Ken Warkentin’s Selections for February 4 & 5

Wednesday, February 2, 2022

Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Friday, February 4

RACE 1

1-Betcha Baby – Just one for 32 in 2021, arrives from Mohawk in dull form, but draws the rail & change of venue & light match up could spell upset in an intriguing opener

3-Hunting For Answers – Hammered down to 6-5 favorite & came up a bit short with a nice trip in her debut, draws inside again to logically offer more in a similar scenario

9-Little Sandy Toes – Was allowed to waltz wire-to-wire in her second start here, set a moderate pace & settled for second last out & draws outside again, but not much to beat

RACE 2

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 out & draws better for Johnathan Ahle

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

1-Watchmeneighneigh – Finally draws inside after beating these from the rail back on December 3, Tony Beltrami will likely have him forwardly place with a chance to revive

RACE 3

2-Vic’s Winner – Moves inside & has tumbled down the condition ladder, off a much-improved second behind a runaway winner & retains The Money Man

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

3-Prime Power N – 13YO inherited his comeback win, then got blitzed in a tougher class, drops back a notch, draws better & reunited with the hottest hands on the planet

RACE 4

5-Opus Blue Chip – Went two-for-two off the recent sick scratch, then was a tad pace compromised as the beaten favorite & now draws an ideal midpack post

8-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

10-P-Drive Hanover – Luke Hanners continues to progress with increased seat time, this gelding finished a solid second again last out, a sharp threat despite post ten

RACE 5

4-All The Truth – Bounced back & bumped into a revved up Double Account two starts back, then roughed up first over chasing JL Cruze, Team Burke trainee can assert himself here

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

9-Stay Close – Tough to go against Team Burke these days, this gelding has won two of four @ The Meadows since the acquisition, draws outside, but faces a favorable match up

RACE 6

8-JM Betonsix – Made a prompt transition from Mohawk & came right back with a decisive repeat as the favorite with a career equaling 1:52.2, lands outside, but one to beat

7-Divine Deo – Had her own way on the engine & outsprinted by a dominant Team Burke favored stablemate JM Betonsix last out, tougher draw, yet has a chance to turn the tables

3-A Better Game – Forced wide & lacked the knockout punch to repeat last week, but draws post three again & remains sharp on the comeback trail

RACE 7

5-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

8-Franco Tristan N – 10YO capitalized on a perfect drive by Joe Lee & turned his game around, now the post is tougher, but took he took a mark of 1:51.3 here last season

4-Preppy Art – 10YO Preppy has quite a winning history here, was a bit better last out in his third start off the recent claim & sets up a stalking trip from post four again

RACE 8

4-Justlikehim – Draws inside fresh off a much better second to Kenziesky Hanover, trotting home in :27.4, in line for a similar trip in a field of question marks & long overdue

7-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 he needs the right set up

5-Moveoutofmyway K – This is at least a double class hike, but he bounce back with a solid second off a miscue @ Yonkers, Per Engblom has him ramping up in the right direction

RACE 9

5-Royaltywestho – Classy mare is a new Team Bongiorno acquisition, cruised in a well-controlled qualifier & lands midpack at a reduced level

4-Tiamogonedancen – 10-time winner in 2021has been toiling in N/W 6 company @ Yonkers, second start in 51 days, yet draws well to perk up for Team Burke

10-Lady Lou – Sports a 1:50.3 mark here as a 3YO, makes her second start off the bench from post ten, but the class relief makes her a serious threat

RACE 10

4-Knight Angel – Hinting as a fringe player in two starts here, but red flags are flying high with the barn change to Team Bongiorno & draws well in a competitive field

7-Kenziesky Hanover – She was full of trot in her perfect trip score fresh off the bench for Team Cullipher, moves outside, but will likely be in blastoff mode

5-Remember Titans – Surprised a few with a the sharp upset rally fresh off the bench & sick scratch, looks like he can handle to step up off the mile of his life

RACE 11

2-Always a Force – 1:51.3 performer here last season returns from a long layoff in a real soft spot, look for him to carve out a trip similar to his qualifier from a cozy inside post

5-Doctor Butch – The 12YO Doctor has been racing relatively well on the fringes since his perfect trip score back on New Years Eve, might be worth a swing in this wide-open field

1-Just Wave Goodbye – Took a 1:52.2 mark here last season, revived his winning form with two in a row @ Monticello, lands on the rail again & could take them a long way

RACE 12

9-Iammrbrightside N – Recent Team Bongiorno claim makes the mile track transition, draws outside, but this classy 12YO plummets to the rock bottom condition here

8-Happy Trio – Has been struggling against tougher $30,000 claimers @ Yonkers, draws a demanding post, but knows his way around this oval & lands in an easier spot

3-Jackamino – Only three for 39 last season, yet drops all the down to the basement condition after a shuffle & traffic issues & moves inside as well

RACE 13

6-Classy Venture – Comes off a post nine tour of the oval, now drops all the way down to the bottom class, makes his key third try off the bench & switches to Todd McCarthy

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

5-Halliama – Rebounded with a solid effort last out when he was caught in traffic & got going well late, draws okay & remains at the bottom level

Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Saturday, February 5

RACE 1

3-Hurrikanekingjames – Last time we saw him he completely turned it around with a late brush n crush in 1:52.1, now draws well fresh off a narrow loss on the engine @ Yonkers

6-Frontier Rollo – Runner up to Hurrikanekingjames two starts back, then just missed with a well-rated effort, look for him to use his speed off the wings while in top form

7-Perfectboy Hanover – Took a mark of 1:51.3 here from post nine back on New Years Eve, hit the board in his last two @ Yonkers, demanding draw on short rest

RACE 2

6-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 out & banks on a fast pace

4-Chaser Hanover – Disappointed the chalk players when outsprinted third last out, sub 1:50 performer last year drops another notch & draws inside for The Money Man

2-Shamma Lamma – Been completely overmatched against $25k claimers, finally moves inside, plus a dose of class relief gives him a chance to perk up in a field lacking spark

RACE 3

1-Muscle Mach A – Sling-shotted off cover to finish a strong second again last out, gets the rail for his third try off a sick scratch & remains down in class

3-Thespywholovedme – 10YO has had his moments since the barn change, including a perfect trip win @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, count on Todd McCarthy to put him in play

2-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

RACE 4

2-Stonedust – The Team Cullipher stalwart going in the right direction, finishing well in his last two, drops a notch, lands post two again & switches to Jason Bartlett

8-Rifleman – Note the narrow loss to Wrappers Delight A off the injury scratch, drops back down to that level, tough post, yet may get the right set up in this wide-open affair

7-El Jacko N – Hasn’t been able to handle the class hike off the December 11 claim @ Yonkers, drops into a more inviting spot here & picks up Todd McCarthy

RACE 5

3-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

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

8-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

RACE 6

2-Way To Close – Hot item at the claim box dropped back to this level & blew by The Boomerang, gelding with the winning habit looms large with another inside draw

3-Ballerat Boomerang – Reeled off back-to-back romps off the recent sick scratch, then yielded to Way To Close, Team Bongiorno veteran remains razor sharp & draws well again

5-Yacht Seelster – The Yacht has been sailing in the wrong direction, now drops ominously off breaks in his last two & tries to regroup against some strong opponents

RACE 7

5-Winning Linc – The Linc grinded gamely & held third when Chicken Nugget took off last week, that was a strong indicator & might have a slight edge from a midpack launch

2-Just N Ace – Consistent gelding has hit the board in four of his last five, solid punch for second last out & threatens with a stalking trip from an improved post in a headscratcher

4-Bank Sea – Returns off a no chance trip @ Yonkers, runner up to Mindtrip before that & was on a decent roll here, look for him to get involved from an inside post

RACE 8

4-Ana Afreet N – Team Cullipher Open performer @ Hoosier Park makes his second start off the bench, draws inside a competitive field & has license to show more & trip out

5-Rockin The Aces – Was knocking on the door at this level recently, consistent gelding drops back down & sets up his dangerous stalking strategy from midpack

7-Revolver N – We know he can fire home & twice blew up the board late in 2021, draws outside again, but figures to have ample speed to shoot at in this wild start to the Pick 6

RACE 9

6-Rockin Speed – Flashed some sneaky late pace when coming back after a long layoff, now takes on a claiming tag & looms as a large to kick off a Team Bongiorno 1-2 punch

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

2-Palomar – Horse-for-the-course has been dropping positive hints with strong finishes for third in his last two, draws inside the speed & switches to Todd McCarthy

RACE 10

6-Patrikthepiranha A – We pegged The Piranha when he was hammered down to 2-1 favorite & stormed home two starts back, figures to have ample speed to shoot at this time

5-Mr Ds Rock – Caught fire with that 1:49.2 lifetime best back on December 18, then blew out the high priced claimers, right behind Vettel N last out & looms large for a hot barn

1-Vettel N – Looked like a lock, had his own way on the lead & got nailed late last out, just missed in the Preferred back on December 18 & still a serious threat for Team Bongiorno

RACE 11

6-Mayhem Hanover – Hammered down to 4-5 favorite, sat a pocket off dueling leaders & just missed with a big turnaround on the drop down for Team Cullipher, big threat here

3-Italian Delight N – Consistent & versatile 9YO has been right here in his last two, moves inside fresh off an aggressive effort, overdue & might on the verge in a heated affair

4-Tam Major A – Finished a sneaky good :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 12

3-Boiling Oar – Sub 1:50 performer last season for Team Cullipher continues to drop down the condition ladder & has a big chance to revive his form with an inside draw

1-Force N Fury – Somehow fought off heavy pressure & held on in his comebacker for a new barn, 9-time winner in 2021 bumped up a notch, gets the rail & Todd McCarthy

7-Baileys Rock N – Scored an overdue win, then a close second in his first two starts on Lasix, blame the slow start last out, post is not much better, but still worth a long look

RACE 13

1-Manhattan Beach – Recent Team Burke acquisition makes his second start off the bench in a pretty competitive spot, yet lands the rail with plenty of back class

5-Sonic Flare – Overcame post ten to win his Big M debut, then claimed off a narrow loss from post eight to Captain Hill, chances are elevated with a better draw here

6-Captain Hill – Gelding has been sharp in both starts since the latest claim, rated & held on for a mild upset over heavy favorite Sonic Flare