Ken Warkentin’s Friday, April 22 & Saturday, April 23 Selections

Wednesday, April 20, 2022

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Ken Warkentin’s Friday, April 22 Selections

RACE 1

10-Seeuninnashville A – Nailed this recent claim @ $19.60 when he unleashed a rousing new mark of 1:51.3 at age 8, pushed outside, but Joe Lee can blast off again

6-Notabadgame – Quite the bounce-back effort when he catapulted off the hot pace for the 10-1 upset last week, draws a bit better to prove it was no fluke in a competitive opener

8-MV OK Palacio BR – Beaten favorite committed to a late lead off a fast pace & was caught late by Notabadgame, moves outside, yet figures to get a decent set up

RACE 2

4-TJ Blast – Beaten favorite exits the GSY 1 off a hard used speed try from post seven, switches to The Buckeye off that bounce-back effort & draws inside a tricky division

1-Vintage Gal – Really turned things around with a well-driven upset & came away with a new mark of 1:52.4, might have the edge on the boys again from the rail

3-Bungalow Bill N – The renovated Bungalow came right back with another wire-to-wire from post seven last week & moves inside to be the likely controlling pace again

RACE 3

3-Bronsons Delight – Flashed plenty of late pace from an impossible spot in his much-needed Big M debut after missing 29 days, second start for Juan Cano & moves inside

2-Our Third Rock – Finished just behind Bronsons Delight while also pace compromised in his acclimating mile, draws better, switches barns & drivers & long overdue

4-Our Regal Ideal N – Just one on the board finish in ten starts this season, hanging around the fringes recently & continues to play the opportunist role in a light division

RACE 4

3-Mrs Taylor – Well-bred major stakes player at two, third to a couple of top stars in her qualifier & draws well to make an immediate impression for Team Burke

6-Yanaba – Transitioned well from two to three & steamrolled to a decisive upset in her seasonal debut for Dan Daley, now picks up The Money Man & has a lot to build on

7-Hallance – Fresh off her noteworthy 3YO debut win she bumped into a revved up Yanaba last week, draws a tougher post, yet might revert back to an off-the-pace strategy

RACE 5

4-Haymitch – Shook loose late out of traffic two starts back, forced wide from a tough spot last week, lands post four again in a GSY 1 division ripe for the taking

7-Takeittotheface – Has hit the board in two of his last three, draws a more demanding post here, but his current form is enough to beat this softer bunch

1-Rock The Casbah – Has now had the benefit of a couple of acclimating miles, moves inside & has a chance to trip out at a price in a wide-open affair

RACE 6

6-Tuesday Morning – Nine-time winner last year makes a key third start off the bench & has license to step up in a prime spot for Team Bongiorno

4-Hockey Hanover – Regressed into a recent slump @ Yonkers, but gets some class relief, draws well & we know Hockey loves to stickhandle his way around here

7-Epos Ostervang DK – Just half a length shy of winning all three starts here, now faces a class hike & more demanding post fresh off the mile of his life

RACE 7

3-Statesman N – 15YO rallied for the upset two starts back, then got jammed in traffic & wiped out by a stretch breaker, has a big chance to rebound

1-Peter Pumpkineater – Somehow parlayed a much-improved second against $5,000 claimers @ Freehold into an upset in his Big M debut, back on the rail to repeat

6-Waves Of Fire A – Returns to The Big M off a decent effort against $20,000 claimers @ Yonkers, 11YO veteran also makes his third start off a recent sick scratch

RACE 8

1-Cash Machine Girl – Muscle Hill filly tangled with top level foes at two, delivered a nose victory to the chalk players in a sparkling 3YO debut & lands the rail for Team Orange Crush

2-Moni’s Heaven Cent – Lightly-raced Muscle Hill colt from the family of the great Moni Maker won his qualifier with a nice late burst & draws inside for Team Burke

7-Senna – Grand Circuit player at two qualified in lively fashion, draws a challenge post, but seems ready to tackle these for the prolific Per Engblom barn

RACE 9

2-Captain’s Reign – Gave him a chance last week, forced wide & flew home in :26.4 from a tough spot, draws even better this time & might be on the verge

4-Doc Semalu – The Doc had a clear shot & lost a tight photo for third from post nine last week, now moves inside to set up another stalking trip in good form

