Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Friday, January 2 & Saturday, January 3, 2026
Tuesday, December 30, 2025
Race 1
9-I Dream Of Jeanie – Rebounded big time off a clunker @ Yonkers with a rousing post nine romp as the 2-1 favorite with a -2 variant, her 11th win of 2025, so we’re expecting another blastoff
3-Odds On Sara Sara – Sara suddenly brushed n crushed off a pedestrian half, ran up the score to pay off the chalk, draws better in peak form & tough to go against
6-Hold My Tiara – Followed up a strong/sudden second with another solid runner up finish with pace at both ends & she’s overdue facing a tougher draw here
Race 2
3-Poker Play – Twice beaten favorite signaled a return to form with that gallant second two starts back, then was pace/trip compromised & finally draws better
1-Knickknack Hanover – Uncorked a nice rally off cover to score the upset fresh from a three-month layoff, drops back down to the TM 71 level & lands the rail again
2-Barbella – Makes her Big M debut fresh off the bench, 11 for 15 last year, in a new barn, added Lasix & qualified okay here & draws inside a wide open field
Race 3
5-Summer Dreams – Ships in on an eye-catching roll @ Rosecroft, unleashing big rallies with plenty to spare, launches mid pack here & might relish to longer stretch
10-House Blend – One for 20 lifetime, her form has drifted away despite the addition of Lasix, add the post ten dilemma, but this is a significant class plunge & she has blast off capability
1-Sunburnt – Pace compromised chasing a runaway Odds On Sara Sara last out, just two for 40 last year, yet she’s got trip potential, while in line for a smooth getaway from the rail in a tricky puzzle
Race 4
1-Stamped By Lindy – Moves inside off a pretty solid campaign, on the edges in his last three here, yet flashed a bit more late life last out & can play a prime stalking role
9-Cactustotheclouds – Won back-to-back here last Spring, gets a hefty dose of class relief, makes his second start off a sick scratch & worth a long look despite post nine
4-Gillys De Vie – No chance as a big longshot in his last two, gets some much needed class & post relief & you can stamp him a contender in this pari mutuel puzzler
Race 5
3-Dream Pillar – Comes off a one for 19 season, yet she’s been a solid runner up in all three starts @ this TM 71 level since returning & draws a bit better on the verge
2-Sweet Sandy – Still trying to figure out her post ten upset against TM 68s three starts back, left in the wake of raging I Dream Of Jeanie last out & finally draws inside
4-Pull Me Through – Draws better off a tough trip from post eight & still held the show, she’s been sharp since the win at the TM 68 level & looms large as a stalking threat
Race 6
2-Nila Maree N – NZ bred by way of Australia added Lasix & kicked home energetically in her Yonkers qualifier & draws inside to make her US debut in a soft spot for Per Engblom
5-Ithadtobeyou – Mohawk shipper is a lightly-raced 4YO who’s been pretty steady up north & fires from mid pack fresh off a lively Big M qualifier for her new barn
8-Youllfindout – 4YO makes only her seventh career start, ships in fresh off a couple of eager-to-please miles @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & must be considered despite post eight
Race 7
6-Massive Matter – Can’t explain how you get parked first over from the rail, nevertheless he just missed with a game effort last out & remains at a reduced level
1-Magic Melvin – Melvin has sparked something with three straight on-the-board finishes, bumps up a notch, yet looms as a stalking threat from the rail
2-Parody – Squandered an ideal second over trip & settled for the show, beat these wire-to-wire from post eight three starts back & lands post two again
Race 8
1-Aardiebythehill N – Hasn’t raced in over a month off a sick scratch, yet was finding his best stride here last Fall & looks to trip out from the rail for the raging Per Engblom
6-Brave By Design – Crushed for a new mark of 1:53.3 from post eight back in mid-September, beaten favorite a bit short in his comebacker & draws better for the class hike
8-Rock My Universe – Rebounded off an early miscue with a sterling rally to pay off the chalk, draws farther out, but watch out if the pace & trip provide the right set up
Race 9
2-Super Duper Cooper – Cooper was superb in a hard-charging narrow loss in the feature on December 19 & draws post two again while knocking on the door
1-Interview Fra A – Surprised very few when he posted a game score as the favorite fresh from a five-month layoff & moves inside with something positive to build on to tackle a class hike
4-Enola – Intriguing mare draws well with a wire-to-wire Big M qualifier & ships in fresh off a couple of decent tightening miles in the top class @ Saratoga
Race 10
2-More Gooda N – Almost lived up to the hype as a solid runner up in her US debut here on Lasix & lands post two again with license to show more in a competitive field
6-AVF Claire – Stretched it out in a much-needed start @ Harrah’s Philadelphia after more than a year off, she was on a roll here in 2024 & might be ready to fire her best for Per Engblom
3-Blood Moon A – Was allowed steal away on an easy/uncontested lead to go all the way as the heavy favorite, bumps back up a notch, yet draws better
