Ken Warkentin Selections for Friday, September 1, & Saturday, September 2, 2023
Wednesday, August 30, 2023
RACE 1
2-Soiree Hanover – Almost went three-for-three when she just missed from post eight in the NJSS Final on Hambo Day & draws much better in this soft elimination
4-Miss I La – A hard-charging third in a Kindergarten division here prior to a narrow loss @ Pocono, draws well to continue her development & Noel Daley’s babies were lighting it up
5-Bohemian Hanover – Solid runner up in her first two NJSS starts, Walner filly has a chance regroup from midpack off an even qualifier
RACE 2
7-Face The Z Tam – Switched to Team Orange Crush, promptly wired a Red Mile qualifier in 1:51 with a :26.4, then second in the comebacker as the heavy favorite & stands out here
5-Treacherousdame – Captaintreacherous filly from the family of Delinquent Account & Artiscape won her first two starts this season & continues to progress for Team Alagna
6-Caviart Davia – Sister to millionaires Stay Hungry & Treacherous Dragon was overwhelmed by Sylvia Hanover & company this summer & her solid qualifier sets up a rebound effort
RACE 3
3-Oh Well – One of the division’s standouts took a mark of 1:51.2 in the Dancer, Hambo runner up lands in a prime spot to bounce back off a rare miscue @ Pocono
1-Celebrity Bambino – Hambo elimination winner wire-to-wire in a career best 1:50.4, back on the rail with a chance to steal this for Team Burke
5-Challenger – Note the back-to-back third-place finishes @ The Big M in July, beaten favorite in Lexington can regroup here, but has a tall order against the top two
RACE 4
6-My Way – NJSS division winner just missed in that Final on Hambo Day, the broke as the chalk on an easy lead @ Mohawk & looms to rebound in a wide-open elimination
2-Mr Grant – Confidently strode out all the way in a career best 1:56 @ Pocono from post eight, lands inside here with a big chance to step up with The White Knight
1-G O A T – Walner colt sharpening his sword in KYSS for Erv Miller, seems to be heading in the right direction & in line for a smooth trip from the rail
RACE 5
2-Warrawee Michelle – Walner third foal out of a sister to Fast As The Wind ($833,274) tripped out to win a NJSS consolation & draws inside again for Team Svanstedt
4-Chaparmbro – Chapter Seven sister to millionaire Dejarmbro makes her long-awaited debut off a series of encouraging qualifiers & draws well for Trond Smedshammer
7-Cocktailwithakick – From the first crop of Six Pack, fifth foal from a sister to millionaire Snow White, romped in the lone qualifier & solid second in her debut for Team Svanstedt
RACE 6
6-Up Your Deo – Yonkers Trot winner set a track record @ The Hilltop, solid third in the Hambo Final & fired right back with a handy 1:52.2 score as the heavy favorite in the Beal
3-Little Expensive – Regained form in his last two with a second in the Muscle Hill, then a confidence-boosting romp in a Beal II Consolation & draws inside for Team Orange Crush
7-Air Power – NJSS champion with a nifty 1:50.4 score faltered in his next two, regrouped in a Pocono qualifier & looms large with a bounce-back effort for Team Melander
RACE 7
3-Thinker Monkey – $500,000 brother to Gimpanzee hit the board in a couple of Kindergarten divisions before failing to advance in the Wellwood & finally draws inside
6-Sig Sauer – $200,000 Muscle Hill colt held on gamely to win the NJSS Final, tuned up with a sharp qualifier that included a strong :27.2 finish for Noel Daley
8-Hankins Hanover – NJSS division winner back in mid-July, third in that Final & brimming with confidence fresh off an easy score @ Harrah Philadelphia for Nifty Norman
RACE 8
7-Coachellabound N – Sweet Lou NZ import score her first US win here impressively in 1:49.1, sparking a six-race winning streak, including a Pop Series sweep @ Yonkers
4-Treacherous Dragon – 2022 Dan Patch Award winner just missed going all the way in her Juan Cano debut two starts back, then burned the cash @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws better
8-Valar Dohaeris – Team Svanstedt-tuned mare has had a pretty productive summer, third in the Clara Barton & returns here fresh off a sharp score @ Pocono
RACE 9
10-Newsroom – Ultra impressive Always B Miki colt three-for-three, including an eye-catching 1:50.1 Kindergarten division, lands outside, but qualified like a bearcat
4-Wish You Well – Shows a dominant 1:52.3 score in a NJSS division, third from post ten in that Final & draws much better back here for Nifty Norman
6-Caviart Justice – Caviart Farms bred did great work in the NJSS Series, distant runner up to Newsroom in the qualifier, yet draws inside that might rival for Team Takter
RACE 10
