Ken Warkentin’s Friday, January 21 & Saturday, January 22 Selections

Wednesday, January 19, 2022

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Friday, January 21 Selections

RACE 1

6-La Bella Vita N – Atoned emphatically when she got a chance to show us what she’s made of in her second US start, so how good is she?

7-She’s Nun Bettor N – Responded to some further class relief & bounced back big time with a post ten score as the heavy favorite for Team Burke, big threat to repeat

1-Darkrshadeofpale N – Beaten favorite somehow managed to hit the board from an impossible spot last week, just missed before that & now moves inside

RACE 2

7-Birdman – Bird has indeed been the word going two-for-two here for Team Cullipher in 2022, gets a free ride in the same class & impossible to go against with his potential

3-Donatello Hanover – $100,000 Cantab Hall colt from the family of Donato Hanover just missed by a nose in his second career start @ Dover Downs & draws inside

5-Lady Resort AS – Flashed a bit of late trot to hit the board in her second start off a sick scratch & can see her setting up another stalking trip at this easier level

RACE 3

2-Smthngaboutmary N – Paced compromised taking dead aim chasing the well-rated Little Sandy Toes last week, draws farther inside that rival for her second start off the bench

8-Little Sandy Toes – Caught this one last week when she rated nicely wire-to-wire for the mild upset, moves outside, but has more in the tank

6-Be Best – 1:51.4 performer here last season has now hit the board in her first two starts of 2022, remain at this soft bottom level condition & leads a Carmen Auciello 1-2 punch

RACE 4

4-Franco Tristan N – 1:51.3 mark here as a 9YO last season, hasn’t raced in 33 days, but draws well with the very capable Joe Lee & has a big chance to show his class

5-Jerrytone – Finished a good fourth in the GSY Final back on New Years Eve, fresh off a solid runner up rally @ Freehold, has form in a blank field

2-Sheer Talent – This mare has been very consistent & productive, went wire-to-wire two starts back at Freehold & that would seem the likely strategy in this lackluster affair

RACE 5

7-Rocknroll Captain – Seems to be knocking on the door in his last two while coming back for this reduced price & faced some strong icy gusts two weeks ago

2-Opus Blue Chip – Proved his wire-to-wire win two starts back off a sick scratch was no fluke when he duplicated that in a MLK event & now rewarded with an improved post

6-Rockin Panda – Beaten favorite squandered a perfect two-hole trip in a MLK race last week, still it was one of his best efforts recently & this is a similar spot

RACE 6

1-Devine Deo – Beaten favorite forced first over & still caught a piece, note the fine narrow loss three starts back & moves inside to lead the Team Burke 1-2 punch

4-JM Betonsix – Big red flag alert with a fresh Team Burke acquisition, note the three-week layoff, but arrives off an easy wire-to-wire win @ Mohawk

3-A Better Game – Surprised more than a few with her perfect trip upset last week, now makes her third start off the bench here with anther inside draw

RACE 7

4-Preppy Art – Was severely pace compromised from post seven in his first start of the year, 10YO Preppy draws better for his third start off the recent claim

2-Kingofthejungle – The Jungle was a solid runner up from post eight in the GSY/MLK event last week, now this live item moves inside a wide-open affair

8-Cecil Casanova – Bounced back with a strong off-the-pace score for Mark Silva, moves outside, but this consistent gelding can never be dismissed

RACE 8

5-A Stud Named Sam – Faded on a rated lead last Saturday, yet closed well in :27 before that, now takes a class drop & makes his third start since the barn change

1-Burning Blaze – One of few to sport sharp form in this match up, gallant first over to hit the board in his last two & draws better with the red-hot Joe Bongiorno

4-Bruce’s Magic – Classy 10YO gets the class drop he desperately needs & also draws well with a big chance to stop his long losing skid

RACE 9

2-Flow With Joe – Draws much better fresh off a tremendous effort from post ten, romped to a new mark before that, in top form & in line for an ideal stalking trip

8-Sonic Flare – Arrived from Woodbine, tripped out from post ten & lived up to the favorite’s hype, another tough draw, but his new barn is on fire

6-Captain Hill – Excellent rebound effort on the engine off the latest claim, has been more effective off the pace recently & rates serious contender status

RACE 10

5-Crystal Fashion – Classy double millionaire was never simply too far back last week & has a chance to be more aggressive like his Dover Downs Open efforts

6-Warrior One – Stole away on an easy lead & held off the pocket-sitting Crystal Fashion in his 2022 debut @ Dover Dover for Team Burke, his gate speed always puts him in play

4-Fanatic – Snapped a long losing skid going all the way @ Yonkers, versatile gelding now has a confident mile to build on, but not sure he can outkick these

