & romped all the way in a sharp 1:52.4 as the favorite, now a big threat to repeat rewarded with a better post

 

5-Yer So Bad – Beaten favorite dropped out of tougher conditions @ Yonkers & got nosed out in :26.4 last week, has a chance to break his 0 for 14 season goose egg

Selections for Saturday, May 27

RACE 1

6-Hammering Hank – 4YO continues fresh on the comeback trail for Brett Pelling & the twice beaten chalk just missed with a mighty late surge last week

 

4-Whole Lotta Lou – Gets his umteenth consecutive class drop in this drop down derby, racing better in his last two, strong in the win column & has a chance to steal it

 

7-Bettors Donttell – Beaten heavy favorite has hit the board in three of his last four in PA for Team Burke, 1:47.3 performer here last season owns gate speed to put him in play

 

RACE 2

2-Texas Miki – Only one for 14 this year, but that’s the theme in this one, returns to The Big M to regroup, a close second three times in a row here last month & draws inside

 

5-Aussie Hanover – Just one for 12 this season, but has been knocking on the door, a fast-closing second by a neck last week & remains at this reduced level

 

6-Like A Shadow – 0 for 14 in 2023, slow starts recently have been costly, drops a notch, retains Hot Toddy & just needs the right speed target

 

RACE 3

2-Rock Of Cashel – Classy 13YO romped with confidence two starts back @ Vernon Downs & ships into a prime spot here to trip out & capitalize on that sharp form

 

4-Pivotal – Two straight @ Monticello translated into a wire-to-wire here in 1:54.4, steps up a notch, yet lands in a soft spot to keep it going for Team Tritton

 

6-Vinny De Vie – Vinny scored his first win of the season two starts back @ Yonkers, then made a rare miscue, knows his way around here & can rebound

 

RACE 4

7-Delayed Hanover – Steady force in the Open class this season, failed to make headway in the Cutler, yet can outkick these with the right trip in this tricky puzzle

 

5-Yanks Dugout – 1:52.3 performer here last season returns for his second start of 2023 fresh off a solid second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & gives Team Burke a hefty 1-2 punch

 

6-Lexus Kody – Took a mark of 1:51.4 in the Open back on February 18, took a few months to regroup, trotting hopples off now & owns dangerous controlling speed for Team Burke

 

RACE 5

5-Confederate – Breeders Crown runner up & Pace contender now with Brett Pelling, won his second qualifier with a sizzling :25.2 & looks ready to tackle some sharp older foes

 

3-As Always – Fresh claim by Per Engblom protected in a condition event, always a potent angle, speed, sharp recent form & an inside draw are more pluses

 

2-Captain Fancy – Lands inside on a long form spree, returns to The Big M with some class relief in a drop down derby of sorts & has a chance to stalk n pop

 

RACE 6

1-Get Answers – On a major roll right now, just missed in round one, then a hard-charging runner up to Two Pistol Annie with a :26.3 & lands the rail in a very competitive final

 

7-Two Pistol Annie – Made it three in a row & two-for-two here for Nik Drennan, holding off Get Answers in a sparkling 1:51.1, tougher draw this time, but brimming with confidence

 

5-Ucandoit Blue Chip – Took a new mark of 1:50.4 with a :26.2 in an impressive 3YO debut, then was forced to make a premature late bid, a major threat to stalk them from midpack

 

RACE 7

5-I’m Burlington N – Certainly trending right & on the verge, brushed & nailed late by the trip sitting Raptors Flight N & just missed with a mighty surge before that

 

4-Raptor’s Flight N – 10YO came right back fresh off equaling his mark of 1:51.1 & parlayed another perfect trip with Hot Toddy & draws well to keep The Dream alive

 

2-Monty Mono – Monty is just one for 15 this season, yet has been pretty consistent elsewhere, draws inside here & has a chance to play a stalking opportunist role

 

RACE 8

6-Voukefalas – From his standout qualifiers to both wins so far this Pace contender has stamped himself as special, fresh off new mark of 1:50 & looking for his second NJSS Final

 

7-Handlelikeaporsche – The Porsche’s engine has been revving, but unable to handle the top gun, will be put in play, yet not sure how he can turn the tables

 

1-Laz – Lightly-raced colt was more competitive in his second start here for his new barn, moves inside to play a stalking role & retains Yannick Gingras

 

RACE 9

2-P L Ozzy – Paced a :54.1 back half first over in the slop & couldn’t quite get to an amazing Tam Major A last week & lands post two again to possibly turn the tables

 

8-Tam Major A – My head is still spinning from his remarkable career best at age nine last week, now a Yankees pitcher Nestor Cortes is on board, but post eight is no picnic

 

4-Boiler Maker – Bounced back off a rare miscue with a solid third to Tam Major A, stormed home from post ten fresh off the recent claim, post four again to play stalk n pop

 

RACE 10

5-Abuckabett Hanover – Somehow only one for 14 last year, yet was chasing The Bulldog, both qualifiers were terrific & his latest indicates go time is imminent

 

7-Billy Clyde – Billy came out firing at first asking, controlling the pace & winning the sprint in :25.4 & this 1:47.3 performer last season looms as the target again

 

6-My Pal Joe – Joe is back as a three-time beaten favorite @ Plainridge & was on fire here last month with a post eight score in 1:49.1 on April 8

 

RACE 11

6-Swan In Motion – Been landing on the fringes in the Open @ Harrington, ships in for the always dangerous Dylan Davis, gets some class relief & The Bionic Man

 

1-Dribbling Bi – Getting some class & post relief off a tough trip from post nine, beat better back on April 7 & can set up his preferred stalk n pop style

 

8-Nylander – Came to life in his second try off a sick scratch, stole a :30.2 second quarter & romped as the heavy favorite, reasonable to expect a similar blastoff

 

RACE 12

2-Livinthebeachlife – Shipped in off two in a row & just missed to Stonebridge Reef despite a pedestrian :57.1 half & looms large with an inside draw to kick off a Team Burke 1-2 punch

 

4-Will The Wizard A – The Wizard has caught fire with back-to-back scores on the engine & draws a bit better to handle another step up in class

 

1-Early Action – Held off Stonebridge Reef back on April 21, lands the rail back here & continues to gather momentum on the comeback trail

 

RACE 13

5-Firstup – Beaten favorite thwarted by broken equipment, 1:51.4 performer here this season gets another shot at this reduced level from an improved post

 

3-Top Honors – Sports a long form spree, steamrolled to a late lead & just missed to Bad Ms Johnson, draws inside that rival & retains Downunder Thunder

 

2-Uptown Lady N – Veteran horse-for-the-course drops a notch, draws inside & she’s always a closing threat with the right pace scenario