Ken Warkentin Selections Friday, March 17, & Saturday, March 18, 2023

Wednesday, March 15, 2023

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RACE 1

2-Chief Of Staff – Paid the price for a very slow start from post nine, nice finish before that, second start off the claim from a much-improved post & has a chance to show speed

 

10-Camlachie Chrome – Started his season two for three @ Rosecroft, bumped into a sizzling 1:51.3 winner in his debut here for his new barn, stuck outside, but has license to step up

 

7-MV OK Pacalio BR – Beaten favorite was extra tardy off the wings, now his post is tougher, but always one to watch for late in the mile with the right set up & long overdue

 

RACE 2

8-Crazyland – 3YO won his only career start late last season when he switched to Per Engblom, used two Big M qualifiers to regain form, challenging post, but high potential

 

5-Senna – Beaten favorite set a solid pace & faded into fierce stretch headwinds, that was a month ago, but this Per Engblom 4YO owns a mark of 1:54.2 here & gets Yannick Gingras

 

2-Friends After Six – Team Orange Crush-tuned filly trotted home in a crisp :27.3 in her sophomore debut without trotting hopples off some solid qualifiers & draws inside again

 

RACE 3

4-Metal Man – Homebred from the first crop of world champion Huntsville, both Pocono qualifiers were blowouts for Travis Alexander & draws well here to debut in a soft match up

 

2-Third Pillar – Late-blooming Bettor’s Delight 4YO has missed the board only once in seven starts, post gods were kind once more & another stalking trip is imminent

 

1-Gazoo – Bumped into an impressive All Alone in his career debut on Lasix & logically continues to ramp it up from the rail

 

RACE 4

3-Margot Hanover – Solid runner up to the impressive first timer C Is For Cookie for Nifty Norman & lands post three again for her key third try off the bench

 

2-Always A Dancer – Looks poised to make her 3YO debut after going all the way to beat Always A Show Off in her latest qualifier & draws inside for Per Engblom

 

8-Always A Show Off – Second dam the great world champion Put On A Show, her latest two qualifiers were top quality, post eight hurts, but looks ready to debut for Team Toscano

 

RACE 5

2-Jerrytone – Excellent/patient drive & solid runner up last week, draws better for John Calabrese in just his fifth start since a mid-January injury scratch

 

7-So Take That – Prolific in the win column last season, 14YO drops into a soft GSY 1 division off a much-needed start for the 2022 Amateur Driver of the Year Tony Beltrami

 

10-Bilbo Hanover – Second as the beaten favorite back-to-back before a nonthreatening fourth last week, moves outside, yet remains a closing threat

 

RACE 6

5-Frank The Elder – Chased the outstanding Harry Knows IR last Saturday, has been a solid presence for Team Burke & draws a bit better to play his stalk n pop game

 

3-Violence – Came right back to win again going all the way from post ten last week, complete with a :27.3 sprint, late-blooming Team Burke 4YO draws better for the step up in class

 

9-Dreamonhigh – A close second against Open mares @ Yonkers last Fall, nice finish in her Big M qualifier without trotting hopples & first time Lasix, threat despite post nine

 

RACE 7

8-Perfect Queen – Go back to her close second from post eight on January 27, a solid third in the slop last out & looms as a price play with the right trip

 

7-Sweet Giselle – Rallied from the clouds to hit the board in last Friday’s finale, just one for her last 33 & draws a tougher post, but has a chance to continue ramping it up

 

2-Trans Meanie – Added Lasix & got parked for her life from post eight, draws much better to rebound for Team Bongiorno in a field ripe for the taking

 

RACE 8

7-Crazy Fool – Sat patient & unleashed an eye-catching :27.3 rally to light up the board in his 3YO debut here & can’t rule out a repeat despite a more demanding draw

 

5-Ifnotmewho – Added Dexter Dunn & promptly rallied to just miss with a much-improved effort & she might be on the verge of an overdue win a wide-open finale

 

1-Jara – She lived up to her sudden tote hype with a lively score from midpack last week, rewarded with the rail off the mile of her life in the slop

 

RACE 9

5-Cash Roll – Moves to midpack off a no-chance mile from post nine & just missed before that & gets another serious shot at this tougher level in a real headscratcher

 

7-Gaitway Gal – Stepped up to this level & just missed with a sharp :27 flat surge, challenging post here, yet just needs a speed target & to time her late move

 

6-Lady Rocknrolla A – Has continued on a nice form spree since the latest claim, a solid third behind Gaitway Gal last week & looms as a stalking threat again

 

RACE 10

1-No Drama Please – Coming off a pretty solid season he was a strong runner up to the runaway Harry Knows IR last Saturday & now drops a notch for his second try off the bench

