Ken Warkentin Selections Friday, March 10, & Saturday, March 11, 2023

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

RACE 1
4-MV OK Palacio BR – Thought he might’ve been sitting on a winning effort & bumped into a raging Texas Terror N, long overdue & now draws into a real soft opener

6-Jerrytone – Got used pretty hard to clear the lead & faded into headwinds, a solid second before that, two weeks rest & only his fourth start of the season

10-Keystonefightnight – Was a strong runner up here back on December 1st, reunited with Joe Lee for his first start as a 4YO, stuck outside, yet a fresh threat to consider

RACE 2
6-Lindys Booze Cruze – Fresh off an excellent acclimating mile after a sick scratch & just missed to Bet Big On Blue & makes his second start for Edwin Quevedo

3-Bet Big On Blue – Abruptly regained winning form when he rallied to gun down a well-rated Lindys Booze Cruz, now draws a better post in his third start off a sick scratch

2-Goes Down Smooth – Came to life launching off a soft half & romped in the slop as the 2-1 favorite, so a logical threat to repeat with another inside draw

RACE 3
2-C Is For Cookie – 13th foal from a dam who has produced Sweet Lou & Bettor Sweet, steamrolled to crush her second qualifier, bright prospect draws inside for Team Toscano

3-Margot Hanover – Nifty Norman-tuned Captaintreacherous filly finished a solid third in her 3YO debut @ Pocono, qualified second to C Is For Cookie here before that & draws alongside

5-Hungry For Kisses – Flashed some talent at two winning a Stallion Series division, finished well in her Big M qualifier & has license to make an immediate impression for Team Burke

RACE 4
4-Matt So Sure – Took his mark of 1:56.1 here last season, has been on the edges against N/W 4 @ Yonkers, gets some class relief & draws well for a smooth stalking trip

10-Violence – Only took him two starts here to gun down a good one in Big Christian, slammed with post ten, but this lightly-raced 4YO is heading in a positive direction for Team Burke

8-Headoverboots AS – Three times a runner up this season, finished well from post ten last out, draws another tough post, yet a rates contender status looking for the right set up

RACE 5
3-Captain’s Reign – This Captain could be poised to break through this season for Dakota Jackson, finally draws an inside post off a wide impossible trip, a solid third before that

10-Texas Terror N – 15YO has simply been too good, dominating the GSY 1 competition in his last two, certainly has work to do from post ten & definitely remains the one to beat

2-Bilbo Hanover – Twice beaten favorite left in the wake of a runaway last week, just missed with an uncovered grind before that & looms large drawing inside again

RACE 6
4-Rock Of Cashel – Launched a late menacing bid for the lead & just missed in a blanket photo, 13YO Big M lover draws better for his third start off the bench

2-Fix-It-Up – Three-times a runner up in four starts on Lasix & knocked off stride two starts back, no standouts like Taxi Out S in this one & big chance to trip out from post two

8-Deltasun A – 10YO was tightened further setting a solid pace from post nine, just missed before that, another tough draw, but reunited with Jason Bartlett

RACE 7
7-Camlachie Chrome – Lightly-raced 4YO arrives fresh off the mile of his life @ Rosecroft, lands in potent barn & Cote Keim will likely be on the gas early

2-Southwind Bronn – Rallied from never-never land chasing standout Always A Panther, just missed into headwinds before that, draws better this week, third start here for his new barn

4-Bank Sea – Draws an improved post off a pair of no-chance trips, classy 10YO started his season on a form spree for Juan Cano, who will likely put him in play

RACE 8
6-English Rose N – Can’t explain that huge wake up effort & nose loss, surging home in the slop last week, definitely on an improving trend, so couldn’t blame you if took a swing

4-Onecrookedleg – Beaten favorite against better two starts back, off an impossible trip from post eight, now gets class & post relief in a wide-open field & long overdue

7-Thaneeya – Rallied stoutly to score a decisive upset in the slop with Dexter Dunn last week, faces a stiffer test here, yet has something positive to build on

RACE 9
5-Muscledover – 4YO freshened up & qualified in sharp fashion for the red-hot Per Engblom, returns in an easier spot here & stands out

3-Gotwuteverittakes – Has clearly tailed off, used hard & broke from post nine, gets some much needed class & post relief & switches to Todd McCarthy

4-Workout Girl – She’s been on a nice roll in her last three, stepped up to this level off an upset & hit the board chasing runaway Taxi Out S last week

RACE 10
7-Fox Valley Exploit – Faced the backstretch winds against stiffer completion last week & drops back down to the level of the gutsy first over score before that for the raging Noel Daley

