Ken Warkentin’s Race Selections for Friday, November 18 & Saturday, November 19

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

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Ken Warkentin’s Race Selections for Friday, November 18

RACE 1

5-Doctor Butch – Classy 12YO millionaire had too far to come from post nine, his barn went two for four last week, post improves & loves The Big M

 

10-J Rockin B – She launched a big wide late move & just missed last week, stuck outside again, but this 1:52.2 winner here this season just needs the right set up

 

3-Sunshine’s Finest – Got parked in the slop last week, battled bitterly before that, 1:51.3 winner here this season has been hinting & draws inside again

 

RACE 2

2-Wow Lester – Just one for 18 this season, yet trotted a decent back half off a slow pace in his much-needed Big M debut & draws inside

 

5-Banzai AS – 3 for 32 in 2022, fringe player/check earner @ Pocono, drops into a pretty soft spot to possibly snap a long losing skid

 

1-Torkil – Has struggled against much tougher @ Yonkers, has a big chance to spark something here with class & post relief

 

RACE 3

3-It’s Rigged – One for 23 in 2022, yet flashed signs of life with some speed two starts back, parlayed that into a gallant uncovered close second in the slop & lands post three again

 

2-Peter Pumpkineater – Only two for 34 this season, but nosed out with a perfect trip @ Freehold before a no-chance trip from post ten here & now moves inside

 

6-Know Your Roll – Kicked off November with a solid second making a wide late move, then pace compromised in the slop & reunited with Lee Morris

 

RACE 4

4-Dakota Jack – Trainer Nik Drennan went two-for-two here last weekend, this 9YO is a new pick up off an improved effort @ The Red Mile, draws well & owns some back class

 

3-Thndrfrmthethron N – 8YO horse-for-the-course has suddenly gotten hot with two straight upsets in the GSY Series, draws much better & picks up The Money Man

 

5-DL’s Big Elvis – Simply can’t ignore Elvis fresh off an aggressive narrow loss in the slop, plus he makes his key third start off a sick scratch, but note the two for 36 this year

 

RACE 5

2-Gottalovemyshadow – Right there third in the photo with a nice set up last week, this mare is solid in the win column, draws post two again & loves the long stretch here

 

6-Rockabilly Charm – Beaten favorite in three of his last four, used a bit too hard in the slop last week, strong win percentage & prolific record @ The Big M

 

1-Scrappin Gold – Beaten favorite just missed to the well-driven Brigadoon last week, took a 1:51.3 mark here this season & lands the rail again off that nice bounce-back mile

 

RACE 6

4-Goes Down Smooth – Rebounded with a vastly-improved rally to hit the board, makes his key third start off the bench & draws well again to set up a stalk n pop scenario

 

1-Fix-It-Up – Bumped into a sharp 1:52 winner last Saturday, now drops back down to the level of the comeback win & new mark, plus draws his third straight rail for Team Bongiorno

 

8-Toccoa Falls – Dropped a notch below this, added Yannick Gingras & aired it out with a rousing score, draws another tough post, but he looks poised on the rise

 

RACE 7

5-Sunny And Eighty – Again Nik Drennan was two-for-two here last weekend, this new acquisition recently added Lasix & showed some positive signs @ The Red Mile

 

4-Capozzo – Ultra classy 11YO has been launching some big moves from far back, was sharp @ Harrah’s Philadelphia before that & finally draws inside

 

1-Go West Go Fast – Piled up ten wins this season before the late September sick scratch, lived up to the tote hype & paid off on the barn change, now bumped up with the rail

 

RACE 8

3-Romantic Warrior – 3YO has really adjust well since shipping to NJ, just missed another win off the mile of his life, draws inside & leads a Per Engblom 1-2 punch

 

9-Tad Krazy Hanover – Sharp shipper went two-for-two when Per Englom added trotting hopples, draws outside, but has some upside

 

1-Cupid Hanover – Displayed plenty of gate speed in both starts here from post eight & picked up minor spoils, now moves inside off those acclimating miles

 

RACE 9

1-Always B First – Absolutely exploded on the class drop & second time Lasix @ Pocono, knows her way around this track & lands the rail for a high percentage barn

 

4-Factory Girl – Joe Holloway-tuned filly parlayed a lifetime best of 1:50.3 into a narrow loss here in the slop last week & her post improves off that excellent acclimating mile

 

6-Cousin Mary – 9YO mare took a mark of 1:50.1 here this season, tripped out to a decisive score as the favorite two weeks ago & can’t rule out a repeat

 

RACE 10

2-Muscledover – 3YO doing damage in Indiana, now ships into the Per Englom barn, adds Yannick Gingras, draws inside & could make an immediate impression here

 

