Ken Warkentin’s Friday, January 28 & Saturday, January 29 Selections

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Friday, January 28 Selections

RACE 1
7-P-Drive Hanover – Luke Hanners continues to progress with increased seat time here, this gelding finished a solid second again last week & has sharpened for Andrew Harris

3-Opus Blue Chip – Went two-for-two off the recent sick scratch, then was a bit pace compromised as the beaten favorite & draws inside again to atone

5-DL’s Big Elvis – Elvis was indeed in the building when he responded to aggressive handling to score an overdue win when well supported fresh off the claim last week

RACE 2
3-Eden Paige N – Classy 11YO mare flashed a little more sneaky late pace last week, now moves inside while heading in the right direction, may have a slight edge in a tight one

1-Hunting For Answrs – Beaten favorite came up a bit short with a nice trip in her debut, back on the rail to logically offer more in a similar scenario

7-In The Night – Hammered down to 5-2 & lived up to the tote hype with much more energetic rally & win last week, third try for her new barn from a tougher post

RACE 3
7-Stellar BB – 11-time winner last season fresh off a much-improved third from the same post last week, this is a class drop that could be enough in this wide-open affair

9-Dream Out Loud N – Very rare 15YO with MEGA warhorse status, piled up 21 wins in 2021, bounced back with a GSY romp @ Freehold, makes his 300th career start

5-Preppy Art – 10YO Preppy has quite a winning history here, was a bit better last week in his third start off the recent claim & sets up a stalking trip from midpack

RACE 4
1-Wishing Barefoot – Came right back to repeat with the mile of his life & lit up the board two starts back, bottled up in heavy traffic with no chance two weeks ago & now moves inside

3-Stay Close – Tough to go against Team Burke these days, this gelding has won two of four @ The Meadows since the acquisition & draws well in a favorable match up

6-Birdman – The Bird was able to steal his fourth in a row & third straight here this month for Team Cullipher, lightly-raced 4YO now gets a more serious test & might be up to it

RACE 5
5-Bungalow Bill N – The 11YO Bungalow was just one for 25 last year, did flash some late life to hit the board three starts back, tough trip last week & draws better

8-He’s Gone Badder – Off a solid third, placed second from post ten for Anthony Verruso, stuck outside again, but might be able to set up a rally past this camera-shy bunch

3-MV OK Palacio BR – Brazilian bred gelding seems to be gathering some traction, placed third with a decent effort last week, finally draws inside & gives Lauren Harmon a shot

RACE 6
3-As Always – 4YO has been very steady, blew them away with a sparkling new mark two starts back, then shot home in :26.4 from a tough spot & draws better

8-Hestherightstuff – Was coming off a wire-to-wire lifetime best first time Lasix & was right there in the photo with Truffle Dog last out, stuck out, but razor sharp

6-Truffle Dog – The Dog just missed with a gallant effort flashing speed @ both ends last Saturday, this is a definitely a live item to consider for Team Cullpher

RACE 7
4-Kay’s Delight – Price Play had a tough trip after a long layoff, so now she lands post four again for her second try off the bench, her barn has picked it up recently & Joe is hot

1-Tiamogonedancen – 10-time winner in 2021 has been toiling in N/W 6 company @ Yonkers, second start in 44 days, hits rock bottom here & lands the rail for Team Burke

2-Break The Deal – Sports a 1:51.2 mark here last season, class relief & another inside draw, plus gathering steam on the comeback trail & Todd McCarthy is back

RACE 8
2-Lady Lou – Team Alagna trainee makes her second start off the bench at a greatly reduced level & draws a much-improved post, plus a huge switch to Todd McCarthy

4-Nuttinbuthebest – 4YO has been on fire against N/W 4 stock @ Yonkers, toss out her latest in N/W 6 after missing 28 days, draws well here for a raging barn

7-Rose Run Victoria – Gathering momentum on the comeback trail against better mares, one for 16 in 2021 & post seven are concerns, needs the right set up

RACE 9
7-Knight Angel – Hinting as a fringe player in two starts here, but red flags are flying high with the barn change to Team Bongiorno in this wide-open field

