Ken Warkentin’s Race Reviews for Friday, Dec 26 & Saturday, Dec 27, 2025

Monday, December 22, 2025

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Race 1

9-Odds On Sara Sara – Brushed n crushed off a pedestrian :58.1 half with a solid :55.3 back half last week, just missed from post ten before that, so she’s razor sharp & retains Brett Beckwith

 

4-MS Frances Assisi – 3YO filly has been very consistent, comes of a sick scratch, but draws well to suit her preferred stalking style inside the main speeds

 

10-I Dream Of Jeanie – Paid off the chalk by going all the way with more sustain from post nine last week, slammed with post ten, yet remains on a roll since coming back

 

Race 2

1-Poker Play – Twice beaten favorite trip compromised last Thursday, grinded gamely for the deuce before that, finally draws inside a soft TM 71 & picks up Brett Beckwith

 

8-Knickknack Hanover – Moves outside, but drops back down to the TM 71 level she upset fresh off the bench & rates strong consideration in this extremely wide-open field

 

10-Hunters Gal – Just three for 41 this season, but a frequent contender against these with her closing kick & with post ten she’s at the mercy of pace & trip

 

Race 3

6-Dream Pillar – One for 19 this season, but solid runner up in her last three since coming back, no I Dream Of Jeanie in here & she’s a threat to stalk n pop for an overdue win as Symington’s pick

 

3-Pull Me Through – Lost by a nose to ultra game Sweet Sandy two starts back, then got parked from post eight & now draws better with another hike up to TM 71

 

2-Sweet Sandy – She bumped into a runaway winner I Dream Of Jeanie last week, draws a better post, which affords her the chance to control the speed

 

Race 4

5-Dancing Lew – Surprisingly well supported in his comebacker, lived up to the hype with a wide rally to just miss & moves to mid pack for an anticipated follow up as Brett Beckwith’s choice of four

 

6-Full Disclosure – Has a chance to rebound off a clunker @ Yonkers, score a win & second here before that for his new barn & could be the one to catch

 

7-Baron Michael – One for 29 this season, but perked up with a much stronger rally to grab the deuce when switched to the TM 74, challenging draw, yet he’s a veteran who can fire late

 

Race 5

3-Ourmomentntime – Took a couple of starts to break through here for Per Engblom, left alertly, attacked boldly & prevailed in a soft TM 71 affair, draws inside & switches to Brett Beckwith

 

7-Soeur Mary – 3YO filly surprised more than a few when she rallied off cover to a new lifetime mark for her new barn despite missing 42 days & has license to show more from a tougher post

 

2-Candy Bomber – Changed barns & stormed home from post seven to nail the nose upset last week & draws better for his third start off the bench

 

Race 6

10-Iwon’t Backdown AS – Stuck outside, but gets another dose of class relief off a much better third over an off track allowing two seconds & retains Brett Beckwith

 

9-Sainthood – Slammed with post nine off a break at the start, recovered to grab a share, was on a form spree before that, gets class relief & strong in the win column

 

2-Aardiebythehill N – NZ-bred son of Muscle Hill hasn’t raced in a month off a sick scratch, but just missed to Sainthood last out & draws inside that rival for Per Engblom

 

Race 7

1-Nila Maree N – Art Major 4YO adds Lasix for her US debut for Per Engblom, jogged in her Yonkers qualifier, lands the rail & was Brett Beckwith’s choice of four

 

2-Perfidious Crown – Sharp filly for Team Alagna romped in her first two starts off the bench, including a career best 1:51.1 & draws inside fresh off a strong second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia

 

6-More Gooda N – Runner up to a decisive wire-to-wire Take Your Pick in a solid US debut on Lasix as the beaten favorite & looms large off that excellent/much needed acclimating mile

 

Race 8

3-Massive Matter – Brad Chisholm’s choice took advantage of his second straight class drop by grinding out a close second to a heavy favorite Rock My Universe & draws inside again

 

5-Craigieburn – Sports a mark of 1:54 here taken in his lone win this season, gets some significant class relief, changes barns, moves to mid pack & retains Mark Herschberger

 

6-Magic Melvin – Gets a class hike off another strong second here, 4YO has come around for Team Tritton, flashing trot @ both ends of the mile & figures to be forwardly placed

 

Race 9

5-Nite Time Deal – Stormed home to a massive 1:52.4 upset here three starts back, shifts back from Yonkers into a wide-open match up & picks up Brett Beckwith

 

7-Miss Dottie Mae – Drops another notch off a no-chance mile from post nine, sharpened her swortd @ Yonkers before that & reunited with Johnathan Ahle

 

8-Going Away – 1:51.2 performer @ The Big M this season has been pretty steady recently, might have to employ her closing kick from a tougher post & was Mark Herschberger’s pick of three

 

Race 10

4-Interview Fra A – Lived up to the tote hype with an energetic score fresh from a five-month layoff, kudos to Noel Daley & rewarded with an improved post for the step up in class

