Ken Warkentin Selections Friday, January 13 & Saturday, January 14

Wednesday, January 11, 2023

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RACE 1

3-Night Explorer – Scored a bottom claimer upset with a barn change two starts back, then finished well at a tougher level, debuts for trainer Paul Fusco in a soft spot & gets The Judge

 

1-In Nevada N – Has clearly picked up his game with three straight on the board finishes for Team Chiodo & moves inside a camera-shy field to stalk any possible speed

 

5-Righthererightnow – Arrives fresh off a huge wake up score from post eight @ Rideau Carlton, strong in the win column & Adrian Wisher, Jr. back in the bike for a midpack launch

 

RACE 2

2-Maddox Hanover – Moves inside off a no-chance mile from post eight after hitting the board back-to-back, one for 19 record a concern, yet he’s a fresh threat

 

7-Doc Semalu – Doc has struggled recently & draws a challenging post, but gets a dip in price & has a chance to revive & kick past these with the right set up

 

4-Bet The Limit – Not sure if a two for 40 record last year strikes your fancy, has been a steady check earner @ Freehold, stalking type draws well & Yogi Sheridan knows his way around here

 

RACE 3

4-Bet On Blake – Suddenly vaulted to a pressure lead @ Yonkers despite missing 24 days, has now missed 31 days, but owns some back class & ships into a real soft spot for Team Burke

 

2-Odds On Brexit – His Big M qualifier was decent over an off track, then flashed some late pace in the comebacker, more acclimated now, draws inside & doesn’t face much

 

1-The Cookie Monster – Took advantage of some class relief & finished a much-improved third @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, dips further & lands the rail here in field of several easy toss outs

 

RACE 4

3-Mymonstersarereal – One for 25 last year, but suddenly came to life & just missed two starts back, then had no shot from post nine & now moves inside to stalk n pop this bunch

 

1-Evas Sports Czech – Closed out an 0 for 11 season with a nonthreatening sixth, finished a hard-charging second by a neck before that, lands the rail & switches to Yannick Gingras

 

5-Gottalovemyshadow – Beaten favorite was used pretty hard @ Monticello, a solid pace-setting second here three starts back, picks up The Buckeye in a tailor made spot

 

RACE 5

1-Blogmaster – Only two for 34 last year, was put in play & gave way to sixth last time, his previous form was lively & competitive, so he’s a bright spot on the rail

 

8-Peter’s Royalty – Continues his descent down the condition ladder for Team Burke, not much to write home about recently form-wise & post eight, but finds a prime spot to spark something

 

10-Hockey Hanover – Was his usual ambitious self & stopped in the slop, now he’s stuck outside after missing 27 days, but some class relief could help this nine-time winner in 2022

 

RACE 6

5-Sports Hero – Fresh off a sparkling debut for Nicole Diconstanzo here in the GSY 1 Series, hasn’t raced in 27 days, but finds an ideal spot off that big confidence booster

 

3-Art Scaping – Solid runner up in his last three on Lasix, his latest off a sick scratch after missing 19 days, draws a much better post to play his preferred stalking game

 

8-Raptors Flight N – Has won two of three since the claim by Besim Odza, his latest a convincing score with Driver of the Week Jordan Stratton & poised to step up further

 

RACE 7

5-Forrest – Lived up to the hype when he tripped out to make it three in a row & equaled his lifetime mark, wheels right back with post five again & stands out again for Team Burke

 

9-Pencils Down – Just two for 26 last year, but this is a sharp mare fresh off two narrow losses for Team Cullipher, tougher draw here, but remains a big threat

 

10-Esplosione – Kadabra 4YO a product of the OSS program has piled up quite a bit of cash in two seasons, qualified well for Nifty Norman & deserves a long look despite post ten

 

RACE 8

2-Sunday Afternoon – Only three for 35 last year, but sports that nifty 1:50.4 mark here last season, displayed solid speed two starts back, drops a notch, draws inside & long overdue

 

5-Lady Rocknrolla A – Former Cumberland regular has proven she’s for real going two-for-two @ The Big M, came right back off that scintillating 1:51.4 mark with a sharp post eight score

 

4-Purameri – Has been a model of consistency, bumped up in class off back-to-back seconds by head, an easy post eight winner before that has really taken to The Big M

 

RACE 9

5-Heavenissofaraway – Was a much better speed-controlling runner up in her second start here on Lasix, strong in the win column she has dropped down the class ladder

 

4-Prairie Westerngal – Came out of a shuffle to just miss with a mighty :27.2 surge in a much-improved second start here & draws well again with Jordan Stratton

 

10-Smooth Debate N – Hasn’t made much headway in two US starts here, gets more class relief & rates contender status despite post ten