 

10-Fit Bitt – Fired hard for a perfect trip & left in the wake of a surprisingly exceptional Nylander last week, slammed with post ten, but remains a live item for Team Burke

 

3-Gotwuteverittakes – Big M horse-for-the-course loves to erupt with a big rebound effort, fresh off an upset in the slop from the same post with Brett Beckwith

 

RACE 11

3-Shellie De Vie – Arrives off a tough trip @ Yonkers, gets some class relief, only her fifth start of the season, draws inside & this classy mare knows her way around this oval

 

4-English Rose N – Lagged early & was left trying to rally from never-never land last week, nosed out with a big wake up effort before that & draws better in a real wide-open match up

 

6-Bad MS Johnson – Shifted her act to Pocono & scored a perfect trip win as the favorite two starts back & returns to The Big M with renewed confidence in a camera-shy field

 

RACE 12

6-Sheer Faith – Made it two-for-two since switching to Per Engblom, romped to a new mark in a sparkling 3YO debut from post eight & logically the one to beat

 

2-Flaming Roads – The other Per Engblom trainee stepped up with a solid second to his stablemate Sheer Faith & looms large from post two again in his third career start

 

4-Unsolved Debt – Just one for 33, but came charging home off a slow :58.2 half to just miss last week, draws inside again & this 4Yo has room to improve further

 

RACE 13

4-Somiki – One of two Richard Johnson trainees in here, making his fourth start on Lasix since changing barns, draws better & might be within closer striking range

 

1-Dismissal Slip – Has shown some improvement in his last two @ Pocono since changing barns & lands in a real soft spot here & figures to be forwardly placed

 

5-Knox The Fox – Closed from a long way off the pace to grab the deuce in the GSY 1 last week, switches to The Buckeye & can stalk from midpack in a dartboard field

 

RACE 14

5-Halliama – Beaten favorite roughed up first over in the slop chasing a headstrong Levitation, nosed out three starts back, so on the verge his first win this season

 

4-Horoscope – Team Burke trainee hasn’t been heard from in three starts here, but drops another notch & draws inside with a chance to crank it up

 

3-Crazy For CJ – Forced wide from a tough spot last week, finally draws an inside post, in line for trip closer to the pace in a wide-open finale

 

Warkentin’s Selections for Saturday, March 18, 2023

RACE 1

4-Doubleagentman – Fresh face from Dover Downs was doing well until slow starts from outside posts in his last two, strong in the win column, draws well & gets Bionic Man

 

5-Southwind Dredge – Reeled off his first three @ The Big M, then just missed with an ideal cover trip as the beaten favorite & continues to loom large to give Chuck Crissman, Jr. a 1-2 punch

 

10-I’m Burlington N – Despite being bothered & forced wide he stormed home from last to land in the photo with Southwind Dredge & post ten again off that excellent acclimating mile

 

RACE 2

4-Parmesan N – Was hounded by a longshot through a searing pace & still only lost by a length, drops again & draws a bit better for his third start off the bench

 

3-King James Express – Just missed at this level with a mighty late surge back in early February, regrouped for Team Burke with a winning qualifier & draws inside

 

8-Paternity Suit A – Shuffled & came back to rally for third last week, tougher post, but look for more in his second try off a sick scratch

 

Race 3

4-Tam Major A – Favored in his last six, used hard through a demanding clip last out, two weeks to regroup from that, another inside post & two wins since the Richard Johnson claim

 

7-Boiler Maker – Unleashed a huge rebound effort first over for a new mark of 1:51 fresh off the claim, challenging post this time, but can’t rule out a repeat in a competitive affair

 

8-Bizys Beatle – Long form spree continued with a sharp/narrow loss to Boiler Maker last week, tackles another outside assignment, but The Beatle is relentless

 

RACE 4

1-Birthday – Tangled with the top guns at two & three, added Lasix late last year, solid qualifier chasing Tattoo Artist, Team Burke has him ready for his 4YO debut from the rail

 

4-Twin B Jammer – 4YO caught fire in Ontario recently, ships south to join The Burke Brigade & draws well to make an immediate impression despite three weeks off

 

5-Petipou – Despite a 35-day layoff & post nine he stormed home from ninth to just miss a big upset in a sparkling Big M debut, draws better & tough to separate the Andrew Harris duo

 

RACE 5

4-Denmark Seelster – Beaten chalk set a solid pace & nailed late by the pocket-sitting Marcus, draws inside that rival to turn the tables & continues his revival since switching Per Engblom

 

8-Marcus Seelster – The other Seelster made it two-for-two off the claim with Dexter Dunn, tougher post here, but back-to-back lifetime marks & early speed puts him in play again

 