 

8-Bestfreind Volo – Beaten favorite in a mile & a quarter event @ Yonkers was regaining form off a late-October sick scratch, but this Team Takter trainee was Brett Beckwith’s choice

 

2-Super Duper Cooper – Cooper has been super recently, hard-charging second to the favorite Outside The Fire last week & looms large from post two again

 

Race 11

4-Take Your Pick – Sharp Team Pollack-tuned mare fresh off a her 12^th win of the season wire-to-wire, bumps back up in class, but draws better & Brett Beckwith sticks over two others

 

5-Glittering Hope – Continues to raise her recent profile with Lasix added in her last two, fresh off a perfect trip/mild upset @ Yonkers, her tenth this year & stalks from mid pack

 

8-Tich A Loch A – Mystery mare & Australian import, added Lasix &  finished well in her Big M qualifier, faces a tough draw & class for her US debut, but her barn must be respected

 

Race 12

4-Ikon Vang DK – Jogged in his last two @ Saratoga with Brett Beckwith, has now piled up eight wins this season, draws well, gets a barn change & retains our red-hot leading pilot

 

9-Donato Patriot K – Attempts another comeback fresh off an emphatic qualifier for Team Bongiorno, could be blasting & taking no prisoners from post nine

 

1-Velociraptor – Reverted back to aggressive handling from post eight & bottomed out for the rousing upset last week & now moves inside brimming with confidence

 

Race 13

5-Elegant Dance – Lightly–raced 3YO filly seeks to rebound off breaks as longshot @ Yonkers, returns to The Big M in a much easier sport, launches mid pack & retains Brett Beckwith

 

3-Vanguard – Just one for 36 this season, but has been on a nice roll recently, almost stole one on the engine last Thursday & draws inside to employ similar tactics

 

6-Mr Instigator – 3YO flashed a bit more late life in his second start here, now tighter/acclimated, draws better & looks for some speed to shoot at in an ultra headscratcher

 

Race 14

7-Not That Hillary – Lightly-raced filly has picked up her game in her last two @ Yonkers for her new barn, faces a challenging draw in a wide-open finale, yet seems to be heading in the right direction

 

3-Sunburnt – Just two for 40 this season, distant runner up to a runaway favorite Odds On Sara Sara last week & draws better to play a stalking role closer to the pace

 

9-Suntan City – Steady sort transitions from Saratoga for a high percentage barn, slammed with post nine, but was Brett Beckwith’s choice of three

 

Saturday, December 27

Race 1

3-Primary Colors – With a 1:48 mark @ The Big he resurfaces here after missing 22 days, raced better in his last two @ Dayton, draws inside, and … debuts for Per Engblom & gets Brett Beckwith

 

1-Fendi Hanover – Struggled from outside posts in his last two, so gets posts & class relief, plus the rail affords a smooth stalking trip with mark Herschberger

 

5-The Bigboss A – Regaining form since the mid-November sick scratch, gets another shot at this bottom condition, moves to mid pack & we haven’t seen the best from this lightly-raced 5YO

 

Race 2

2-Lyons Liberty – Has had two weeks to regroup off a real clunker, draws inside & the Team Tritton claim back in early November has a chance to regain form among several question marks

 

1-Urban Renewal – No chance after a slow start from post nine in a sizzling 1:51.1 mile last out, nice three race form spree before that & now the rail in a form-challenged field

 

3-Loorim Lake A – Moved forward off a wake up third & flashed an exceptional :27 kicker to score the upset last week & draws inside for a class hike in a field ripe for the taking

 

Race 3

9-Betting On Caesar – Lightly-raced 3YO suddenly elevated his game with an upset rally @ Yonkers three starts back & just missed a well-driven upset from post ten here

 

2-Captivated – 3YO with only 20 career starts exits TM company, draws inside & with a 1:51.4 mark @ The Big M has a chance to trip out in a real soft claimer

 

1-Mcpleasant – Dover Downs invader ships north fresh off a class drop/perk up close second & lands the rail here against several easy toss outs

 

Race 4

6-Fasting – Improving 3YO typically romped in his Per Engblom debut here, then tripped out to repeat two weeks ago, now bumps up another notch sporting 11 wins this season

 

5-Whammer Jammer – Caps another productive season fresh off a well-timed rally to just miss last week & draws mid pack in top form for my personal pick as Amateur Driver of the Year

 

7-Beat Cop – Nosed out in a sharp Big M debut, then got bothered in deep stretch, tougher draw this time, but he’s acclimated & capable of firing out to sit close to the pace

 

Race 5

3-LMC Peanuts Watchn – 3YO with a 1:51.1 mark @ The Big M used hard from post eight on a pressured lead & gave way last week & finally draws inside with a dip in price to rebound

 

4-Wichita Lineman – Couldn’t believe this 12YO was that good with a post ten rally against $10k claimers, now gets a better draw & slight hike for his new barn

