Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, May 3, & Saturday, May 4, 2024

Wednesday, May 1, 2024

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Race 1

3-Final Justice – Was offering some positive hints before he just missed with a mighty late surge last week, lands post three again & retains The Judge

 

4-Atta Boy Dan – Looks to rebound off a sick scratch & parked out performance & this classy 15YO warhorse draws better in a field that is a combined two for 99 this season

 

7-Bilbo Hanover – Beaten favorite rallied out of striking range last week, went from last to third before that & rates contender status despite a tougher post

 

Race 2

8-Lindy’s Coyotito – Fresh off a sharp qualifier he kicked home in a crisp :26.4 when pace compromised in his 3YO debut & builds on that from an outside draw for TOC

 

2-Stormcloudfashion – Fashion Farms homebred first foal from his Muscle Hill dam had some GC stakes experience at two & draws well off a solid qualifier for Jim Campbell

 

6-Wellington Hanover – 12^th foal sibling to the classy Rich And Miserable added trotting hopples & won his qualifier with a :27 sprint for Team Burke

 

Race 3

6-Its Rockin Randy – Dipped to this level & perked up with a sharp narrow loss, while surging at both ends of that mile, a big threat with a similar effort

 

2-Captain Terminator – Has made the mile track adjustment landing on the fringe fourth in both starts here & lands in a soft spot

 

1-Queen Sun Ryser – Regaining form since the late March sick scratch, finished well from tough spots in her last two & now moves inside

 

Race 4

4-Two For Tripping – First time Izzy is one of the most potent Big M angles & this Mohawk shipper debuts here in a real soft spot & gets our leading pilot

 

1-Desire’s Captain – 10YO has a history of success here, makes his second start off a sick scratch, gets the rail & the barn change is duly noted

 

3-Xmarxthespot – Hasn’t won in a long time, but gathering momentum in his last two & kicked home with extra zip chasing Hello Rocky & draws better

 

Race 5

5-Stolen Art – Was somehow able to turn his game around with a much better rally & upset despite broken equipment & he’s a threat to repeat off that 2024 skid snapper

 

3-Thndrfrmthethron N – Beaten favorite almost paid off the chalk players despite a tough trip last week & draws better off that positive performance

 

2-In Nevada N – Lived up to the favorite’s role two starts back, pace/trip compromised last week & moves inside while still in top form

 

Race 6

2-Walcango – Walner filly took her mark of 1:54.2 here in NJSS last Summer & draws inside fresh off a solid qualifier for Jim Campbell to make an immediate impression

 

4-Bikini Model – She re-attached the trotting hopples & jogged wire-to-wire to break her maiden in the Weiss Series @ Pocono & draws well for TOC

 

5-Solange Hanover – $265,000 Walner filly from the family of Glidemaster, got off to a nice start this season @ Pocono before the sick scratch as one of four Nifty Norman entrants

 

Race 7

4-Miss Italia – Beaten favorite launched a menacing wide/late big & just missed with a wicked :26.4 & lands post four again for her second try off a sick scratch

 

2-Tesla Power – Was caught grinding first over again from post nine & still held third by a length in a TM Final, now she moves inside & retains Dexter Dunn

 

6-Corsini A – Came up with a lot more late vigor to hit the ticket from post eight last week, draws a bit better & her form could be cycling back around

 

Race 8

3-Smart Schooner – First crop of Greenshoe brother to track record holder Real Cool Sam had his own way in the qualifier & this Bluegrass winner at two draws inside

 

4-Crown Monarch – Was able to set his own soft pace & barely outsprinted by the pocket sitter in a beneficial comeback & now draws better to follow up for Per Engblom

 

6-Hankins Hanover – Ranked 7^th on the Road to the Hambo off a solid freshman season for Nifty Norman, chased Karl in a fast qualifier & worth a long look

 

Race 9

6-Robbie Burns N – Flashed some speed at both ends of his much-needed comebacker, owns some back class & has license to show more

 

2-Lachie Maguire N – Beaten favorite gave way on the lead last week, sharp post eight winner as the favorite before that can rebound from a better post

 

3-Rollinwitdaponyzzz – Nosed out with a game speed try two starts back, then stepped up & trip compromised & now lands in a more realistic spot

 

Race 10

6-Yanks Dugout – Beaten chalk almost went all the way at Yonkers last week & continues to descend the class ladder for Team Burke

 

4-Bully Boy Hill – Fresh off a perfect trip upset in his first start for Richard Johnson, bumped back up a notch & draws well again brimming with confidence

 

5-Smart As Hill – Returns to The Big M off a couple of no-chance miles elsewhere, gets some class relief & has chance to stalk from mid-pack

 