Race 11
10-Aardie B Miki N – Yonkers FM Invite winner & third in the FanDuel Final this past Fall, stuck outside here off a no-chance mile as the heavy favorite & we could see a blastoff attempt
9-Take Your Pick – Capped her off 2025 with her 12th win of the season in classic drop n pop style, bumps back up in class & tackles post nine, but continues on a long form spree
1-Intothemysticmoon – A fixture in the Open @ Plainridge, flashed some late life in her Team Burke debut @ Yonkers & lands the rail here in a pretty competitive co-feature
Race 12
7-Ourmomentntime – Paid off the chalk with a determined score in her second start for Per Engblom, faces a tougher draw & class hike, but has some upside
2-Candy Bomber – Moves inside fresh off a post seven rally & upset, now he’s got something to build on in his key third start after a long layoff
4-Im The Muscle – Dropped back down to TM 71, overcame post eight, stole away & held on in gallant style, draws inside & retains Mark Herschberger
Race 13
3-Miss Dottie Mae – Perked up with a win & close second last month @ Yonkers, gets class & post relief off a no-chance mile & remains a sharp item
2-TH Rizzo – Took a few starts to regain her winning form @ Yonkers after switching to Per Engblom & this lightly-raced 4YO draws inside make an immediate impression here
1-Going Away – Steady mare with a 1:51.3 mark @ The Big M off a solid third & lands the rail to stalk the speed from closer range
Race 14
1-Mr Instigator – Regrouping off a one for 20 season, was a bit better in his second try off the bench & moves inside a severely form challenged field
4-Cleveland Royalty – Shipped south from Western Fair into a new barn, qualified well here, draws inside & has a chance to make an immediate impression here
9-Jula Tacticalson – Chased a dominant winner in his second Big M qualifier, stuck outside, yet this lightly-raced 4YO could step up in his Per Engblom debut here
Race 15
9-Dancing Lew – Only two for 39 last year, slammed with post nine, but that was a serious late charge to just miss in an eye-catching comebacker & that gives him something to build on
2-Born To Dance – Off a one for 33 season, yet rallied to be a much better third in his second start off a sick scratch & draws better for a claiming price/class bump
6-The Will To Play – Beaten favorite faded on an easy lead after three straight blowouts, yet has a chance to regroup in his second start off the claim
Saturday, January 3
Race 1
2-Lyons Liberty – Rebounded off a clunker with a solid second last week, dips a notch & post two again ensures another smooth stalking trip for Team Tritton
3-Cole On The Beach – 10YO regained form in his last three at the TM 68 level with Brett Beckwith & looks to step up a notch fresh off a confidence-building blowout
6-Jonah – Off a 3 for 39 season, this 10YO has picked it up in his last two, forced excessively wide a long way & still grabbed the deuce last week
Race 2
3-Seaworthy Hanover – Lightly-raced 4YO with a mark of 1:51.3 signaled something positive with that sharp rally for the deuce last week & draws better for his key third try off the bench
6-Miki On The Run – Flashed some late pace over an off track @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, was buried against much better in his previous two here & could be heard from with the right set up
10-In The Moonlight – Hit the board in his last two despite tough trips against TM 80.5 types, slammed with post ten, but he’s got blastoff potential
Race 3
7-Sono Confuso – Nine-time winner last year got parked & interfered with last out, shows a post nine upset at the TM 74.5 level back in late November, plus a post seven tally two starts back
3-Hashtag Money – Thundered home from tenth & last to hit the board with a huge rebound effort & finally draws inside to employ a stalking style closer to the pace
6-Big Jack Hammer – Switched to Ridge Warren, who successfully used more patience to rally stoutly for the upset, hikes up a notch, yet draws a bit better in a challenging puzzle
Race 4
7-Rockme Rollme – Toss out last week’s slow start/no-chance mile, note the 1:51.3 explosive upset three starts back & now he’s a fresh claim in a wide-open affair
3-Dunsan Harry – Two for 28 last year, but a new horse since that big wake up win three starts back, then bumped into a revved up Fasting before getting parked & now draws inside for a tag
10-Peter Petrify N – Peter fired out & finished a credible third last week, remains a steady customer since the late-November claim & rates highly despite post ten
Race 5
4-Bettor Make A Wish – Has shown some marginal improvement in his last two, lands post four again, retains Brett Beckwith & faces a severely camera-shy/form challenged field
3-Hungryhungry Hippo – The Hippo reeled off back-to-back wins recently, including a career best of 1:53 in the MADC & draws inside to somehow rebound off a complete clunker
5-On Dayboo – Has struggled in his last few elsewhere, knows how to win here & has a chance to spark something in a field where it’s tough to make a strong case for anybody
Race 6
5-Bookem Danno – Has now had a couple of needed starts since coming back off a sick scratch, moves to mid pack & looms as possible stalking threat for Team Tritton