3-Rocket Deo – $310,000 sister to 1:48 millionaire Rocknificent shot home to win her debut @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, draws inside here & could be a potential star for Brett Pelling
1-Odds On Steno – First crop of Bettor’s Wish & first foal from a sister to 1:47.4 performer Mikala, runner up in all three NJSS miles & freshened with a winning qualifier from the rail
2-Odds On Selenium – Bettor’s Wish homebred hit the board in her first two NJSS starts, regrouped with a wire-to-wire qualifier & draws well for Chris Ryder
RACE 11
7-Cyberspace – Walner sister to Mission Brief & Tactical Landing arrives fresh off her first win @ The Red Mile & continues her upward trend for Team Svanstedt
8-Tactical Mounds – Rallied to an impressive post ten upset in the Continentalvictory, came right back to make it three in a row @ Pocono & looms large despite post eight
5-Blonde Bombshell – Fired up her form winning first time Lasix, a second to Tactical Mounds, then an even fourth chasing to the standout Bond & gets a chance to stalk from midpack
RACE 12
3-Pulp Fiction – Bettor’s Wish first cropped & second foal from a sister to Heston Blue Chip & Sunfire Blue Chip fresh off a three-ply sweep of the NJSS Series & finally draws inside
4-Tarrific – Huntsville sister to Cattlewash & Niki Hill just missed in her second Kindergarten start, qualified with another furious final quarter & lands post four again
5-Pull Through – Lazarus N filly Has taken a few starts to gather her best stride in Lexington , displayed more early speed in most recent & draws better to play a stalking role here
RACE 13
2-Walcango – This Walner filly came close to winning her first three starts, set the pace & faded to fourth in the NJSS Final & draws inside her main concern for Jim Campbell
9-Buy A Round – Walner homebred tripped out for a mild upset in the NJSS Final, won her Big M qualifier with a sharp :26 & this Noel Daley trainee rates top contender status despite post nine
1-Marg In Charge – Returns to The Big M fresh off her first lifetime win @ Pocono & she’s back on the rail for a prime chance to stalk the speed
Selections for Saturday, September 2
RACE 1
2-Random Hanover – Has had a few starts to adjust to his new barn, sports that 1:51 mark last year, gets some class & post relief in a wide-open curtain raiser
5-Harry Hanover – Harry rallied for that impressive last-to-first from post ten back on July 21, 4YO took a mark of 1:53 here this season & sets up his late move from midpack
1-Howtotrainurdragon – Just two for 27 this season, yet has been facing some tougher competition @ Pocono & Tioga, drops back into this series & finally draws inside
RACE 2
5-Kelly’s Greatest – 2YO Cantab Hall filly took a few starts to put it all together with a dominant maiden breaking score @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & lands in a soft spot here
6-Pride N Joy – E L Titan filly has been productive on smaller tracks in NYSS, time to stretch her legs @ The Big M for Noel Daley, whose youngsters have thrived this season
3-In Italian – $750,000 sister to Atlanta has been a steady fringe player in the NY Excelsior Series & looks to spark something here in a real cozy scenario for Team Burke
RACE 3
1-P L Oscar – Kicks off the Ricky Bucci Yonkers shippers 1-2 punch, been on the edges against $50,000 claimers, takes a class plunge & can trip out from a rail launch
4-Brace For Landing – 3YO recently came back @ Mohawk with two of his top wins so far, solid runner up in a Beal II consolation & draws well in a field of question marks here
8-Sonofamistery – Stanley Dancer Memorial winner & Hambo finalist in 2021, struggling to regroup for Team Melander, could dominate despite post eight, but on best behavior only
RACE 4
5-Ari Allstar – 12YO recently regained form against $10,000 claimers @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, arrives fresh off a confidence-boosting wire-to-wire @ Freehold & reunited with Hot Toddy
7-Rockabilly Charm – 8YO is certainly familiar with The Big M, nice rally to hit the board @ Harrah’s Philadelphia two starts back, just needs to avoid traffic from a demanding post
9-Posh On The Beach A – Only one for 24 this season, slammed with post nine, yet suddenly picked it up with two straight narrow losses @ Tioga Downs & doesn’t face much here
RACE 5
1-Takeittotheface – 9YO tripped out to equal his lifetime mark of 1:52.1 back on July 21, tuned up by winning his Big M qualifier & gets the rail again for Peter Kleinhans
10-Ferdinand A – 10YO caught a case of seconditis here this summer, yet his last two were gallant efforts from post ten, so perhaps we’ll see another despite a month off