RACE 11

8-Uptown Lady N – Draws outside in dull form, but drops into a tailor made spot, owns a superior kick & just needs a favorable set up

4-Always Mindy – Gets a third straight class drop, plus post improvement, go back to her decisive romp @ Harrah’s Philadelphia three starts back & that might be enough

3-Break The Deal – Dropped to this level & paid the price for a very slow start from post ten, 1:51.2 performer here last season finally moves inside

RACE 12

3-Searching For You – Improving 4YO sports two December wins, lands in a real soft spot here, retains Yannick Gingras & has a big chance to trip out

4-Halliama – Looks to rebound off a rare early miscue with some class & post relief, has a chance for a better start in a wide-open field

6-Blogmaster – 11-time winner last season drops to the rock bottom condition & changes barns, 4YO has license to turn things around in hurry

RACE 13

3-Chiplosive – Horse-for-the-course has had a couple of starts to re-acclimate to The Big M, now gets the right king of class & post relief for Team Cullipher

1-Hatikvah – Draws the rail after an early miscue fresh off the bench, note the switch to Team Burke with Yannick Gingras as co-owner & looms as a fresh threat

8-Prime Power N – Two horses broke late, this 13YO inherited a big lead & romped to a mild upset, now a double class hike & tougher post complicates the repeat attempt

RACE 14

1-Hunting For Answers – 3YO Huntsville filly finished well in both qualifiers for Scottie Z, lands the rail & could not have found an easier spot for her debut

2-In the Night – Struggled after a slow start from post nine last week, she’s coming off a strong season with eight wins & can leave within striking range

4-Bet I’m Lucky – She was severely pace compromised in the comebacker, 3YO makes her second start of the season, so reasonable to expect more in this soft match up

RACE 15

3-Moveoutofmyway K – This gelding has been aggressive & effective recently when able to avoid a miscue, draws inside, plus his barn has been off to a great start

1-Trizie Dust – The Dust made up plenty of ground & finished a strong second in her first try off a sick scratch, now draws the rail with something solid to build on

2-The Irishman – Has been rested & draws well fresh off a very good second in :26.4 on a cold day, lightly-raced 4YO has a chance to tag along & pick up a piece

Saturday, January 22 Selections

RACE 1

4-Bobcat Bay – That impressive rally two starts back is still fresh, no shot after a slow start from post nine last week, moves inside & fully acclimated for his new barn

1-Trump Nation – The Trumpster dug in gamely under intense late pressure & got nosed out by his stablemate, now a three-time beaten favorite remains live on the rail for Team Burke

8-Dina Bolt N – Made it two-for-two off the Team Bongiorno claim with a perfect trip fresh off the bench & equaled his lifetime mark, tougher assignment here, but in top form

RACE 2

1-JL Cruze – The classy King has been slugging it out in the weekly Preferred & flashed ample late life, this is an ideal class drop scenario, plus he can trip out from the rail

4-All The Truth – Rebounded with a solid second chasing a runaway Double Account last week, draws an improved post for Team Burke & figures to be closer to the pace

6-Angel Nation – Getting back in shape after the mid-November sick scratch, hit the board behind All The Truth last week & has license to offer more for Team Orange Crush

RACE 3

2-Passport To Art – Finally draws inside for his second try at this reduced level, showing solid final quarters in his last three & strong in the win column last year

4-Muscle Mach N – Catapulted out of the clouds & off a brisk duel to grab second after missing 27 days due to a sick scratch & draws better to build on that encouraging effort

1-Cliffhanger – 1:50.3 performer @ The Big M last season has been trending in the right direction, rallied for third behind Muscle Mach N last week & lands the rail again

RACE 4
5-HL Revadon – Beaten favorite was pace compromised in his last two, 1:52.1 winner here last year drops again & switches to Jason Bartlett

2-Kenziesky Hanover – Classy mare ships back to the scene of her 1:51.4 mark last season for Team Cullipher, qualified with vigor, draws inside & looks ready for these

6-Skyway Kon Man – The Kon Man parlayed a well-earned win two starts back into a solid third when bumped back up to this level, regaining form, pounces on any mayhem & completes a Team Cullipher 1-2 punch

RACE 5

5-BNGS Express – 10YO beat these with a game effort back in mid-December, was too far back in both starts since the claim, draws a bit better & can kick home with the top ones

10-Mindtrip – 9YO warhorse showed his specialty of bouncing back with a well-driven post ten win last week, looks capable of blasting off & dictating the terms with a similar group

3-Chicken Nugget – The Nugget sizzled down the road from post ten two starts back, then called the shots & set the table for Mindtrip last week, draws inside that rival again