4-Inaminute Hanover – Mohawk invader took a mark of 1:52.4 two starts back for his first win of the season, draws well for his new barn in a wide-open affair

 

8-Weslynn Quest – Classy mare sitting on a winless season & moves outside, but chased a salty 1:50.1 Preferred winner last Saturday & has blast off potential

 

RACE 11

2-Caughtinalandslide – Beaten heavy favorite makes the switch from Harrah’s Philadelphia, just missed two starts back & draws inside again while sharpening on the comeback trail

 

4-Revolver – Drops another notch off a no-shot mile in the slop last week, his lone win this season came here & lands in a prime spot for another

 

3-Our Third Rock – Came up with a better result when he rallied to hit the board from post eight in the slop last week & draws an improved post to put one across here

 

RACE 12

5-Four Under Par – Drops all the way down after chasing a runaway Toccoa Falls, eight-time winner this season now makes his third start here since switching to Per Engblom

 

4-Skyway Tinacious – Recently scored back-to-back @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, she drops a notch off a needed acclimating mile, draws a bit better & owns speed

 

3-Hip Hop Gracie – Gracie was better when she took dead aim & finished a much-improved third in her Big M debut, she draws inside again with something positive to build on

 

RACE 13

5-Flossie N – Used early & finished third behind Little Honeybadger last week with a much better performance, she has tumbled down the class ladder & draws midpack this time

 

4-Little Honeybadger – The Honeybadger just missed with a lively effort in the slop, she has been sharp since the late-October sick scratch & draws well in a wide-open match up

 

10-Northern Luxury – All over the map recently, no chance trips in her last two, stuck outside here, but she gets enough class relief to surprise in her Big M debut

 

RACE 14

2-Always A Panther – Was on quite a roll before an early miscue last out @ The Meadows, lands in an ideal spot here to employ his stalking style

 

4-Chief Of Staff – Never got involved in that Trackmaster Final last Saturday, a solid second before that, finally draws inside in a dartboard finale field

 

10-Grateful Kiss – 0 for 27 this season & saddled with post ten, but makes his third start off the bench, remains at the bottom TM level & can fly home

 

Ken Warkentin’s Race Selections for Saturday, November 19

RACE 1

4-Three In Heaven A – Qualified with late zip, took his requisite tour of the oval from post seven, now gets class & post relief with The Bionic Man back in the bike

 

6-Imaginary Line – Three-time beaten favorite just missed in his last two with aggressive handling, 1:49.2 performer here this season remains at a reduced level for Team Bongiorno

 

2-Heza A Real Diamond – Got stung through a fast early pace last week, sharp blowout @ Freehold before that, owns several sub 1:50 wins here & draws inside again

 

RACE 2

3-Miki Minaj – Really needed his last one @ Pocono after missing 35 days, now makes his second start for Team Bongiorno while getting class & post relief

 

5-Pick A Genre – Fresh off a nice bounce back effort, took a new mark of 1:51.1 with pace at both ends & lands in another soft spot to give Team Bongiorno a 1-2 punch

 

8-Stonebridge Reef – Failed to get involved in a maintenance comebacker, post eight again, but these are easier & we know this 1:50.1 performer here has an engine

 

RACE 3

6-Bounty Hunter – Beaten chalk finished a strong second in a solid Big M debut two weeks ago, now we get his third try off the bench for a high percentage barn

 

4-Restaurant Bully – Lightly-raced 3YO gelding adjusting well for his new barn, while working his way up to N/W 4 @ Pocono & draws well in a wide-open field here

 

7-Flight Onefortysix – Been picking up steam against N/W 4 company @ Pocono, ships in fresh off a narrow loss & figures to appreciate the longer stretch here

 

RACE 4

6-Captain Fancy – Unleashed a very wide menacing late bid & just missed in a sparkling Big M debut, seven-time winner this season now drops a notch & looks worthy of a swing

 

8-Crunch Time A – Lived up to the tote hype with a winning surge in his US debut on Lasix, steps up a notch & moves outside, but has plenty of upside for a hot combo

 

7-Hughie Junior N – Beat these with a well-driven effort two starts back, tackles a tougher post, yet drops back down with plenty of speed on view in a competitive affair

 

RACE 5
1-Kimmeridgian – The Matron Stake winner has found his best stride since the early-October sick scratch & looms large from the rail Team Svanstedt, who hand the lines to Tim Tetrick

 

4-Southwind Admiral – The Admiral saw his six-race winning streak snapped when he got parked from post ten & now moves inside with a big chance to take charge

 

8-Celebrity Bambino – Followed up a close second in the Breeders Crown with a well-controlled score here last week, post eight here, yet remains in high gear for Team Burke

 

