Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, October 27 & Saturday, October 28, 2023

Wednesday, October 25, 2023

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RACE 1

3-Fire Light – Was caught uncovered while pace compromised in the slop & still picked up minor spoils last week & draws better in a wide open curtain raiser

 

5-Harry Hanover – Harry finished third from the rail in a solid return to The Big M last week, took a mark of 1:53 here this season for a combo that wins their share of these

 

4-Mask On Mask Off – Unfortunately The Mask was off last week when he broke before the start, sports a mark of 1:53.1 here this season & can rebound with another inside draw

 

RACE 2

1-Maxim Hanover – Captaintreacherous colt reeled off his first two wins before the sick scratch & lands the rail for a high percentage barn

 

8-Solar Solution – Got to love his narrow loss effort with sharp pace at both ends last week, stuck outside, but this Team Bongiorno pupil might be on the verge

 

3-Way To Go Captain – Hasn’t hit the board in six starts so far, but did flash a :26.2 in a pretty fast division last week & draws a bit better for Team Burke

 

RACE 3

6-Unicorn Blue Chip – Shows three strong efforts since coming back this Fall for Noel Daley & arrives fresh off a narrow loss in the Simpson @ Pocono

 

5-Check Her Out – Nifty Norman-tuned filly suddenly came to life with a wide rally as the heavy favorite @ Pocono & has a big chance to follow up in her second start off the bench

 

8-Cadillac Moon – $400,000 Muscle Hill Team Melander trainee reeled off his first two wins @ Pocono, then got parked & seared @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & can rebound despite post eight

 

RACE 4

2-Sambuca Hanover – Nifty Norman trainee has won four of eight starts, including TSS Final & makes her second start off the bench with a cozy inside draw

 

3-Miss I La – Walner filly has hit the board in five of eight starts for Noel Daley, didn’t quite qualify for the Breeders Crow & lands in an ideal spot back here

 

4-Graceful Design – Winless Tony Alagna-tuned filly just missed with a game speed try from post seven in the Bluegrass & draws well here in rebound mode

 

RACE 5

5-Archetto Hanover – Forced to make a wide rally & came up just a length shy, decent acclimating mile & now makes his second start for his new barn

 

4-Ari Allstar – Landed on the edges in his last two after a late-September upset @ Freehold, 12YO knows his way around this track & draws well in a real headscratcher

 

8-Sunshine’s Finest – Tracked second over & his cover broke past three quarters, draws a tougher post, but may be cycling forward & has winning history here

 

RACE 6

4-Lou Vuitton – Sweet Lou colt with a mark of 1:52.4 & raced timed in 1:49.4 just missed to Newsroom in Red Mile Grand Circuit action, draws well & looms large here for Team Burke

 

5-Fasnacht Hanover – Finished a solid third in a sizzling division last week, nice acclimating mile & further improvement expected from this Team Alagna trainee

 

2-Crush Kill Destroy – Crushed at the windows, zipped to the top & settled for third in his Big M debut, draws inside off that needed start for a hot barn

 

RACE 7

3-Beach Dreamzzz – She turned an excellent effort to rally for third in the slop last week & draws a tad better to take a step forward in her second start for her new barn

 

1-Aviation – Has been overmatched against tougher recently, now gets class & post relief here as trainer Scott Di Domenico takes over

 

4 J A T O – This 11YO arrived in good form & picked up minor spoils in the first leg last week, draws much better for a chance to employ his preferred stalking style

 

RACE 8

1-Revolver – Sports a mark of 1:50.1 taken last year @ The Big M, no chance from post nine in the comebacker & moves inside with a big chance to step up

 

5-Thndrfrmthethrone N – Sat a pocket & settled for second last week, his best effort in awhile, horse-for-the-course stalker launches from midpack now in top form

 

3-Big Bad Bill – Forced wide from post eight & picked up minor spoils last week, 9YO loves The Big M, draws better & switches to Joe Lee

 

RACE 9

2-Nottingham – Made a sharp transition to the mile track here last week with a strong second to Winter Soldier, draws inside that rival with a chance to trip out & step up further

 

7-Mosquito – NJ Classic runner up was able to sting them with a soft half & held on for a new mark last week, more demanding draw here, but comes off that nice rebound

 

9-Winter Soldier – The Soldier marched right by to a convincing score in the slop last week, moves outside, yet remains a serious threat to repeat for Team Alagna