6-Lady Rocknrolla A – Solid runner up to Shezafreaklikeme from post ten, tripped out to score as the favorite before that, bumped up a notch for her second try off the latest claim

1-Woodmere Harriet – Sports a mark of 1:51.4 @ The Big M last season, turned things around with a solid rally for third last week & tackles a class hike with the rail

RACE 11
6-All Alone – Just missed as the beaten favorite in his comeback, then outsprinted the pacesetter in :26 flat, high potential 3YO continues his development for Team Toscano

5-Idiosyncratic – Won his first two starts this season, his latest from post eight, then got gunned down by his stablemate at 10 cents to the dollar, Team Burke 3YO remains a big threat

1-Third Pillar – Was a gutsy runner up to Idiosyncratic two starts back, then just missed again @ Pocono, returns to The Big M with the rail & reunited with Dexter Dunn

RACE 12
1-Swan Carol – Carol was pace compromised from post nine last week, a solid third before that & finally draws inside working on a one for 32 record, but somebody has to win this

2-Northern Blizzard – Broken equipment last week, has now had a couple acclimating trips, hasn’t won in a long time & two for 32, yet draws inside a field void of significant form

8-Crazy For CJ – Rallied from a tough spot to hit the board two starts back, lacked any spark last week, stuck outside & will need some pace to shoot at

RACE 13
3-Spectacular Sunset – Has been knocking on the door in spots this season, displayed much more late vigor to hit the ticket last week & draws a bit better

1-Illini Duke – Paid the price for a slow start & kicked home in a crisp :27.3, finally moves inside where he can play a stalk n pop game

4-Bet The Limit – Just missed with an aggressive effort fresh off the latest claim, draws an improved post after chasing a revved up 1:52 winner & can rebound

RACE 14
6-One More Try – Chased a headstrong Thaneeya for the deuce last week, steady closing type draws a tougher post, but she can swoop this bunch

1-Topville Rhonda – Changed barns & promptly romped as the heavy favorite @ Freehold off sick scratch, lands the rail here brimming with confidence for Team Estrada

2-Alkippe – Was able to steal one wire-to-wire @ Freehold, so draws inside here on a high note to be forwardly placed & certainly knows her way around this oval

Saturday, March 11, 2023

RACE 1
5-Onlythetuffsurvive – Has had his share of tough trips, yet not much in the way of form recently, however the 11YO looms as a fresh claim for Richard Johnson & has license to step up

6-Lenwoods Real Deal – That was a very impressive blowout upset from post ten on February 10 in his second start off the claim & drops back down after a no-chance trip

1-Southwind Dredge – Superbly driven by Charlene Cushing to a ground-saving win to make it three-in-row here & draws inside again to stay on a roll

RACE 2
2-Love Your Work – Aussie import was strong in the win column downunder, flashing some positive signs as he acclimates, now gets class & post relief

4-Jay Bracken A – Thundered home from a tough spot to just miss in his first start for Per Engblom, then faded as the beaten chalk @ Yonkers, draws well to trip out here

5-Whole Lotta Lou – Stepped up to this level & squandered a two-hole trip as the beaten favorite, still remains a sharp item with a sub 1:50 mark @ The Big M

RACE 3
2-Better Than Some – Has sharpened his sword with three straight rails & solid runner up finishes, chased the red-hot Beatle last week, now a fresh claim draws inside again

5-Boiler Maker – Another slow start & broken equipment last week, reclaimed by Crissy Crissman-Bier, retains Jordan Stratton & that was a gutsy win back on February 4th

7-Bizys Beatle – Hot item at the claim box stormed home off a hot pace to his third win in his last four starts fresh off the latest claim, another challenging post, yet a relentless sort right now

RACE 4
3-Mister Spot A – 9YO took a sparkling new mark of 1:49.3 with a deadheat win in late January, on the edges fourth in his last two & now drops dangerously

2-Gentleman Jim II IE – Took a tour of the oval from post nine, stayed flat & finished well, drops another notch & moves inside for his fifth start since a late January sick scratch

1-Literl Lad Hanover – 1:50.1 mark @ The Big M last year, perked up with a much better third with the drop last week & has a chance to show some of his back class from the rail

RACE 5
9-Harry Knows IR – The Irish champion rebounded & the real Harry showed up for Lauren Tritton last week, faces a stiffer task here, but makes his third US start & who knows how good he is?

