Ken Warkentin Selections for March 22-23, 2024

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

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Friday, March 23, 2024

 

Race 1

2-Harry Hanover – Went off Lasix for a much-needed comebacker, 1:53 performer @ The Big M in 2024 makes only his third start of the season & draws better with license to improve

 

5-Cloudbreak – Has been more competitive in his last three, got parked from post seven two weeks ago & moves to mid-pack in a very soft match up

 

3-Laneside Logic GB – Hit the board in his first two starts on Lasix, then faltered in his latest pair, draws inside again to regroup in really wide-open affair

 

Race 2

5-Brookedale Jessie – 0 for his last 42, yet sports some competitive lines against $20,000 claimers @ Yonkers, can stalk from mid-pack & capitalize on the class relief

 

4-Texas Miki – Lived up to the tote hype, took three starts for the recent claim to pay off & turned things around, draws well with something positive to build on

 

2-Rollinwitdaponyzzz – Regained form with a solid rally for second to Texas Miki, draws much better & has that flashy win back on February 16 on his resume

 

Race 3

1-Lyrical Genius A – Multiple class dropper rallied stoutly for deuce chasing a standout from post nine & moves inside a weak field for the potent Team Stratton

 

5-War Of Will – Has a big chance to revive his form with the drop from the TM 80 level & owns enough gate speed to get involved early from mid-pack

 

6-Lyons Pegasus – Off the board in six starts this season, yet has been on the edges with this kind, has some back class & knows how to get it done @ The Big M

 

Race 4

6-Green Pastures – Greenshoe gelding promptly tripped out to an upset romp in his career debut, tougher post here, yet has loads of upside for Per Engblom

 

3-Devious Mojito AS – Beaten heavy favorite severely pace compromised & settled for third, sharp first win before that & draws inside again for a high percentage barn

 

7-International Craze – Runner up to an impressive Kinesiology in a commendable 3YO debut & more expected despite a challenging draw

 

Race 5

4-Rock On Line – Has been finishing well from tough spots for a steady stream of checks, now moves inside & long overdue

 

2-Dandy Idea – Suffered an interference break after missing a month of action, finished a solid second before that off a sick scratch & draws inside

 

5-Bank Sea – Exits TM 77 company, has been more competitive against this kind & has a big chance to flaunt his speed

 

Race 6

5-Bluebird Bishop – Pegged him last week when a perfect trip paid off for The Hot Toddy, The Bishop has cycled forward & found a home at this level

 

4-Amador – Has definitely shown positive signs in both starts on the comeback trail, draws an improved post & might be on the verge

 

3-Papa Doc – Beaten favorite settled for second to the perfect trip Bluebird Bishop, easy winner winner in a career best before that & draws better

 

Race 7

2-Gotta Minute N – Beaten favorite on a four-race form spree, left hard & finished well for the show last week & expecting a similar effort from another inside draw

 

3-Lachie Maguire N – Recent Justin Sodano claim took a few starts to perk up & just missed with a mighty late surge, 14YO draws inside to follow up on that positive move

 

1-Ferragamo Hanover – Hard to believe how much he was able to turn his game around & scored his first lifetime win & now has to step up for more from the rail

 

Race 8

4-Seeuinnashville A – Rallied to upset TM 77 types tow starts back, out of striking range against TM 80 company last week & lands in a softer spot

 

3-Ferdinand A – Bounced back with one of his patented front end scores last week & draws an improved post as a threat to repeat

 

2-Moneymakehersmile – She was claimed off a well-rated wire-to-wire win as the heavy favorite last week, just missed before that & draws better

 

Race 9

2-Urntrouble Hanover – On the fringe fifth in his last two, gets some class relief, draws post two again & big red flag with the barn change to Richard Johnson

 

4-Allindotime – Rallied to repeat in the MADC Series, then had no chance after a slow start from post eight & now draws better to rebound in a camera-shy field

 

1-Icanflylikeanangle – 10YO has been trying to regain his form, landing on the edges in just four starts this season, lands the rail to trip out & retains Todd McCarthy

 

Race 10

6-Jenden Strike A – Flashing positive signs in her last two, gathering momentum on the comeback trail & gets a decent dose of class relief for Team Cushing

 

1-Eileen’s Wish – On a nice roll, acclimated nicely, strong runner up in a TM Final, draws better & has a chance to step up further

 

5-Rosey Time – Made a quick transition to The Big M with a thunderous rally to score a 14-1 upset last week & faces comparable in top form

