Ken Warkentin’s Friday, Jan. 7 & Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 Selections

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

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Ken Warkentin’s Friday, Jan. 7, 2022 Selections

RACE 1

2-Rocknroll Captain – This Captain achieved better results in his second start off the bench, lands inside again with a chance to trip out for an overdue win

3-Flow With Joe – Won his recent qualifier with fight back vigor, then finished an even fifth in the comebacker here, now draws better while eligible to step it up further

1-Rockin Panda – The Panda finished a solid third behind a surprisingly good Opus Blue Chip last week, winner here in 1:53.3 last season back inside to trip out

 

RACE 2

5-Pirates Alley – The Pirate scored his last win in this series from post eight, can take advantage of an ideal midpack draw & any possible mayhem

1-Master Conrad – Took a mark of 1:52 at The Big M last season, note the solid third from post ten two starts back, moves inside a typically wide-open GSY affair

4-Midnight Lightning – One for 31 in 2021, consistently landing on the edges in this series, 10YO moves inside to play his usual stalking role

 

RACE 3

2-Zooming – The 14YO millionaire Zoomer went all the way two starts back @ Yonkers, draws inside here sporting 70 lifetime wins & gets some class relief

6-My Big Kadillac – Somehow came up with the mile of his life & huge upset here three starts back in the GSY Series, a similar effort could spell repeat

3-EV’s Girl – Just one for 26 last year, her qualifier was okay, but now she gets significant class relief & draws well for Team Burke

 

RACE 4

4-Elysium Seelster – Launched a big late move & just missed in the GSY Final, draws post four again to stalk the expected speed in this competitive affair

7-Preppy Art – 10YO Preppy returns to The Big M in sharp form, just missed off the recent claim & his tactical speed overcomes the demanding post

2-Cecil Casanova – Beaten heavy favorite somehow caught first over from post two in last week’s GSY Final, gets another big chance on a long form spree

 

RACE 5

4-Darkrshadeofpale N – Took her mark of 1:51.4 here last season, knocking on the door recently, now a major drop n pop candidate from an inside post

3-Thaneeya – Rallied for the upset here at the bottom condition on December 9, no chance in her latest @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, strong in the win column & inside post here

2-Nimah Franco N – Nine-time winner in 2021 returns to The Big M for her third start off a sick scratch, gets some class relief & draws inside as a serious contender

 

RACE 6

3-Greenhill Hanover – Her recent form @ Yonkers has been steady, got off to a very slow start in her Big M debut, now drops & draws better

7-Demeter N – Fresh off a solid career season, gets the class relief she needs & lands in a prime spot to rally out of a lively flow

4-I’m Very Special – Only three for 36 last year, but ramping up her form recently, solid suddenly speed last out, drops a notch back at The Big M & draws well

 

RACE 7

1-Beantown Sporty – Beantown has been on a roll recently, lands the rail fresh off a narrow loss when closing from a tough spot, dangerous off that effort

10-Seal O’Neill – Took two starts to come to life since the switch to Team Bongiorno, nosed out as the beaten favorite, drops back down & can be effective despite post ten

4-Effronte A – Flashed sudden speed in his second start off the bench, 9YO has done some damage here in the past, note the barn change, draws well, possible price play

 

RACE 8

4-Vinny De Vie – You’ve got to consider Vinnie coming in fresh off a gutsy score @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, plus this looks like a slight class drop & draws well

3-Look In My Eyes – Arrived here with two tighteners, rated well & held on for a new lifetime mark, now bumped up in class, but draws a better post

7-Beantown Madness – Looks like Andrew Harris has figured out this recent acquisition, reeled off the mile of his life in that Big M qualifier

 

RACE 9

3-Magical Mistress – Sub 1:50 performer in 2021 claimed out of a $50,000 event @ Yonkers by Team Burke, sharp recent form, strong in the win column & draws inside
9-Morning Has Broken – Took her mark of 1:52.1 here last season, has a steady closing style that suits The Big M & drops for her return here
2-The Fun Marshall – Came up with an aggressive two move upset from post eight last week, excellent acclimating mile, matches up well & moves inside

 

RACE 10

7-Alumni Seelster – Took a few starts for this recent Team Burke acquisition to break through with a wire-to-wire blowout in a lifetime best @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, a bright spot in a field of underachievers

5-Skyy – Just missed back-to-back in early December, beaten favorite off a tough trip has a big chance to rebound with a midpack stalking trip

4-Dashintothebeach N – She had sharpened her sword just prior to the recent sick scratch, added Lasix for the comeback qualifier, draws inside & could surprise

 