7-Wily Wally – Lightly-raced 4YO by Walner qualified behind another sharp Per Engblom trainee, demanding post, yet this is bright prospect with speed & potential

8-Frank The Elder – Parlayed a perfect trip & scooted home in a brisk :27.3 to take a new mark of 1:53.3 two starts back, then finished a solid third, fresh/serious contender despite post eight

RACE 6
4-Adriano Hanover – Last Saturday’s Best Bet dropped n popped with sudden speed & took them all the way for a new lifetime mark & draws inside to trip out for a repeat

3-Acton Hanover – Consistent Team Burke trainee on board in six of eight this season, fresh off a blowout upset from post ten & draws much better to handle the class hike

9-Livinthebeachlife – Bumped into an ultra impressive Soaring Now last week after winning back-to-back, strong in the win column & looking at another blastoff attempt for Team Burke

RACE 7
4-Truffle Dog – Loved him last week & he bumped into a raging Acton Hanover, persistent type draws inside again, retains Dexter Dunn & has a big chance to break his 2023 goose egg

1-Ladyford Dallor GB – Stung early & settled for third behind his Team Burke stablemate & Truffle Dog last week, now moves inside for his second try off a sick scratch

10-Dontlikeitleave – Stuck outside, but comes off a tough trip, beat better wire-to-wire back in late January & kicked off his season winning three in a row & can blast off from post ten

RACE 8
3-High Baller – Form has cycled forward in his last three, finished a solid third to the fiery Mike Z Tam from post ten last week, draws better & remains at this reduced level

1-Hopnroll Heaven – We nailed this one @ 8-1 when he dropped n popped emphatically for the red-hot Per Engblom last week & the revived gelding gets the rail in a camera-shy field

6-Parmesan – Sleeper type recovered from an early bobble to grab a minor share from the same post in a much-needed start off a vigorous qualifier, drops a notch with nice numbers last year

RACE 9
5-Mississippi Storm – Dominant player in the Dover Downs Open flashed plenty of late trot in the very conservative comebacker & now ready to strut his stuff from midpack in a tight match up

8-Ahundreddollarbill – Launched a late bid & barely outsprinted by Rich And Miserable, now makes his third start off the bench from a tougher, but has speed, class & form in his corner

9-Rich And Miserable – Kept that every-other pattern going with another perfect trip score last week, on a major roll right now, moves outside, but his gate speed always puts him in play

RACE 10
2-Backstreet Shadow – Millionaire 1:47.2 performer @ The Big M oozing with class, makes his second start for trainer Travis Alexander, gets Jordan Stratton & draws well in good form

4-Belmont Royale N – Tried to rally from China last week, draws better second time Lasix & looms large as a stalking threat in an Open 1 with all sorts of possibilities

3-Grand Cayman – Tip of the cap for laying down big time fractions & almost going all the way last week, 10-time winner last year rewarded with an improved off that excellent acclimating mile

RACE 11
6-Springbridge Duel – Was caught in a severe shuffle & shook loose with plenty late to hit the board, now makes his second start off the bench for Team Bongiorno in a wild affair

5-Lone Wolf American – 4YO comes off a lively second from post nine, was claimed & now protected in a TM event & eligible to stalk n pop from midpack

7-Raptors Flight N – 10YO has thrived since the early December claim by Besim Odza, fresh off a solid score last week & just missed with a gallant effort before that

RACE 12
4-The Claw – Nine-time winner last year gets his fourth straight class drop & draws much better, beaten favorite against tougher two starts back makes his fourth start off a sick scratch

1-Real Peace – Almost parlayed a perfect trip two starts back & returns to The Big M in a much softer spot for Team Burke & makes his fifth start on the comeback trail

8-Dealer’s Table – Took full advantage of a another class drop & regained his winning form for Team Cullipher, tougher draw & bumped back up, but brimming with confidence

RACE 13
8-Denmark Seelster – Changed barns to the raging Per Engblom, added Yannick Gingras & promptly delivered a new mark of 1:51.1 in a no-brainer, big threat to repeat despite post eight

7-Marcus Seelster – The other Seelster added Dexter Dunn & blasted wire-to-wire for a nifty new speed badge of 1:52 fresh off the claim & certainly can’t rule out a repeat

6-SD Watch Me Now – Evidently Juan Cano figured this one out & came roaring fresh off the bench with a career best upset in the GSY 1 & logically he’s got more to offer

RACE 14
11-Always A Panther – Dominant winner in Leg 1 to go two-for-two off the claim, stuck in the second tier, but starts behind plenty of early speed

8-Van Diesel – Have no idea where that wake up romp came from in Leg 1, but now he tackles a tougher post in a bulky finale to prove it was no fluke

3-Final Justice – Was left in the wake of Van Diesel devastation as the beaten favorite, just missed before that & draws better in sharp form