 

Race 11

2-That’smytype – Offered a late bid & ended up with fringe player status last week, took a mark of 1:53.3 @ The Big M last season & gets another inside draw in a headscratcher

 

8-Won’t Back Down – Tough draw, but comes back fresh off a sharp qualifier & she was making some noise here back in December

 

7-Evas Sports Czech – Another one struggling to grind out minor spoils, albeit against $20,000 claimers @ Yonkers, yet knows her way around this oval

 

Race 12

1-Kickupyaheels N – Drops off a strong post ten third after two in a row, including gutsy upset two starts back, moves inside & might be too classy for these

 

4-Uptown Lady N o– Left in the wake of Kickupyaheels N two weeks ago, but she has two strong wins this season, drops dangerously & lands post four again

 

7-Side Piece – Came right back to take a nifty new mark of 1:50.3 as the heavy favorite two weeks ago, tougher draw, but this is a 4YO on the rise

 

Race 13

1-Fashion Cantab – Lands the rail off a solid second & posted a career best upset before that, now you have the gauge him off a sick scratch

 

3-Bingo Brain – The Brain had no chance after another slow start from post eight, just one for 33, yet this is a softer spot from an improved post

 

6-Gotwuteverittakes – Big M lover makes his third start on a comeback mission, has finished well enough, dips back a notch & switches to The Hot Toddy

 

Race 14

10-Mansai – Beaten favorite rallied for the show in his Big M debut, slammed with post ten, but tackles a field absolutely begging to be beaten

 

6-Flying Tiger – Bumped into a really salty 1:51 first time starter last Saturday & this is a much easier task for his second start off the bench for this lightly-raced 5YO

 

5-Lettuceriprita A – 14YO raced better for a minor share last week, now makes his fourth start since a sick scratch & retains Todd McCarthy

 

Selections for Saturday, March 23

Race 1

8-Da Delightful – Ventured to Pocono & bounced back with a second placed first, was starting to come around after a mid-January sick scratch & owns some back class

 

2-Air Guitar – Even though he’s caught a severe case of seconditis, this beaten favorite moves inside fresh off another narrow loss & his persistence could pay off

 

9-Sunshine’s Finest – Unleashed another relentless rally for the repeat upset from post eight last week & now he’s looking for his fourth win in his last five outings

 

Race 2

3-Southwind Dredge – Tried it on the point & faded to fifth last week, just missed with a patient rally before that & lands post three again to rebound in a camera shy field

 

8-Rock Jagger – Forced wide & charged home with a flurry in a :55.4 back half, stuck outside & looking for a speed target to shoot at

 

2-Pinebushdragonroll – Only one for his last 40 & winless this season, came out of a late shuffle with the show prize & note the narrow loss at long odds three starts back

 

Race 3

1-Blazing Banner N – Decisive winner in both legs of this mini series, cruised to a new mark of 1:50.2 last week & stands out on the rail for The Buckeye

 

6-Ideal Feeling – Solid runner up to Blazing Banner N in both legs, on a very nice three-race form spree, his post is a bit tougher, but gate speed can put him in play

 

4-My Pal Joe – Had the table set & Joe lived up to the hype by tripping out to an overdue win & draws well to continue conjuring up his back class

 

Race 4

7-Ante Up Hanover – Nine-time winner at two flashed speed at both ends & was right there in the photo in an eye-catching 3YO debut here, big threat despite a demanding post

 

3-Mccrunch – Captain Crunch 3YO from a productive line that includes millionaire Boston Red Rocks, chased the likes of Combustion in his latest qualifier & draws inside for Team Takter

 

6-El Yerno – Perked up with the addition of Lasix against N/W 4 company @ Pocono, ships back to the Big M to rebound off a late miscue on the lead as the heavy favorite

 

Race 5

4-Abel De Vie – Suddenly found his best stride with a sharp narrow loss in his key third try off the bench, draws inside again & might be on the verge in a very tricky puzzle

 

3-American Way – Won his first two starts for Per Engblom & lowered his mark to 1:52.2, interference @ Pocono, back here at a higher TM level, but draws inside & reunited with Dex

 

6-Private Scott – Two solid seconds in both starts since shipping south into the Team Estrada barn, almost went all the way from post eight last week & poised for another class hike

 

Race 6

6-Needham Hanover – Hot horse has won five of his last six, his latest a first over crush as the heavy favorite & has license to step up in price for Trainer of the Week Besim Odza