Race 11

2-Two Pistol Annie – Faced a revved up Lisa Lane in the NJ Breeders Maturity, now makes her third start on Lasix & lands post two again in a competitive field

 

6-Dontkarenifido – Lived up to the severe tote hype by suddenly taking charge & romped to a new mark of 1:52.1 in Leg 1 & gives Pat Lachance a fierce 1-2 punch

 

3-Santafe’s Appetite – Returns to The Big M fresh off two in a row as the chalk @ Pocono, took a new mark of 1:52.1 in the process & draws inside here

 

Race 12

1-Ferragamo Hanover – Back at The Big M off a rare miscue @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, was on a nice form spree here & lands the rail to rebound

 

3-Posh Onthebeach A – Just one for his last 52 & winless this season, but hit the board in his last two with increased vigor & draws better for his fourth start off a sick scratch

 

4-Buckeye Emery – Returns from Pocono off a parked out mile, scored back-to-back before that, including a new mark of 1:53.1 & draws well for The Money Man

 

Race 13

6-Lindy The Brave – Like we said earlier, first time Izzy is almost automatic, not much recently from this 4YO, but with the barn change he faces a camera-shy bunch

 

2-Texas Miki – Drops back down to the level of a wire-to-wire mild upset three starts back, draws inside & retains The Money Man

 

1-Claytons Bettor N – 0 for 13 this season, but right there a close third with pace at both ends & another smooth stalking trip is likely from the rail

 

Race 14

4-Money Matters – Stormed home from tenth to second behind a well-rated A Majorsmackin two starts back, tough trip from post ten last week & now moves inside on the verge for Richard Johnson

 

3-I’ll Owe You One – Suddenly took controlled, stole a :58.1 half & still faded to fourth last week, draws better to be forwardly placed again & his best might be enough

 

5-A Majorsmackin – Simply can’t explain his wire-to-wire career best upset two starts back, offered nothing in a Play Meadowlands Final last week, yet has a chance to rebound

 

Selections for Saturday, May 4, 2024

Race 1

5-Warrawee Yankee – Victim of a slow start from post eight & chased a wicked 1:50.3 winner last week & now finds a softer spot to thrive from mid-pack

 

6-Camlachie Chrome – Ventured out of this series into a TM 74, added Dexter Dunn & lived up to favoritism by equaling his lifetime mark & repeat possible

 

9-Sunshine’s Finest – Cycled forward & put forth his finest rallies to hit the board in his last two, tougher post here & banks on speed to shoot at

 

Race 2

2-Call Me Goo – Matron Stake winner was a star wherever she went last year, tuned up with a nice post eight blowout @ Rosecroft & draws well for her Big M debut in a tight match up

 

4-Tipsy Moni – Has continued to be strong in the win column this season, arrives fresh off a dominant wire-to-wire in the top class @ Yonkers for Per Engblom & stands out here

 

3-Tactical Mounds – Couldn’t have mapped out two better preps with a pair of Big M walkovers & this Grand Circuit winner scored a couple of stakes from post 10 here last season

 

Race 3

3-Good Rockin – Needed every inch of a two-hole ride to prevail two starts back, parlayed that into a hard-charging :26.1 rally for second & has clearly revived since the barn change

 

2-Air Guitar – You could say he squandered a perfect trip, yet did shake loose with plenty late for the deuce & draws inside again to solve his seconditis & snap his 2024 winless skid

 

4-No Words – Shuffled/stuck in stretch traffic too long last week, steady stalking threat has bumped into some rousing winners recently & there are no standouts in this camera-shy field

 

Race 4

5-Odds On Steno – Bettor’s Wish filly makes her 3YO debut in a real soft division for Team Alagna & note her Homegrown upset with a :26.4 rally last Fall

 

8-Pulp Fiction – Won her first four career starts here @ two, including a three-ply sweep of NJSS, draws a tough post back here, but benefits from a solid comebacker @ Rosecroft

 

3-Lorraine J – Lightly-raced Lazarus N filly was asked to do a lot chasing a 1:51.3 winner in her Big M debut & draws better off that acclimating mile to play a stalking role

 

Race 5

5-Random Hanover – Won’t even begin to explain that wire-to-wire blowout in a career best 1:50.3 last week, but we figure to see something similar from this 8YO off that blatant sizzler

 

6-Rock On Line – As good as Random Hanover was, this 10YO was quite commendable, closing from far back to hit the board, just one for 14 this season, but on a nice roll right now

 

8-Yer So Bad – Obviously, has been so good, reeling off three in a row with excellent rallies from outside posts & likely gets a decent speed target to shoot at in this competitive division

 

Race 6

3-Shoobee Do A – Beaten chalk, yet solid runner up to Needham Hanover last week, game winner as the favorite before that & draws well in top form