 

RACE 10

4-Man Dontforget Me – Just missed to Jody with a much better effort flashing speed at both ends from post seven & draws an improved post off that sharp acclimating mile

 

1-Jody – Only took a few starts here to break through @ The Big M, holding off stablemate Village Jade in 1:52, now she lands the rail as a logical & serious threat to repeat

 

3-Larjon Leah – Stepped up off a pretty nice effort & blew up the board with a new lifetime mark of 1:51.4 in her second start here, draws inside again to prove that was no fluke

 

RACE 11

6-Skyway Kon Man – The Kon Man has been on the edges against tougher this Winter, he’s long overdue & the class drop n pop is in play here for Team Cullipher

 

2-INXS – Has been on a nice recent roll winning two of four & just with a :27.3 charge two starts back, gets post two for the fourth straight time to handle the class hike

 

1-Fashion Forever – Somehow managed to turn his game around with a huge first over upset from post seven, 8YO is bumped up a notch & moves inside

 

RACE 12
4-Lyons Pride – 4YO by Bettor’s Delight was an even fourth in his first start here for Maria Alvarez, lands post four again to trip out & step up in a wide-open affair

 

10-Hunted House – Lightly-raced grey 4YO returns fresh off two winning qualifiers here, slammed with post ten, but could make an immediate impression

 

6-Lou’s Beach – Finished a lively/solid third in his Team Burke debut against N/W 3 @ Harrah’s Philadelphia despite missing a month & faces a field ripe for the taking here

 

RACE 13

3-Lightningfast – Just two for 28 last year, but ramped up his game substantially with a sharp nose lose in his Big M debut & draws inside again

 

4-Don’t I Wish – Rallied to just miss in his third start off the bench from the same inside post, not liking his three for 29 record, but definitely trending in a positive direction

 

2-Pappy Go Go – 9YO with plenty of back class & experience over this oval, off a complete clunker he drops back to the level of that solid second two starts back & draws post to again

 

RACE 14

7-Pleasure Seeker – Capitalized on an absolutely perfect trip from the same post to score the upset, she’s been on a nice roll recently & can’t rule out a repeat

 

4-Be Best – Just two for 31 last year, but she’s a horse-for-the-course, freshened off two sharp qualifiers under less than ideal conditions & draws inside

 

5-Lovin Miss Daisy N – 12YO mare off a steady productive campaign in Ohio debuts here for a new barn & that angle could click in a camera-shy finale

 

Ken Warkentin Saturday, January 14 Selections

RACE 1

2-Carbine – Brother to Heston & Sunfire Blue Chip zipped around the Big M in 1:47.4 last year, dug in to win his qualifier after a month off & stands out inside for Team Alagna

 

7-Undrthsouthrnsun N – 1:47.4 performer @ The Big M in 2022, just missed with a :26.4 two starts back, then speed tightened further @ Harrah’s Philadelphia for Team Bongiorno

 

8-Whitecookie – Took a mark of 1:49.1 here last season for Team Burke, draws outside, but drops from $75,000 claimers @ Yonkers after 25 days off & has blastoff speed

 

RACE 2

7-Lone Wolf American – Got roughed up gaining a late lead last week, go back to his thunderous rally to finish a close third three starts back & retains Andrew McCarthy

 

4-Illini Duke – Exploded home off cover to romp fresh off the claim, sharp item lives The Big M & can step up further from a better post for Joe Bongiorno

 

1-Somiki – Credit Brett Beckwith for his patient parting of the seas drive to score that shocker last week, lands the rail off that lifetime best, so logically has to be considered

 

RACE 3

8-Adam Crocker N – Unleashed another sterling rally to land in the photo third time Lasix last week, draws farther out, but gets a serious dose of class relief

 

1-Toronto – Twice beaten favorite rebounded off a rare miscue with a pressured speed try @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, now drops again & lands the rail

 

2-Ponderingjacksfame – 9YO suddenly regained winning form in a big way with a first over crush for his new barn, 11-time winner last year hikes up in class, yet draws better

 

RACE 4

6-Ohoka Johnny N – Just went all the way for the upset & took a new mark @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & ships in sharp on the comeback trail

 

4-Keystone Steam – Was on quite a roll recently before the claim @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, allow for the new barn adjustment & draws well to set up a stalking trip

 

8-Capozzo – Classy 12YO tripped out for the mild upset at this same price last week, tougher post here, but tackles it with something positive to build on

 

RACE 5

10-Delayed Hanover – 5YO added trotting hopples for renewed confidence in his last three, including a gutsy win & sharp narrow loss last out, big threat despite post ten

 

5-Stride The Hill – Was able to take control, rate perfectly & hold on as the heavy favorite, poised to step up third time Lasix for Brennen & Drennan in a wide-open field