 

8-Hunt For Cash – Delaware invader reeled off four of five here earlier this season, including a career best of 1:50.4, dips back down & can blast off to overcome post eight

 

2-Homestretch Wes – Consistent gelding has hit the board in seven of eight this season for Richard Johnson, now takes on a reasonable tag, draws inside & gets Yannick Gingras

 

Race 7

3-Duly Resolved – Was a 2YO O’Brien Award winner, sharpening his sword on the comeback trail @ Pocono, just missed to Rich N Miserable there & draws inside for Team Cullipher

 

1-Little Expensive – Twice beaten favorite & solid runner up in his last two, after three weeks off he’s back on the rail to play a serious contender roll again for Team Orange Crush

 

2-Dribbling Bi – Settled for third behind Little Expensive after a perfect trip last week, takes another stab at this tougher level while on a nice form spree & draws another inside post

 

Race 8

3-Billy Clyde – Sports that 1:47.4 speed badge & continues his descent down the condition ladder, plus he draws much better to perk up & assert himself in a headscratcher

 

1-Dean B Hanover – Went all the way from post seven & held off Whole Lotta Lou as the even money favorite, rewarded with the rail & remains razor sharp on the comeback trail

 

5-Hammering Hank – Returns after three months off, his Pocono qualifier was pretty good, knows how to get it done here & Team Bongiorno look to make an immediate impression

 

Race 9

2-Braeview Bondi A – Ships in off some commendable efforts after dropping to this level @ Yonkers, note his productive slate last season & draws inside a wide-open affair

 

6-It’s In the Stars – Finished with a :26 & change flurry on the edges in both starts this season & now drops a notch for a key third start off the bench for Team Cullipher

 

1-Commanding Officer – Clearly outpaced by My Pal Joe & company last week, yet now he’s getting some much-needed class & post relief for Team Burke

 

Race 10

1-Mississippi Storm – Flashed plenty of late trot with a :26.3 in a strong comeback, 9YO world champion looking for his seven straight season past $100k & can stalk them from the rail

 

5-Betterinpinehurst – Came roaring out fresh off the bench with a new mark of 1:51.4 in the slop & bounced back with a rousing wire-to-to-wire as the heavy favorite from post seven last week

 

7-Lexus Kody – Hasn’t raced in over three months, yet bounced back with an impressive qualifier for Team Burke & he’s classy & capable fresh off the bench in a wildly competitive affair

 

Race 11

6-Shoobee Doo A – Dipped to this level, brushed n crushed them from the rail in a nifty 1:51 & naturally looms large in his third start here for Team Estrada

 

2-Kolby Two Step – Cruised wire-to-wire in the Leg 1 slop, then just missed to the trip-sitting Flirtin JK as the heavy favorite & draws inside again to avenge that narrow loss

 

5-Flirtin JK – Took four starts on the comeback trail to wake up with a perfect trip in 1:51.3 & now has something positive to build on in a competitive final

 

Race 12

8-Combustion – Stakes caliber $200,000 Harrisburg buy won his Big M qualifier with a :54.4 back half & looks to make an immediate statement despite post eight

 

9-Ervin Hanover – Another major stakes player now with Team Cullipher paced home in a swift :25.2 in his Big M qualifier, slammed with post nine, yet deserves a long look

 

4-Battlefield – After three straight eight holes he finally moves inside to get off to a better start, this nine-time winner last season owns a big late kick & gives Team Cullipher a strong 1-2 punch

 

Race 13

4-C-Bet Hanover – Absolutely erupted as the dominant heavy favorite in last Saturday’s finale & draws better for the class hike off that career best blowout

 

6-Mister Donald A – Stung early from post seven & blitzed by Shoobee Doo A last week, has been competitive at this level & could bust through this season with a stalk n pop

 

2-Leon David – Caught out of striking range last week, strong :26.1 rally to hit the ticket before that, draws better & can capitalize on the right stalking set up

 

Race 14

7-Slick N Quick – Almost overcame a tough trip to just missed in the slop two starts back, that kind of effort makes him a threat despite a tougher post in a wide-open finale

 

1-Select Friday – Switched to the MADC Series & rallied for a close second with a much improved effort & finally moves inside to possibly recreate that stalk n pop scenario

 

3-Skyway Billy – Flashed speed from post nine & somehow faltered in most recent, was on a nice three-race form spree before that against TM 71 foes & draws better to rebound