2-Lochlan Hanover – Team Pollack charge ships in on a long form spree & this versatile Captaintreacherous 4YO draws inside to command attention with Mark Herschberger
3-Lazarus Star – Strong runner up to a dominant winner @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, while edging Lochlan Hanover for the deuce last Sunday, draws inside again & knows this track well
Race 7
7-Stellar Yankee – Steady/classy Team Stratton trainee was pace/trip compromised two weeks ago, draws another challenging post, but gets some class relief
3-Dele Row A – Beaten chalk outsprinted in :26.3 by an uncatchable DA Delightful last week, just missed in his US debut with a :26.1, draws inside again & bumps up on the rise
6-Bettors Donttell – Finished last season on a roll, eight-time winner in 2025 off a narrow loss to Stellar Yankee, then a sick scratch, yet remains a serious player
Race 8
6-Thenu Came Along A – I have no idea what the hurry was when he surrendered to sixth in his Big M debut after two encouraging starts @ Yonkers & now he drops with a new driver
4-Belmont Royale N – Classy 9YO ships in off an equipment malfunction, was very productive in PA & draws well here to employ his aggressive & effective style in a pari mutuel puzzler
1-Jettingtomalibu – Tough to explain that blatant take-no-prisoners turnaround two weeks ago, was only 7-1, equaled his lifetime mark & now has the rail to prove that was no fluke
Race 9
1-Belmont Major N – 10YO somehow flipped the switch & brushed n crushed from post ten last week, his ninth win of 2025 & he finally moves inside as a logical repeat threat
3-Cellmate – Saw his four-race winning streak snapped by a tough/parked out trip from post eight @ Yonkers, knows this oval well & draws inside here to facilitate his aggressive style
6-Diamondbeach – Used pretty hard to clear the lead from post ten & just missed going two-for-two here & simply can’t be ruled out on his current form spree in a severe handicapper’s test
Race 10
6-Rydingtothewire – Gave a strong indication he’s regaining form with a :53.4 back half rally to hit the board last week, beat TM 86 stock back on October 25 & could be on the verge for Team Tritton
2-Dance Partner – Stormed home from a tough spot to just miss two weeks ago, note the close second against these back on November 29 & draws better in a real headscratcher
3-Perfect Promises – Chris Height reclaim has been a hot item elsewhere, anxious for the mile track transition off a no-chance trip @ Yonkers & gets an improved post here
Race 11
1-Lite N Sweet – Scored his only win of 2025 with an easy wire-to-wire two starts back, then just missed with a snappy :26.1 & lands the rail on his toes for Team Cancelliere
9-Ourmatememnko N – Twice beaten favorite has found his best stride for Team Stratton with a win & close second in his last two, tougher post & another class hike, yet remains a sharp item
6-Points North – The perfect trip paid off to give Frank Calcagni his first winning drive @ The Big M last week, so he’s brimming with confidence for the step back up in class
Race 12
6-Pine Bush Italiano – Liking that out-of-the-blue rally to just miss two starts back @ Yonkers, gets another dose of class relief & lands a real soft spot here
9-Dreamlandcappucino – Capitalized on a Lasix-driven form spree with a well-rated drive n score by Jim Marohn, Jr., stuck outside, yet sharp enough to crank it up a notch
2-Bondi Shake N – Coming off a one for 29 season, has had some tough trip issues in his last two, long overdue & draws inside again to stalk closer to the pace in a wide-open field
Race 13
6-Bet On Mack – Finished with his usual late vigor from an impossible spot last week, draws a bit better, gets another shot at this reduced level & picks up Brett Beckwith in a headscratcher
7-The Big Boss A – You needed a crystal ball to figure that dazzling new mark of 1:51 last week, he was only 4-1, now draws a tougher post, faces a class hike & banks on another fast pace
9-Storm The Court – Hit the rock bottom condition, abruptly came to life, carved out a hot pace & got gunned down by an inexplicable The Big Boss A, moves outside, yet remains a live item
Race 14
4-Pinebush Lifesaver – Off a two for 36 season, but opened some eyes with a sharp rally to finish a close third in a very inspiring Big M debut & draws well again
2-Rockabilly Charm – Suddenly came to life & trounced TM 68 players as the heavy favorite two starts back, then had no chance from post nine, moves inside & reunited with Brett Beckwith
5-Parklane Terror – Has repeatedly paid the price for slow starts, yet he has been able to hit the board in his last two in MADC 1 & finished a close second from post ten two starts back
Race 15
4-Duddie’s Lor – Veteran horse-for-the-course has fallen off form in his last two, yet we know what he’s capable of on his best day, he draws well & we drew a line through most of the others
8-Primary Colors – Beaten favorite in two of his last three, bumped into a sizzling 1:51 winner last week, tougher draw here, but his back class, plus the Beckwith-Engblom has to be respected
1-Gallie Getaway – Just one for 26 last year, but that was a humungous wake up mile two weeks ago & he can build on that with another chance at this bottom condition from the rail
Track Conditions
Updated
12/27/2025
Fast
Variant: -1