6-Fire Light – Fringe player against $15,000 claimers @ Harrah’s Philadelphia recently, catches a real vulnerable bunch here & figures to appreciate the longer stretch
RACE 6
2-Beltara – Lightly-raced filly was freshened & promptly blasted all the way in a career best 1:51.4 @ Pocono & draws inside with serious upside & upset potential
3-Ucandoit Blue Chips – Two-time NJSS champion with a mark of 1:50.4 here this season, had no chance from post eight in the Lynch, regaining form & draws better
8-Lisa Lane – This Lazarus N filly has had a taste of Grand Circuit action, returns to The Big M fresh off a sharp narrow loss @ Pocono, her gate speed can put her in play for Team Ryder
RACE 7
3-Rigginswind – Took her 1:50.2 mark here this season, sharpened her sword in her last two, back on the mile track, drops further & draws inside
1-Corsini A – Steady customer against tougher mares @ Yonkers drops into a more likely spot here & lands the rail to trip out for a possible price
5-Blueberry Shake – Her last win was a career best 1:51.4 here back on July 22, been chasing the red-hot Coachellabound N @ Yonkers & these are easier
RACE 8
3-Bionic – Posted a pair of successful wire-to-wire air out missions here this summer, his latest a 1:51 shocker from post eight & returns to the MADC Series @ The Big M to take no prisoners
4-T Dog – 3YO sports a 1:52.1 mark @ The Big M this season, sharpened his act with a blowout @ Saratoga & draws well back here on that upward trend
1-I’m Burlington N – Abruptly turned his game around with a game speed try @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, 1:50.3 performer here this season poses a major speed threat from the rail
RACE 9
4-Love Your Work A – Took a mark of 1:49.4 @ The Big M this season, beaten favorite @ Yonkers draws well back here to set up a stalk n pop scenario
2-Bettors Donttell – Classy Team Burke trainee took advantage of some class relief to pick it up in his last two, draws inside here to flaunt his speed & might be the target
6-Good Rockin – Big M horse-for-the-course drops back down a notch off a dull effort @ Pocono, just two for 22 this season, but reunited with The Buckeye & can get involved late
RACE 10
4-Stay Grounded – Took a shot at TSS @ The Meadows & catapulted off a sizzling half to score a career best 1:50.2 shocker & draws better here for potent Noel Daley
2-Handlelikeaporsche – Multiple Grand Circuit winner at two, struggling in his sophomore comeback, yet draws inside a real mixed bag fresh off solid qualifier
1-Vici – NJSS Final runner up, tangled with top colts in a NA Cup elimination & consolation, makes his second start off a sick scratch from the rail for Team Bongiorno
RACE 11
4-Nextroundsonme – The perfect trip from the rail paid off in his second start after a sick scratch, draws well & returns to The Big M where he took that new mark of 1:52.4 off a sharp second
3-Toccoa Falls – Actually took a new mark of 1:52.3 in a Big M qualifier back on July 21, trying to regain form @ Yonkers, gets class & post relief back here
2-Timestorm – Twice beaten favorite elsewhere after two straight wins @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, drops into a favorable spot here with a history of success @ The Big M
RACE 12
10-Will The Wizard A – The Wizard has been on the edges against tougher elsewhere, 1:50.1 performer here lands outside, but drops into a wide-open field & note the barn change
2-Marcus Seelster – Badly beaten favorite gets significant class & post relief & returns to the scene of his perfect trip upset & career best 1:50.2 back on July 22
4-River Ness – Stormed home to just miss @ the N/W $10,000 level @ Harrah’s Philadelphia three starts back, drops a notch & draws well off a solid third for Team Burke
RACE 13
2-Gotwuteverittakes – Came back guns a blazing & got nosed out with a two-hole trip @ Pocono & this Big M lover draws inside to employ a similar strategy
9-Urntrouble Hanover – New Team Bongiorno acquisition scored right off the hop first time Lasix, tough post here off a miscue, but has potential to show more
1-Spree – Despite a couple of miscues this mare has come back off an early-July sick scratch with a close second & took a new mark of 1:55.4 @ Pocono last out
RACE 14
2-Rock On Line – Give him that first start for his new barn & stable adjustment, now drops into a real soft MADC 1 division & draws inside for the potent Verruso-Spicer combo
6-Clayton’s Bettor N – 8YO took a sparkling new mark of 1:51.1 @ The Big M this season, steady factor who can be tough on the lead & Slendorn & Harrison win their share of these
3-Sunshine’s Finest – Disqualified from first when favored @ Vernon Downs, still his form perked up in his last two there & draws well here with a history of Big M success