6-Remember Titans – Surprised a few with the sharp upset rally fresh off the bench & sick scratch, now steps up in class after producing the mile of his life

8-Skyway Kon Man – The Kon Man looked like a top contender & bumped into a freshened Kenziesky Hanover, remains in sharp form for Team Cullipher, yet needs a speed target

RACE 10
2-A Better Game – Forced wide & lacked the knockout punch to repeat last week, but gets some class relief & remains sharp on the comeback trail

3-Divine Deo – Had her own way on the engine & outsprinted by a dominant Team Burke favored stablemate last week & lands in a softer spot here

1-Royaltywestho – Classy mare is a new Team Bongiorno acquisition, won a well-controlled qualifier & lands the rail facing several drop down candidates

RACE 11
5-Chiplosive – Thought he’d have more punch when he dropped down & had a smooth trip last week, now gets further class relief for Team Cullipher

4-Trixie Dust – Hit the board again with a solid effort last week, draws inside again & makes her third start off a sick scratch in a field ripe for the taking

9-Vic’s Winner – Stuck outside again, but has tumbled down the condition ladder & comes off a much-improved second behind a runaway winner

RACE 12
5-Sonic Flare – Has quickly acclimated to The Big M with a win & close second last week, fresh claim angle kicks in here & draws better

2-Lyons Liberty – Won two of three off the recent sick scratch, got blitzed by a 1:51.1 winner last out, lands in a softer spot & draws inside again

4-So Take That – 13YO draws well fresh off a narrow loss, continues on a consistent form spree & just needs some speed to shoot at

RACE 13
3-Alexander Hanover – 9YO has now had two post ten tighteners since the comeback & draws inside to set up a stalking trip in a field of several safe toss outs

8-Halliama – Rebounded with a solid effort last week when he was caught in traffic & got going well late, draws a tougher post, but remains at the bottom level

1-Big Bill Breeze – Bill was racing very well late last year @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, makes his second start in 36 days & takes off from the rail in a dart board finale

Saturday, January 28 Selections

RACE 1
6-Good Rockin – This could be Jacob Cutting’s first Big M win, second try off bench/sick scratch & for new barn, midpack stalker with a mark of 1:50 here owns a big kick

3-Father Nuno – Logically, The Father should trounce these with another class drop & improved post, chased a revved up Rockapelo in a sub 1:50 mile last week

5-Cyclone Banner N – Just two for 20 last season is a concern, yet he benefited from a post nine tour of the oval & finished well last week, serious contender within striking range

RACE 2
5-Iammrbrightside N – 12YO has struggled to gain traction since the Team Bongiorno claim @ Yonkers, but this is a substantial class drop & has a chance to revive his form

3-Happy Trio – Deserves some respect for getting class & post relief for the switch from Yonkers, winner here a few years back & his barn was going well late last season

1-Mickeys Spirit – Fired hard from post eight, got locked in the pocket & just missed last week, 1:51.3 winner here last season now moves inside a drop down derby & long overdue

RACE 3
3-Dontpassme Hanover – 1:51.2 winning 2YO back in 2020 was guided around safely from post ten & flashed some late pace, moves inside & might be ready to fire a serious shot

5-Captain My Captain – Brushed to the front from post nine & came up a buck shy last week, solid second before that, key third start off the bench, only his sixth career start

4-Candy Trader – Lightly-raced 4YO makes his Big M debut for Team Bongiorno, kicked home in a crisp :26.4 in his second qualifier & could surprise this field of question marks

RACE 4
2-Urban Renewal – 9YO just three for 37 last year, but has ramped it up for his new barn & Luke Hanners, was flying late to just miss last week & lands inside again

7-Chaser Hanover – Disappointed the chalk players when outsprinted third last week, sub 1:50 performer last year drops another notch to offset the tougher post

8-Muscle Mach A – Sling-shotted off cover to finish a strong second again last week, moves outside, but third try off a sick scratch & remains down in class

RACE 5
10-Thespywholovedme – 10YO has had his moments since the barn change, including a perfect trip win @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, tactical speed can put him in play & Todd McCarthy returns