8-Cecil Casanova – Cecil has rallied to hit the board in his last three, was all out with an ideal ground-saving set up last week & remains a contender

RACE 10

5-Next Level Stuff – Classy stakes quality mare has comeback sharp in both qualifiers, cruised in her latest trial with a :26.4 exclamation point & ready for battle

2-JL Cruze – The King gave an excellent account of himself when he stepped up to this level off a rousing a win, this veteran has cycled to the top of his form & draws inside again

7-Sermon – Evidently Per Engblom has figured him out, that was a very good second to longshot Yanks Dugout in the comebacker & strong mile to build on

RACE 11

5-Sniper Hanover – Suddenly came to life in her last two, fresh off a narrow loss @ Yonkers, now makes her second start for a new barn& expecting an aggressive effort here

7-Elegant Blue – Aired it out wire-to-wire in a career best comeback @ Pocono, note the barn change to Williams Hernandez & won half her starts last year

1-So Delightful – Team Cullipher-tuned mare was allowed to dictate a soft pace & held on to go all the way in her second start of the season, bumped up a notch & lands the rail

RACE 12

4-Winning Words – That trip from post eight didn’t do her any favors last week, but did bounce back off a break, has now had two spins around this oval & draws better

1-Society Jill – Has a blowout win & close second since switching barns & adding Lasix, has  also missed a couple of weeks, but retains Gingras & lands the rail

9-Know Your Roll – Rallied stoutly in :26.4 to just miss to a well-rated winner, moves outside, yet now she’s got a superb acclimating mile to build on

RACE 13

5-Sumthinboutim – Has taken a few starts to regain his form @ Yonkers, ship here into a softer condition & owns his share of back class

3-Straight Talk – Continues his steady decline down the condition ranks, third to the insane 1:49.4 Leon David last Saturday, draws inside & overdue

1-Ana Malak N – Dropped to this level, hammered down to 2-1 & sparked some speed in his third start of the season, moves inside & looms large for Team Cullipher

Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, April 23 Selections

RACE 1

6-Literl Lad Hanover – Didn’t take long for this promising 4YO to score the perfect trip win fresh off the bench for Team Burke & stands out after equaling his lifetime mark

7-Linnycalledfrankie – Rode the pocket & left in the wake of the sharp top two last week, chased 1:49.1 Mullinax before that, tougher post, but can leave for another stalking trip

5-Pretty Ricki – Nice efforts here back in March, but has clearly tailed off in his last two, draws better & can only hope for a turnaround in a camera-shy opener

RACE 2

6-Mad Max Hanover – Stormed home & almost blew up the board in the Governor’s Cup, Bionic Man qualifiers were strong, quality & potential undeniable

3-River Ness – Huntsville first cropper a major stakes player & nosed out in the 1:48.4 KY Championship Final, excellent qualifier, draws inside & leads a strong Team Burke 1-2 punch

1-Energetic Hanover – The pricey son of Captaintreacherous responded to perfect Todd McCarthy handling & kicked home in :26.3 for his first win, back on the rail for more

RACE 3

1-Artie’s Ideal – Has now had four starts on the comeback trail to get tight & right, this is his third consecutive class drop, plus he moves inside

4-Leon David – What a way to snap a skid with an emphatic drop n pop in 1:49.4 last week, poised to step back up & draws well to follow up in a drop down derby

2-Gray Dragon – Beaten favorite was caught first over in a demanding pace last week, now gets further class relief, draws inside again & long overdue for Team Cullipher

RACE 4

6-Raptors Flight N – Consistent Delaware shipper rallied along the cones to grab second with pace at both ends in a much-needed acclimating mile, leads the Crissman 1-2 punch

1-Game Of Change – Got stung early in the slop from post seven last week, lifetime best 1:51.2 before that, look for a rebound mile from the rail second try off the claim

9-Way To Close – Rebounded big time with a Minister romp in the mud last week, prolific winner now moves outside with a chance to work on his consistency

RACE 5

2-Chase Lounge – Stakes quality filly at three now in a new barn, her latest qualifier here clocked a sparkling :25.4, draws inside & looks ready for this competitive field