 

RACE 10

7-Courtship – Sparkled in Grand Circuit action @ The Red Mile before he brushed n crushed them in a sizzling 1:51.3 in the slop, threat to repeat despite a more challenging post

 

6-Copperfield – Team Burke gelding caught fire just before he exploded home to a new mark in the slop last week & has a big chance make it three in a row off that dazzling upset

 

8-Huntingforchrome – Qualified sharply here, then took a bold shot & raced well in a Breeders Crown elimination, tougher draw here, but this is a talented 1:50.2 performer here

 

RACE 11

4-Smart As Hill – Dropped to this level & more than delivered as the heavy favorite in the slop, steady sort draws inside again & has a big chance to repeat

 

2-Oh Lina – Overcame the second tier with a brush & crush upset in a sparkling Big M debut & rewarded with a much-improved post

 

9-La Magic – Notched his 12^th second of the season chasing Oh Lina last week, post nine again, yet got off the wings pretty well last week

 

RACE 12

2-Pressure Cooker – Saw her three-race winning streak snapped with a narrow loss in the Simpson, a 1:51.4 winner here has carved out an excellent season for Team Toscano

 

7-Tarrific – Overcame the second tier with a slick Steve Smith drive & strong finish to grab second again & this NJ Classic runner up continues to trend right

 

1-Debut – Slow start from post nine cost her any chance last week, got off to a sharp start @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & now move inside with loads of upside for Brett Pelling

 

RACE 13

1-Paulina Hanover – Consistent Noel Daley-tuned filly cruised to a new mark in her Big M debut & lands right back on the rail with a target on her back

 

4-Honey’s Sweet – Lived up to the tote hype with a well-rated wire-to-wire win as the heavy favorite last week & draws better for Team Alagna

 

3-Eloise – Left alertly & settled for second behind Paulina Hanover last week, excellent acclimating mile & better post makes her a top contender again

 

Saturday, October 28 Selections

RACE 1

8-Rock On Line – Flashed a few hints before he erupted with a wide upset rally last week, repeat threat figures to have ample speed to shoot at & his combo has been lethal in this category

 

1-Bank Sea – Was trending in the right direction, added Tony Beltrami, got hammered down to 2-1 favorite & aired it out with little doubt, now he’s back on the rail in high gear

 

2-Brazen Brazilian – Beaten favorite simply had too far come after a slow start in the slop last week & draws better to stalk the expected speed in a competitive curtain raiser

 

RACE 2

6-Chesapeake Sunrise – Shipper from Kawartha Downs debuts here for Team Estrada, seven-time winner in 2023 shows a few solid miles against $15,000 claimers recently

 

4-Kissinbythebeaches – Took some tote action & responded accordingly with a lively effort in the mud from post eight & draws better in this softer TM 71 affair for Mr. Kleinhans

 

5-Tidal Shark – Has regained his form @ Monticello since the late September sick scratch, just missed as the beaten favorite & sharp rally to score an upset before that

 

RACE 3

6-Wine N Dine Me – Picked up The Bionic Man & turned her game around big time in a wire-to-wire blowout @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & arrives here brimming with confidence

 

8-Prancing Queen – Romped in her first two starts for Team Burke, before having an off night @ Yonkers, stuck outside here, but has plenty of speed & upside to tap into

 

7-Mind Blowing – 3YO bounced back off a rare early miscue with a gutsy uncovered narrow loss last week, tougher post & bumps up a notch, but going in the right direction for Team Toscano

 

RACE 4

7-Bloodhound – Fresh off a strong rally for second to Mind Hunter from the same post, his best effort in awhile, versatile sort could turn the tables with the right trip

 

9-Mind Hunter – 1:49.3 performer here this season hammered down to 1-2 favorite & methodically brushed n crushed them last week, big threat to repeat despite an outside draw

 

2-Three Grand – Arrived off the mile of his life & promptly went all the way as the heavy favorite, his tenth win of the season & draws inside a much more competitive division

 

RACE 5

3-Boiler Maker – 1:49.4 performer @ The Big M in a pretty productive season, switches venues & barns, picks up Jordan Stratton & draws inside to stalk n pop with back class

 

4-Good Investment – Beaten favorite a shuffled third @ Yonkers, solid season so far, now adjusted to his new barn, just missed here back on September 9, draws well & dips slightly