RACE 6

3-Western Fame – Classy near double millionaire flashed a :26.2 off a sick scratch & after missing a month, now drops with three others in here & draws better in a tricky puzzle

1-Rockapelo – Rated all the way & held off Father Nuno two starts back, hit the board out of a shuffle in :26.1 here last week, kicks off a Team Burke 1-2 punch in a headscratcher

8-Always And Again – Pricey claim three starts back paid instant dividends, then had too much work to do last week, post eight again may require some early speed

RACE 7

5-Twin B Fighter – Romped to a new lifetime mark second time Lasix, then bumped into a raging As Always, no such standouts in this one & lands midpack in a competitive field

6-Hestherightstuff – Added Lasix & completed turned things around with the mile of his life last Friday, looks like this lightly-raced 5YO can handle the class hike

7-Truffle Dog – This Dog can hunt them down with his solid & steady final quarters, also capable of firing off the wings, working out a trip & overcoming a challenging post

RACE 8

8-Twin B Tuffenuff – Team Burke trainee has ramped it up in his last two, just missed with pace at both ends two starts back, tough post here, but drops further

1-Walknafter Midnite – Brushed to the front & that didn’t work on a frigid night, that huge rally to upset in a career best of 1:49.4 three starts back would be enough here

2-Heza Real Diamond – Dropped back to this level, left alertly & came out of a shuffle to grab second with a nice effort last week & now rewarded with an improved post

RACE 9

6-Rockin M – Team Bongiorno trainee showing positive signs of heating up, got a little too rambunctious on top two starts back & no chance @ Yonkers last out

3-Delightful Terror – Pulled off the perfect trip score over Bet Ninteen & claimed from Team Burke last week, draws another inside post & figures to be prominently placed again

4-Bet Ninteen – 13-time winner in 2021 was well rated & nailed late by the pocket-sitting Delightful Terror last week & looms large from post four again

RACE 10

1-Vettel N – Closed stoutly for a piece of the Preferred pie last week & just missed three starts back, now gets class & post relief for Team Bongiorno

5-Mr Ds Rock – Beaten favorite followed up two straight blowouts with a strong second from post eight, draws better in this tight match up & his barn has been on fire

8-Bettors Donttell – Team Burke 4YO has been a model of consistency, steps back up in class & draws outside, but tactical speed & determination make him a top contender

RACE 11

9-Benji’s Best – Beaten heavy favorite chased the well rated Boomerang last week, stuck outside, but gets another shot at this reduced level, owns a big kick & barn is still hot

4-Ballerat Boomerang – The Boomerang came right back & went all the way in smashing style for Team Bongiorno, big chance to make it three-for-three off the sick scratch

3-Way To Close – Hot item both on the track & at the claim box recently, returns to The Big M, doubles his claiming tag, but draws inside with a lifetime best blowout two starts back

RACE 12

2-Chaser Hanover – Chaser might be ready to fire his best shot on the comeback trail, drops into a real soft spot & moves inside to get off to a better start

8-Baileys Rock N – Was forced wide & closed from the clouds to just miss after winning first time Lasix @ Freehold, tougher post here, but his form revival continues

9-Beechers Brook A – Team Cullipher trainee piled up a lot of seconds last year, gets some needed class relief & rates a long look despite post nine in a wide open affair

RACE 13

6-Frontier Rolo – Rebounded off a Yonkers debacle to finish a solid second here on New Year’s Eve, 22 days off, but sports a couple of nice efforts here in early December & makes his second start for his new barn

1-Arrhythmic Surge – Has been rejuvenated in three starts since the mid-December sick scratch, back on the rail off a strong third to National Sport, who is stuck outside

10-National Sport – Hammered down to 7-5 favorite & lived up to the hype with a first over crush in his Big M debut for his new barn, can’t rule out a repeat despite post ten

RACE 14

2-My Pal Joe – Sat a perfect pocket, tried to squeeze through & angled too late last week, this Joe is definitely going in the right direction & draws inside to set up a similar trip

4-Backstreet Shadow – Classy Team Burke millionaire riding a positive trend, was able to rate & hold off My Pal Joe last week, versatile veteran can do it either way

3-Sonny Weaver N – Team Cullipher trainee has caught fire scoring back-to-back, ten-time winner in 2021 takes the leap into Preferred company, yet might be this good

RACE 15

6-Lachie Maguire N – Flashed a :27 from a tough spot in his first start of the year, some back class lurking here & drops along with several others in this intriguing Pentafecta

1-Lyons Liberty – Rebounded big time with another well-driven win as the favorite, Brennan & Drennan reunite on the rail in a drop down derby finale with a chance to stalk n pop again

2-Passa-Grille Beach – Beaten heavy favorite was used hard to get the lead from post seven & settled for second, recent claim draws better & remains down in class