 

9-Dee’s Red Delicious – Faded over an off track @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, powered to a decisive score in the slop here before that, seems capable in current form despite post nine

 

RACE 6

5-As Always – Crushed them first over in his Team Burke debut comebacker @ Yonkers, then had no chance from post eight against better, third try off the bench & loves the Big M

 

1-Ario Hanover – Fresh off a no-doubt-about-it wire-to-wire from post ten complete with a :26.3, razor sharp 4YO now moves inside to kick off a fierce Team Burke 1-2 punch

 

6-Mysweetboymax – Wow, that effort was a bit hard to fathom, first over in a fast pace & took a new mark despite three weeks off, bumps up & now makes his third start for his new barn

 

RACE 7

6-Dontlikeitleave – What a turnaround in his second start off the recent claim, blasted down the road to a new lifetime mark & has to be a repeat threat for barn with three contenders in here

 

7-Boilermaker – Big M lover on a long form spree crushed first over just a fifth off his career best last week, post seven again to keep it going in a very competitive affair

 

2-Kobra Kai – Beat these with a perfect trip two starts back, then was no factor from post nine & now gets a chance to rebound from a much-improved post

 

RACE 8

5-Katies Bet – Raised his game with a gallant first over chasing the runaway Mind Hunter, stalks from midpack & rates strong consideration off that excellent acclimating mile

 

3-Stonebridge Reef – Left hard to sit a pocket & finished second to standout Ario Hanover last week, steady sort draws better second time Lasix & long overdue

 

8-Sporty M Three – Beaten favorite was shuffled with pace after a quick start, tougher post, but makes his key third start off the bench since switching to Team Burke

 

RACE 9

8-Arrhythmic Surge – Closed with a solid :55.2 back half to land in the photo despite missing 25 days, slammed with post eight, but gathering momentum on the comeback trail

 

3-Revolver – Looks to snap his every-other pattern, fired hard off cover to just miss last week, draws inside again to set up another stalk n pop effort in a real competitive puzzle

 

2-Hestherightstuff – One of two wins last week for Trainer of the Week Gary Levine, shook loose late to nail Pickup Man Hanover & draws better for the class hike

 

RACE 10

2-Dragon Said – Three-time beaten chalk displayed suddenspeed & didn’t fade much over an off track @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, drops into a cozy spot third time Lasix for Team Bongiorno

 

3-My Pal Joe – The classy Joe offered another positive hint last week despite missing three weeks, gets the class drop he needs & draws post three again

 

8-Stag Party – 2018 O’Brien Award & Metro winner qualified with zeal after a three-year layoff, then took his requisite tour of the oval, stuck outside, but gets some class relief

 

RACE 11

1-General Montana N – Fired off the wings in :26.4 from post eight & just missed as the beaten favorite last week, now moves inside a soft field while trending right for Team Bongiorno

 

5-St Lads Beat It – Got his act together with a perfect trip romp two starts back @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, then hiked up & just missed first over, so arrives on his toes

 

2-Game Of Change – 10-time winner in 2022 with a mark of 1:51.2 @ The Big M has been bogged down by bad posts in his last three & has a chance to rebound from post two

 

RACE 12

1-Statement Made A – 10YO with a strong summary last season ships in on a four-race form spree @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & now a fresh claim with controlling speed from the rail here

 

10-Bettor Be Oscar A – Stuck outside, but gathering steam since the December 10 sick scratch, that was a solid second to the favorite Boiler Maker last week & can look for another blast off

 

5-Vel Larry – Improving 4YO rallied from an impossible spot to finish a close third to a big longshot Somiki, steps up in price & moves to midpack off that superb acclimating mile

 

RACE 13

7-Deal The Cards – Lightly-raced 6YO fresh off a much-improved second with sharp pace at both ends of the mile & that might be a sign of further exploits

 

8-Melanie’s Nick – Fresh off a brilliant wire-to-wire upset from post ten in a career best 1:53.3, bumps up a notch & tackles another demanding draw, but rates a long look

 

10-Gunrneedabgrboat A – 9YO really sunk his teeth into the competition while on a nice roll @ Dover Downs, slammed with post ten here, but note the barn change

 

RACE 14

1-Emblaze Hanover – Flashed a bit more late pace at long odds again last week, drops another notch & lands the rail & that might be enough in a dartboard finale

 

5-Whole Lotta Lou – 1:49.3 performer here last season a beaten favorite gapped on the final turn & came back on in the stretch, gets another shot at this basement condition level

 

3-Midnight Lightning – 11YO warhorse came to life, steamrolled first over to just miss, draws post three again to employ his stalking strategy at this bottom condition again