 

5-JK’S On The Move – Took advantage of some class relief & raced better to finish third @ Freehold & drops further here with a mark of 1:52 @ The Big M

 

RACE 6

2-Lovin On You – Flashed a bit of late life in a much-needed comebacker @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, seems to fit here & now draws inside a headscratcher field ripe for taking

 

7-Incredible Badger – 4YO Team Bongiorno tranee lands in a wide open field to regroup after seven months off, aired it out nicely in the qualifier & might take no prisoners

 

3-Lyons Pegasus – Blitzed by a standout 1:51.3 winner in his return to The Big M, game score @ Pocono before that, 1:50.4 performer here this season draws well to rebound

 

RACE 7

5-Virtual Kiss – 3YO responded to a slick drive by Marcus Miller to score a mild upset in her Big M debut, now makes her third start for her new barn & looms as a stalking repeat threat

 

9-Strawberry Fields – 3YO exploded from the pocket & drew off with the mile of her life last week, moves outside, but has the gate speed & form to overcome for Team Orange Crush

 

2-Sunset Soph – Clearly had some sort of issue when well supported in her Big M debut, Mohawk form was solid & matches up with these & draws much better to rebound

 

RACE 8

1-Midnight Nation – 3YO with a mark of 1:49.3 @ Mohawk, overmatched against top OSS colts recently, debuts here for Shaun Vallee & looking to turn his game around in much softer spot

 

2-Art Scaping – Returned from injury & five months off with a rousing qualifier here, romped fresh off the barn change to Team Bongiorno before that, draws inside & demands attention

 

4-Bet A Bundle – Added Lasix & finished a solid third in his comebacker last week, 4YO took a mark of 1:50.1 this season, draws well & certainly has more in the tank

 

RACE 9

2-Nextroundsonme – Rallied stoutly with a sharp :27.1 & just missed from post seven last week, now moves inside, gets further class relief & sports a mark of 1:52.4 here this season

 

7-Tactical Planner – 3YO filly has tasted Grand Circuit stakes action, almost went all the way from post nine last week & remains eager to please for Team Toscano

 

3-Starlit Rambo – Arrived fresh off a blowout tally @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & finished a strong third from post eight, draws much better & must be factored into your calculations

 

RACE 10

2-Santana Hanover – New acquisition for Team Bongiorno, mystery 3YO from the strong OSS program, took a mark of 1:51.3 @ Mohawk, hasn’t raced in a month, yet draws inside

 

5-Rifleman – Launched a fierce late bid & just missed to the heavily favored Caveman A, remains at this reduced level & stalks from midpack off that inspiring effort

 

3-Sauvignon Bluechip – Steady sort recovered from a rare early miscue & grinded gamely for the deuce when he dropped to this level @ Yonkers two starts back

 

RACE 11

2-Shellie De Vie – 0 for 12 this season, but has raced better recently, off a solid second @ Freehold she finished well for minor spoils here last week & lands post two again

 

9-Pull Me Through – Overcame a tough pace-compromised trip to grab the deuce @ 40-1, post nine now & lean in the win column, yet look for more in her second start off the bench

 

1-Ooh Real Good – Just one for 14 this year, still she’s been maintaining steady form @ Freehold, lands the rail here & can easily see her leaving alertly & stalking close to the pace

 

RACE 12

4-Pattycake Mooss – Clearly paid the price for a slow start from post nine last week, needed the race, a solid runner up before that & draws better to while sharpening her sword

 

5-Chillin Bythe Pool – Crushed down to 7-5 favorite & blasted down the road in a class drop n pop supreme & just a fifth off her lifetime mark despite the slop, bumped back up a notch

 

8-Anna’s Wish – 3YO filly has displayed some talent & speed, freshened & qualified well for Team Bongiorno, tough draw, but lands in a field of question marks

 

RACE 13

1-Catchme If Lou Can – Just one for 17 this season, yet finally moves inside, recent acquisition for Team Bongiorno, who added Lasix, has a chance to trip out from the rail

 

6-Toto Hanover – Toto was able to catapult off a fast pace & rallied from the clouds to take a new mark in a sparkling Big M debut & finds a prime spot to repeat

 

4-Arnie’s Army – Fired out, hooked up in a late tussle & got nipped at the wire by Toto Hanover & draws well off that excellent acclimating mile