3-Doctor Butch – 13YO warhorse was a strong runner up to Marcus Seelster two starts back, then a solid third last week & gets another inside draw to stalk the main concerns

 

RACE 6

8-Carbine – 1:47.4 performer last year barely outsprinted by Jimmy Freight three starts back, no chance in his last two Opens, another tough draw, but the class relief could be enough

 

6-Madelines Blk Jack – Exploded home for the upset in his rousing Big M debut, then got left out to dry in the Open two weeks ago, drops back down & has a big chance to rebound

 

7-Mike’s Z Tam – Looked like a new horse when he switched to Team Burke, dropped n popped in an aggressively handled & eye-catching 1:49.4, so is he up to this stiffer test?

 

RACE 7

6-Vel Mr Nice Guy – 1:48.3 performer @ The Big M last season, sparked his form @ Saratoga & arrives fresh off a confidence-boosting blowout @ Pocono for Team Stratton

 

1-Duddie’s Lor – Lands the rail fresh off a big bounce-back effort, just missed with a patient Dave Miller rally, a closer stalking trip is likely & this Big M lover is relentless

 

5-I’m Some Graduate – 10YO certainly needed his last two after a long layoff, gets some class relief after making a late bid & can stalk from midpack in a puzzling affair

 

RACE 8

4-Inaminute Hanover – Has no doubt been knocking on the door, particularly in his last few, draws better & figures to be poised to pounce for an overdue win in a wide-open start to the Pick 6

 

10-Ahundreddollarbill – Was able to brush to the top in a tepid :56.1 & held on safely last week, assigned post ten, but this classy gelding is revved up for Team Alagna

 

2-Mississippi Storm – Beaten favorite sat a perfect trip & simply failed to fire last week, draws inside for his key third start off the bench & has license to show more

 

RACE 9

5-Whole Lotta Lou – Sports a 1:49.3 mark @ The Big M, caught fire in his last three, scofred with a whole lot last week, lands midpack again & poised to step up for Team Chiodo

 

7-Acton Hanover – On a long form spree for Team Burke, solid runner up last week, post ten romp before that, tougher post, but getting slight class relief in an intriguing puzzle

 

9-Striking Impact – Hikes up after winning two of his last three here, including a new mark of 1:51.1 from post seven & gate speed can get him involved

 

RACE 10

6-Southwind Gendry – Classy Team Burke millionaire, won his qualifier with zeal, then shook loose out of a shuffle with plenty in an eye-catching comeback last week

 

4-Livinthebeachlife – Has really gotten his act together winning three of his last four, that was a no-doubt-about-it wire job from post nine last week & gives Team Burke a solid 1-2 punch

 

7-Sonny Weaver N – Qualified behind Southwind Gendry & flashed some late pace from far back in a much-needed comeback, 11-time winner last year might get more aggressive this time

 

RACE 11

4-Caughtinalandslide – Solid runner up two starts back signaled something positive, no shot from post ten last week, moves inside & looms as a stalking threat

 

5-Raptors Flight N – Rarely puts forth a sub-par effort, hard-charging in the photo last week, two-move upset before that & stalks from midpack in a real competitive affair

 

6-Trashytonguetalker – After a late shoe repair he rallied to just miss an upset last week, tougher post here, but gathering steam on the comeback trail

 

RACE 12

4-Love Your Work A – Beaten favorite chased a fiery Whole Lotta Lou for the deuce first time Lasix, now drops a notch & draws well again

 

3-High Baller – Beaten chalk wiped out by a far turn breaker when launching a late move last week, hinting in his previous three & draws inside again

 

1-The Claw – Beaten favorite was swooped by Straight Talk last week, draws inside that rival after his third straight class drop & stalks from the rail

 

RACE 13

10-Van Diesel – Romped in an impressive Big M debut, then stormed home from a tough spot to just miss to Magritte, stuck outside, but remains a live item to spark a Team Estrada 1-2 punch

 

4-Southwind Bronn – Brushed n crushed them for a nifty new mark of 1:51.3 last week, a new horse since the Team Estrada acquisition & draws well with Dexter Dunn

 

9-Magritte – Made it two-for-two since the barn change with an impressive first over score from post nine & lands the same tough post to exploit his sudden revival

 

RACE 14

3-Double Up N – An even fifth three weeks ago, yet has finished with increased vigor in his last two, gets another class drop & draws inside for Team Cullipher

 

7-Mister Spot A – Dropped to this level, tried it on the lead & almost went all the way last week, tougher post here, but note the 1:49.3 mark @ The Big M this season

 

8-Mister Donald A – Parked with a no-chance trip last out, several other excuses riddle his lines, challenging post here, but he’s getting further class relief