 

5-Rockme Rollme – Catapulted off a hot pace to blow up the board here two starts back, returns off a solid third @ Yonkers & reunited with Jacob Cutting

 

Race 6

4-Dele Row A – Pace/trip compromised & still flew home in a wicked :26.1 to just miss in a sparkling US debut last week for Chris Height, so we’re going to logically expect more

 

3-Da Delightful – Beaten favorite had the table set & just missed to an inexplicable winner last week, Mark Silva no doubt has him on his toes & another inside draw makes him a serious threat

 

2-San Jose – Played the stalking opportunist role to a tee & surged to a well-driven/mild upset, hikes to TM 83.5 & draws inside gunning for his tenth win of the season

 

Race 7

7-Boston Bound – Vaulted off a strong Big M qualifier he brushed n crushed in a sizzling 1;51 as the heavy favorite & logically looms large as a serious repeat threat in his second start off the bench

 

6-Just Enuff Stuff – Hot item at the claim box, haltered for the six straight time by Chris Height fresh off a gallant score @ Yonkers & could make an immediate impression here

 

5-Sun Of A Show – Fresh off a narrow loss with a game speed try two weeks ago, used hard from post ten before that & sports a strong number in the win column

 

Race 8

5-Thenu Came Along A – Was allowed to walk through a :58.1 half & still got nosed out by Music Hall, yet now makes his third US start & has a big chance to step up here from mid pack

 

6-Music Hall – 16 wins this season pops off the page, tripped out to pay off fresh off the Chris Height claim @ Yonkers & this speedy invader might take no prisoners

 

2-Captain Crusader A – Sub-1:50 Big M veteran has regained his winning edge with three in a row & uncorked an eye-catching :26.3 to overcome a :58 half last week & now hikes up further

 

Race 9

5-Mood Control – 3YO might finally be ready to produce since the Team Bongiorno claim back in early November as indicated by the standout Big M qualifier last week

 

4-Son Of A Tiger N – 11YO warhorse catapulted from last off a brisk pace to land in the photo last week & draws much better off that big wake up mile

 

2-Lew Not Lou – 3YO ships north from Delaware after reviving his form in a Dover Downs series, just missed with pace at both ends in that final & draws inside here for a reasonable tag

 

Race 10

1-Ammo – Unleashed a wicked :26.3 to hit the board at long odds chasing Pinny Tiger A, draws inside that rival & makes his key third start off the bench for Team Burke

 

8-Pinny Tiger A – Brett Beckwith made the right choice & this Per Engblom trainee was able to rate nicely & outsprint them in :26.3 for a new mark of 1:51 & now he goes for six in a row

 

5-Christopher Dance N – 1:49.3 performer here this season saw his three-race winning streak snapped with a slow start from post eight, yet he could easily atone with more aggression

 

Race 11

7-Don’t Drop The Ball – Safe to say he wasn’t given a chance after an inexcusably slow start off an unusually slow pace, was on fire before that, so let’s see the real Don’t Drop The Ball tonight

 

6-Seaworthy Hanover – Lightly-raced 3YO pace/trip compromised when a 99-1 shot was inexplicably allowed to steal a :58.1 half & we’re guaranteed a better result in his second start off the bench

 

2-Meltdown Monte – Monte is just three for 33, gets a class hike off a game uncovered grind to just miss last week & draws better off that beneficial acclimating mile

 

Race 12

4-Bettor Make A Wish – Bettor buckle up & possibly back Brett Beckwith after this one flashed a much-improved :26.4 last week & draws better off that inspiring effort

 

8-Dreamlandcappucino – 3YO has clearly cranked it up in his last two on Lasix, just missed to an inexplicable winner last week, yet tackles post eight in top form

 

5-Muscle Factory A – Second try off the bench for this 10YO after some freshening, finished well for minor spoils two weeks ago & has a chance prove he’s more than a fringe player

 

Race 13

6-Chevron Art N – Fresh off a sharp :26.3 in his Big M qualifier he turned in a solid US debut here on Lasix as the beaten favorite, drops a notch & deserves strong attention

 

5-Twin Fury – 3YO has finished well from impossible spots after slow starts in his last two going off Lasix, 1:50.1 performer here this season moves to mid pack to regroup

 

4-Lyrical Genius A – Just 3 for 37 this season, on the edges @ Yonkers in his last two, drops a notch & draws better to play the stalking game to possibly snap a long losing skid

 

Race 14

10-Yankee Sparkle – Distant runner up to a big favorite Leer Seelster two starts back, then parked first over, stuck outside, yet retains Brett Beckwith with some back class in his arsenal

 

6-Bizy’s Beatle – The Beatle somehow found himself first over from post two while pace compromised in a soft claimer last Thursday & tries to rebound while still fresh on the comeback trail

 

4-Lyleground – Ran up the score at the TM 68 level for his lone win this season before a solid third to heavy favorite Sono Confuso & draws better