 

4-Needham Hanover – Cycled back around, flaunted his versatility by brushing n crushing them in a career best 1:50.3 last week & rewarded with a better post

 

5-Gentleman Jim II IE – Took last week off after getting parked as the even money favorite, scored back-to-back before that & took a new mark here of 1:50.2

 

Race 7

8-Better Is Nice – NJSS & KYSS champion, Bluegrass & Breeders Crown elimination winner in a $500k freshman season, tough draw, but returns off a pair of solid qualifiers for Team Alagna

 

1-Arbitrage Hanover – Bettor’s Wish gelding lived up to the favorite’s roll with a professional rally/score in 1:52 @ Harrah Philadelphia & lands the rail for Team Pelling

 

4-Alritealritealrite – Steamrolled to break his maiden from post seven in his 3YO debut @ Mohawk, saw some Grand Circuit action @ two & draws well here in a wide-open division

 

Race 8

2-Captain Crusader A – Beaten favorite continues to ramp up his form while making his fourth start on the comeback trail & stormed home in :25.4 chasing a runaway last week

 

5-Shazam Blue Chip – New face to these parts ships in for Per Engblom, looking to rebound off a rare miscue & has been a steady customer in PA

 

4-Stonebridge Reef – Very productive season so far for Team Ryder, outsprinted fourth by the revved up Lyons Steel from the rail when he stepped up to this level last week

 

Race 9

7-Wish You Well – Piled up almost $200k in the Garden State as a freshman, a Homegrown winner, just missed in a Governor’s Cup elimination & looks ready to roll for Nifty Norman

 

5-Bonaparte – Sharpened his sword with back-to-back wins in the Weiss Series @ Pocono, faded to fourth in that final & has the speed to rebound from mid-pack here

 

1-Ain’t Nostopn Time – Took a new mark of 1:52.4 in the Weiss Series two starts back, no chance after a slow start in that final & lands the rail here for Per Engblom

 

Race 10

6-Jilliby Dyamite A – Has landed on the fringes in his last two chasing the mighty Maximus Miki, needed to acclimate here, has a nose for the charmed circle & retains Dexter Dunn

 

4-Sport Secret – Nine time winner last season closed out 2023 with a decisive post 10 upset here, solid runner up in his comebacker & this fresh threat looms large for Team Cullipher

 

3-A Rocknroll Star – Won 13 of 26 last year & draws better on a major roll right now, thrives when in control & has license to take charge in a serious handicapper’s puzzle

 

Race 11

2-Stellar Yankee – Continues to make his way down the condition ladder for Team Stratton, returns to The Big M off a parked out trip @ Pocono & draws inside to trip out

 

1-Mad Max Hanover – Two-time beaten favorite faded from a tough first over two weeks ago, trying to crank it up on the comeback trail & gets another shot at this reduced level from the rail

 

3-El Yerno – Gets an improved post fresh off an inspiring rebound rally/win with a nifty :26.1, his barn is hitting on all cylinders & retains our leading pilot

 

Race 12

5-Mac’s Delight – Prepped well for his 4YO debut & just missed with a wicked :25 sprint, so here’s a dangerous stalking type from mid-pack with solid credentials for Team Cancelliere

 

8-Voukefalas – Fresh off the win deadheat comeback he unleashed a furious :25 to nail a well-rated Handlelikeaporsche, tougher post in a vicious field, but haven’t seen his best yet

 

7-All Class – Didn’t take long for him to regain winning form with two straight @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, including a 1:49.3 sizzler, owns a 1:49.2 mark here & looms large for Per Engblom

 

Race 13

1-Chucky Hanover – Twice beaten favorite pace compromised last week, scorched before that, gets some class relief for his third start off a sick scratch & lands the rail for Team Cullipher

 

9-Brutallyhandsome A – Beaten chalk was used too hard chasing a fired up BB Lucky Boy last week, stuck outside here, but drops again for Team Stratton

 

5-Whole Lotta Lou – Lou has hit the board in both starts since the recent sick scratch, drops another notch & gets a big chance to stalk from mid-pack

 

Race 14

4-The Dragon Reborn – Bettor’s Delight brother to millionaires Stay Hungry & Treacherous Dragon won his second qualifier with a strong late burst & draws well for his Team Alagna debut

 

6-Courtship – First foal out of a sister to 1:46.2 millionaire Rockyroad Hanover just missed in the Kindergarten Final last Fall & his latest qualifier says ready to contend here

 

7-Fasnacht Hanover – Stay Hungry brother to Early Action ($620,369) flashed major league talent @ two, qualified conservatively, tackles a tricky post & has potential untapped