RACE 11

4-Shezabarhoppinchic – Recent acquisition by Katricia Adams hit the board in her last two & just missed in her most recent @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws well in a wide open affair

5-Shenzi AS – Note the improvement in her last two, don’t like the one for 22 last year & 35-day layoff, but trotting hopples came off & we’re scrambling for something positive here

9-San Cristobal – Only one for 21 in 2021, twice beaten favorite held third after getting roughed up from post eight, remains a Team Orange Crush contender despite post nine

 

RACE 12

3-American Delight N – We’re sensing a subtle trend in the right direction, now she’s getting further class relief & draws inside a field ripe for the taking

6-Be Best – Dropped to this bottom level, was shuffled out & flashed late pace, that was a much more energetic effort than her recent miles, expect more in this light match up

8-Little Sandy Toes – She’s been cruising along nicely @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, now a fresh claim draws a tough post, but rates highly on form alone

 

RACE 13

4-You Will Be Queen – The Queen just missed with a nice late surge in her qualifier here off a sick scratch & draws well at a much easier level

8-Titans Hope – Recent Andrew Harris acquisition trotted the mile of her life fresh off a sick scratch, tough draw in a competitive field, but has plenty of upside

9-Scirocco Big John – Big John is an improving 4YO gaining confidence for Mark Silva, lands outside a pretty lively field, but capable of firing off the wings

 

RACE 14

5-Burning Blaze – Flashed some much-improved late pace in his second start in NJ, gets another shot at this bottom level from an ideal midpack post

2-Elrama N – Looks to rebound off his last two debacles here, exits claimers & draws much better, so look for a more aggressive effort

1-Jeff’s Journey – The Journey has been hanging around the edges in his last two, lands the rail in a real soft field & seems to be gathering some momentum

 

RACE 15

2-Scirocco Patrick – Reeled off back-to-back romps before the slow start from post ten last week, finally moves inside where he can take charge

10-Henderson Seelster – Beaten favorite moves outside after getting rough up first over, but makes his third start off the bench at this rock bottom level

4-St James Gate – The Gate was just one for 22 in 2021, nice comebacker, right there third over an off track @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, knows this track well & draws inside

 

Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 Selections

RACE 1

3-Arrhythmic Surge – Fresh off a rock solid rally for second after a sick scratch, an excellent acclimating mile, post three again & faces a camera-shy bunch

2-American Rebel – Dover Downs invader seems to have gone in the wrong direction form wise, but he finally draws inside & finds a real soft spot here to trip out

8-Risky Million – Ok, he’s stepping up in price & stuck with post eight, did I mention three for 38 last year? But he’s been better in his last two & has experience over this track

 

RACE 2

8-Lyons Liberty – That was an eye-catching rally when he was well supported third time Lasix, recent Drennan acquisition draws a tough post again, but has some upside

10-De Los Cielos Deo – Classy Team Burke trainee has struggled in his last two since a sick scratch & lands outside again, but drops another notch & owns a late move

1-Rollinwithambition – Has now had three spins around here since the late November sick scratch with not much to report, but gets another class drop & the rail for a better start

 

RACE 3

8-Passa-Grille Beach – $100,000+ winner in 2021 overmatched recently, yet now this fresh claim dives into an easier condition & switches to Yannick Gingras

1-Paternity Suit A – Went all the way as the heavy favorite in his Harrah’s Philadelphia comebacker, loves this track & shoots out from the rail

7-Decision Day – Beaten favorite still held third after a terrible trip from the rail, demanding post here, but this hard-charging gelding remains at the reduced level

 

RACE 4

1-Way To Close – Fresh off an emphatic blowout & new mark of 1:51.1 he couldn’t hold off the pocket sitter last week, was claimed again, back inside & George Brennan listed

10-Monty Mono – Last week’s Price Play delivered with a smooth trip & equaled his lifetime mark, now a fresh claim lands outside, yet remains a serious threat to repeat

2-Cool Blues Man – Went into attack mode & failed to clear last week, has big chance to rebound as a fresh claim & draws another inside post with Yannick Gingras

 

RACE 5

2-As Always – 4YO has been on a roll, returns to the scene of his career best on December 10 with Yannick Gingras & draws inside off a narrow loss as the beaten favorite

1-Twin B Fighter – Took a few starts to acclimate to his new barn & romped to a new mark second time Lasix, rewarded with the rail & looks like the main target

9-Perfectboy Hanover – Converted his Yonkers form spree into a perfect trip score from post nine & took a new mark, figures to be blasting off to attempt similar

 