4-Casino Bags Anso – Seems to be heading in the right direction after a late-December lame scratch, two for 33 last year is a knock, but gets some class & post relief

3-Just Wave Goodbye – Took a mark of 1:52.2 here last season, ships back fresh off back-to-back wins @ Monticello & draws inside to take charge, while brimming with confidence

RACE 6
1-Rockin Speed – Flashed some sneaky late pace when coming back after a long layoff, now takes on a tag & lands the rail to kick off a solid 1-2 punch for Team Bongiorno

5-Rockin M – Masterful steer by Joe Bongiorno took him all the way as the favorite last week, now they will be gunning for him, yet can’t rule out a repeat

4-Revolver – We know he can fire home & twice blew up the board late in 2021, after three straight eight holes he draws inside & figures to have some speed to shoot at

RACE 7
1-Winning Linc – The Linc grinded gamely & held third when Chicken Nugget took off last week, that was a strong indicator, lands the rail & might have a slight edge

5-Just N Ace – Consistent gelding has hit the board in four of his last five, solid punch for second last week & threatens from an ideal midpack stalking spot in a headscratcher

10-Mindtrip – Gallant 9YO was used too hard to grab the lead as the heavy favorite, stuck outside again, but often bounces back off a loss & simply can’t be dismissed

RACE 8
3-Air Guitar – No idea where that lifetime best came from two starts back, fresh claim by Team Bongiorno off a total debacle, draws well again, but needs a big rebound effort

5-Way To Close – Responded to a slick ground-saving drive by The Minister & closed stoutly in his second try off the most recent claim, gelding with the winning habit

2-Frontier Rollo – The Rollo carved out a solid pace & was barely outsprinted in :27.3 last week, rewarded with an improved post off that much-needed effort after missing 22 days

RACE 9
4-Mayhem Hanover – Hammered down to 4-5 favorite, sat a pocket off dueling leaders & just missed with a big turn around on the drop down for Team Cullipher & draws better

2-Italian Delight N – Has been knocking on the door, right there again at this level last week, moves inside razor sharp & has options in very competitive affair on paper

1-Tam Major A – Finished sneaky good in :26.4 from post nine in his comebacker from a long layoff, moves inside, figures to be closer to the pace & has price play potential

RACE 10
7-Let It Ride N – Took last week off after he just missed the repeat, charged home for the decisive 1:49 upset before that, just needs to set up his late move within striking range

3-Covered Bridge – Was much better last week when he launched a well-timed Gingras rally for the mild upset, Team Burke has this one on his toes & draws a bit better

6-My Pal Joe – Gave it a good try on the engine & was caught by a more energized Covered Bridge last week, a close second from off the pace before that, his preferred style

RACE 11
1-Ana Afreet N – Team Cullipher Open performer @ Hoosier Park makes his second start off the bench, draws the rail to stalk the ample speed on view & has license to trip out

5-Vettel N – Looked like a lock, had his own way on the lead & got nailed late last week, remains a vital part of the Team Bongiorno 1-2 punch in this one at a reduced level

6-Twin B Tuffenuff – Team Burke trainee has cranked it up in three starts here, that was a hard-used win last week, can he handle the double class hike like several others?

RACE 12
9-Double Account – Team Cullipher have this gelding going well, that was some post nine blowout two starts back, then a good fourth in the Preferred & drops back down

10-JL Cruze – The King capitalized on another class drop & blasted down the road to a convincing/overdue win, he’s a threat to repeat despite the move outside

4-Kenziesky Hanover – Came bursting out fresh off the bench with a strong perfect trip score, kudos to Team Cullipher, now tackles a double class hike, yet draws well

RACE 13
3-Rifleman – Note the narrow loss to Wrappers Delight A off the injury scratch, drops back down to that level & lands post three again in a very intriguing finale puzzle

1-Force N Fury – Inexplicably fought off heavy pressure & held on in his comebacker for a new barn, might have been the Gingras hot hands, let’s see if he can handle a bump up in class from the rail

9-Baileys Rock N – Scored an overdue win, then a close second in his first two starts on Lasix, blame the slow starts last week, stuck outside again, yet still worth a long look