1-So Irresistible – Developed into a top notch filly with strong numbers last year, drops a notch after a beneficial tightener & lands the rail again in a handicapper’s headscratcher

5-Marsala Hanover – Classy mare makes her 4YO with a new lease on life now in the Noel Daley barn, fresh off two standout qualifiers, goes first time Lasix & could surprise

RACE 6

5-Back Of the Neck – Looks to give Ake Svanstedt his third Elitlopp on May 29, last year’s Dayton Derby winner cruised in his qualifier & looks ready for this serious test

7-Lovedbythemasses – Team Cullipher gelding kicked off his season going four-for-four, missed three weeks prior to his third in :26.2 & tackles another outside assignment

6-Hillexotic – Freshened & rejuvenated Team Burke 5YO has come back winning two of three this season, his latest was a career best 1:51.2 & might be tough to deny

RACE 7

5-Better Take It – Seen him thrive here in the past, makes his key third start off the bench for Team Cullipher in an ideal class drop n pop scenario & no Ignatius A this time

1-Hail Christian N – Forced up in class & bogged down in the slop from post ten last week, chased a raging Ignatius A in his last two, nice upset on April 2 & now moves inside

7-Tookadiveoffdipper – Surprised a few with that perfect trip upset in his Big M debut comeback with Dexter Dunn, poised to step up from a more demanding post

RACE 8

4-Cool Blues Man – Gunned them down for the upset with a wicked :25.4 two starts back, then was caught out of striking range, lands post four again to stalk the speed

2-Mindtrip – Regained his winning edge with that upset two starts back, then simply paid the price for a slow start from post nine, back inside to face a questionable group of claimers

1-Colossal Stride A – Twice beaten favorite since the recent claim, just missed from post eight two starts back, then deuce popped/faded to third, finally draws better to rebound

RACE 9

3-Walknafter Midnite – Sports a 1:49.4 mark here in a nine-win 2021 season, an even fifth in the slop against tougher last week, post three again & might be on the verge of an upset

1-De Los Cielos Deo – Can never rule out this Team Burke stalwart, solid runner up to a revved up Ana Afreet N two weeks ago & inside draw luck continues in a wide-open field

9-Schvaiko – That was an impressive 1:49.1 lifetime best two starts back, wasn’t heard from in the Open last week, would have to conjure up a big bounce-back mile from post nine

RACE 10

2-Bettors Donttell – 1:48.4 performer here last season kicked off his year two-for-two for Team Burke, beat stablemate Backstreet Shadow with a :25.4 in a terrific qualifier

3-One Eight Hundred – Beaten favorite bumped into a fiery Ignatius A in the slop last week, uncorked an eye-catching explosion before that, fresh threat for Team Takter

6-Red Right Hand – Has piled up five wins in nine starts this season, fresh off a commanding wire-to-wire @ Yonkers, strong Team Takter backup off three weeks

RACE 11

4-Spirit Of Deo – No idea where that :26.3 kicker came from to just miss to Chiplosive, she has a big chance to follow up from post four again in camera shy affair

7-Chiplosive – Class relief & Lasix started to take effect in his last two for Team Cullipher, The Buckeye stole a :57 half & he dug in as the favorite last Friday

9-Skyway Kon Man – The other Team Cullipher trainee squandered a perfect trip chasing his stablemate Chiplosive, now The Kon Man tackles post nine & long overdue

RACE 12

1-Let It Ride N – Nailed American History the last time we saw him here, has continued to rage elsewhere, works from the rail & reunited with Dexter Dunn

2-Workin Ona Mystery – Came right back to gun down Ana Afreet N with a perfect trip last week, fresh n classy Team Burke trainee draws further inside to keep it going

3-Ana Afreet N – Dictated his terms & barely outsprinted by Workin Ona Mystery, draws a much better post to maintain his form spree for Team Cullipher

RACE 13

4-Bettors Heart N – Just one for 12 this season, but chased Amazing Dream N in :26.2 two starts back, gets substantial class relief & draws a bit better

3-Tenthousand Angels – Twice beaten favorite did finish well for third behind Woodmere Harriet, draws inside again & note the barn change & switch to Hot Toddy

10-Stellenbosch – Liked the way she rallied stoutly to hit the board in her 2022 debut, stuck farther outside, but gets more class relief