RACE 6

4-Patrikthepiranha A – 1:48.4 performer at The Big M last season makes his second start off a sick scratch from an improved post, strong closer looks like a live item

2-Walknafter Midnight – Took a few starts coming back on Lasix to pop his ninth win of 2021, that was a huge rally off a fast pace & draws better off that lifetime best

3-Father Nuno – Has cycled back around with back-to-back solid seconds @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & draws inside here to stalk the expected speed

 

RACE 7

5-Altus Hanover – Flashed some sneaky solid trot to hit the board after a slow start in a useful acclimating mile & looms large in his third start for Rob Harmon

4-All The Truth – Lightly-raced 4YO has completely turned it around going two-to-two since the Team Burke acquisition & draws well off the mile of his life

8-Ab’sattitudeexpress – Classy mare was chasing some of the top trotters in the sport before switching to Noel Daley, added Lasix & cruised in a strong qualifier

 

RACE 8

7-Hurrikane Emperor – Looked ready off a lively qualifier in 1:50 & got parked through a searing pace, classy 1:47 performer has a big chance to rebound in this easier spot

2-Put To Right – Toss out his latest when he started slow from post nine & was forced wide, nosed out before that in :26.2, now makes his third start for Team Burke

4-Always And Again – Pricey claim by Per Engblom with a mark of 1:49.3 here last season sports decent form & draws well in a softer condition event

 

RACE 9

3-Sonny Weaver N – Flashed a solid :26.2 to hit the board at 63-1 two starts back, this is a dangerous class drop & draws inside again for Team Cullipher

2-Trump Nation – Classy Team Burke gelding just missed with a lively effort in only his second start of 2021 & we can logically expect more from an improved post

4-Typhoon Stride N – Was a hard-charging runner up against the high-priced claimers before the sick scratch, this is a prime spot for him to stalk n pop if ready

 

RACE 10

5-Western Joe – This classy Joe makes his second start after a long layoff, runner up to Allywag Hanover with a :25.3 on Hambo Day, might be ready to fire a big shot at a price

6-J M Mandamin – Has been some kind of roll for Team Bongiorno, returns fresh off a 1:49 wire job @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, his tenth win of 2021, speed his best asset

1-Vettel N – Stalking style compliments his Team Bongiorno stablemate, back on the rail off a narrow loss, strong in the win column & looms large

 

RACE 11

3-Thespywholovedme – Snapped a long losing skid with a perfect trip & class relief @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, returns to The Big M with something to build on from an inside post

1-Jackamino – Not liking the three for 39 last year, but this recent claim may have signaled an overdue win here last week, now dropping to face several moving up in class

6-Stendahl Hanover – 7YO with a 1:49.4 mark here trending in the right direction recently, made up a ton of ground to finish a close second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia last week

 

RACE 12

3-Get Legs – Eight-time winner in 2021 been pretty consistent for Team Orange Crush, runner up to Chin Chin Hall last out draws inside that rival & overdue

9-Chin Chin Hall – 10 for 25 last season & eight of those wins led the way @ The Big M, big threat to repeat despite post nine with his relentless closing style

4-JL Cruze – The King is always a factor at this Preferred level, has remained at the top of his game recently & plays the opportunist role from post four again

 

RACE 13

5-Odds On Delray – Made a pretty smooth transition to the mile track with a solid finish on the fringe, give him another chance to stalk the speed within closer striking range

4-Yacht Seelster – The Yacht was forced to sail far too wide last out, just missed before that, remains in top form & has a big chance to rebound from an inside post

9-Mr Ds Rock – Shipped here at a reduced price & promptly blew them away with the mile of his life, now he’s jacked up & moves out, yet remains a strong consideration

 

RACE 14

8-Brigitte BI – This mare has been on a long form spree, just went two-for-two @ Harrah’s Philadelphia for her new trainer, tough post here, but arrives fresh off the mile of her life

5-Knight Angel – Steps up in class for his Big M debut, but don’t discount his sharp recent form on the comeback trail @ Saratoga & could surprise these

4-My Lindy Winner – Here’s a fresh face with a mark of 1:52.2 here, returns from a long layoff, but his qualifiers were good enough & he draws well in a wide-open field

 

RACE 15

1-Sammy The Bull N – Ships in on a roll @ Saratoga, roughed up first over in most recent as the heavy favorite there, looks like he’s got a big shot from the rail here

3-Captain Hill – Bumped into a revved up Dull Roar last week, Yonkers winner before that, fresh claim draws post three again & stands out against several toss outs

6-Gibus – Closed from far back & just missed in his comebacker, now gets some needed class relief & has a chance to set up another big late move