RACE 6

1-Combustion – Grand Circuit winner in 1:49.3, set the pace & finished a solid third in the Breeders Crown, right there sprinting with El Rey in last week’s qualifier & lands the rail

 

2-Ammo – Fresh off a huge ground-saving upset in the Breeders Crown three weeks ago, a close second to Combustion @ The Red Mile on October 8 & draws alongside that one

 

7-El Rey – Captaintreacherous colt caught fire with some breathtaking rallies in Lexington for Team Alagna & won his Big M qualifier with a wicked :25.3 & tackles a fierce field

 

RACE 7

3-Handlelikeaporsche – Capitalized on a perfect pocket to nose out very determined Voukefalas in the Home Grown & lands post three again in a wildly competitive elimination

 

5-Cant Stop Lou – Faltered in Lexington, then regrouped with a solid second to heavy favorite Act Fast in the Matron Stake & Team Takter have a strong 1-2 punch in this one

 

6-Save America – Faded to sixth last week after missing 22 days, 1:49.4 Metro elimination winner & runner up in that Final can rebound to give Team Takter a dynamic duo in this one

 

RACE 8

7-Ecurie D DK – Bounced back to repeat in the Breeders Crown, tying the stakes record, set a world record 1:49.1 in the Cutler & this International star rates top billing

 

1-Bella Bellini – Leading money winner among older trotters this season fresh off a decisive romp for her second straight Breeders Crown & gets the rail to face the boys

 

2-Jujubee – 2021 Trotter of the Year put it all together to win the Allerage Farms, then made another late break in the Breeders Crown, can rebound here in only his sixth start of 2022

 

RACE 9

2-Cultured – Just missed repeating with a :26.2 last week, scored with a sizzling :25.4 before that, lands post two again & peaking at the right time for Team Toscano

 

10-Strong Poison – Leads a Team Burke trio with a serious shot despite post ten, Bluegrass winner in 1:51.3 & 1:49.3 Red Mile performer prepped with a :25.1 sprint to win her qualifier

 

1-Diamondsnpearls – Caught fire in her last two @ The Red Mile for Team Takter, nosed out in the Corbin Sires Stakes Final & has a big chance to trip out from the rail here

 

RACE 10

7-Tattoo Artist – Runner up in both the Breeders Crown & Potomac while capping off a career season & gets away from The Bulldog & Allywag in this TVG tune up

 

5-No Lou Zing – Has been on a nice roll in the Open @ Hoosier Park, now makes the switch to a hot barn & adds The Minister of Speed, will that be enough?

 

6-This Is The Plan – Third in the McKee last time we saw him here, hit the board in the Potomac, leads a Team Burke trio & his 12-race drought could end with the right trip

 

RACE 11

1-Truffle Dog – Took a mark of 1:49.2 here this season, returned with a much-needed third, bumped up a notch, lands the rail & Team Cullipher might be poised to turn the corner

 

5-Letsgotobrazil A – More than lived up to his short odds with an impressive brush n crush comebacker & looks like he can handle the step up off that lifetime best blowout

 

4-The Claw – 3YO with a 1:49.4 @ The Big M, sharp on the comeback trail @ Dayton, now makes his second start for Bruce Saunders from an inside post in a wide-open field

 

RACE 12

4-Game Of Change – Owns a mark of 1:51.2 @ The Big M, returns fresh off two big upsets @ The Red Mile, lands in the red-hot Nik Drennan barn & draws better with The Minister

 

6-Leon David – 1:49 performer here this season was simply too far back from post ten last week & now drops a notch for his second start in three months

 

8-Texas Terror N – 14YO catapulted off a fast pace & rallied for the upset last week, just a fifth off his lifetime mark & note this sharp veteran has piled up eight wins this season

 

RACE 13

3-Toronto – Delivered another serious rally from a long way back last week, this 4YO now moves inside to make his key third start off the bench & could be poised to pop at a price

 

4-PD The Big Easy – Parlayed a perfect trip into a winning Big M debut last week, continues to point skyward for a hot combo & might be able to handle to substantial class hike

 

8-Bettors Donttell – Sports a smoking 1:47.3 mark @ The Big M back, just missed here twice in a row in September & this steady 4YO leads a strong Team Burke 1-2 punch

 

RACE 14

1-Milady Denver A – Has been landing on the edges against tougher @ Yonkers, lands in a softer spot here, knows her way around this oval & her barn has two top contenders in here

 

4-Betabcool N – Made the mile-track adjustment with a decent fourth in the slop, classy 12YO draws post four again with a chance to show more in a complete toss up finale

 

6-Tenthousand Angels – Shows a 1:52 mark @ The Big M this season, recently switched barns, shuffled out from post ten last week, solid runner up @ Yonkers before that