Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Friday, March 25 & Saturday, March 26

Wednesday, March 23, 2022

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Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Friday, March 25

RACE 1

1-No Drama Please – Kicked home in a crisp :26.2 with a nice tightener fresh off the bench, remains at a reduced level & in line to trip out from the rail for The Money Man

4-Meadowbranch Ricky – Winless this season, yet very consistent, runner up to a standout Scirocco Rob last week, post four again & rates the logical top call, but not convincing

7-Skyway Kon Man – The Kon Man failed to get involved from post nine in the slop, gets some much needed class relief & Team Cullipher had three last Saturday

RACE 2

3-Hurrikane Georgie – Interesting 4YO returns in a softer spot after some much-needed freshening, he was chasing much tougher, exits a fast qualifier & draws inside

2-Stormy Beach – Fresh off an excellent acclimating mile, finishing a solid second in the slop at 43-1 last Saturday, draws inside again to carve out a similar stalking trip

5-Crunch – Unleashed a sterling rally to crush these two starts back, gave way after a brief lead last week, now drops back down & switches to Dexter Dunn

Race 3

3-Svengali – Comes off a significant wake up mile, closing off a slow pace, finished fifth & just missed it all in :27.3, draws inside again to work out a stalk n pop strategy

7-May I Cruise West – 10YO is winless this season & just three for his last 53, but heading in the right direction, pace compromised & towered up late in :27 flat last week

6-Takeittotheface – Has already equaled last year’s win output with three tallies in 2021, landing on the edges recently & involved a tougher division last week

RACE 4

1-Trents A Lock – Here’s a 4YO gathering momentum on the comeback trail, right there with a nice Brett Beckwith drive two starts back, expect another smooth stalking trip from the rail

7-P L Oscar – Missed more than three weeks prior to his much-needed Big M debut & outsprinted in :27.3, tougher draw, but this improving 4YO could go all the way

8-Epos Ostervang DK – Went all the way for a new mark of 1:56 in the slop @ Pocono two starts back, then had no chance at Yonkers, stuck outside here, but eligible to blast off

RACE 5

1-Safety Second – Shook loose late to grab second two starts back, no factor from post eight last week, recent Edwin Quevedo claim won 16 times last year & moves inside

3-Galactic Galleon N – 13YO grinded gamely & was barely outsprinted by the ground-saving Kingofthejungle last week, lands post three again to work out a stalking trip

2-Statesman N – 15YO came to life with a strong pace-setting effort & narrow loss from post nine last week, 10-time winner in 2021 draws much better & is likely heading for the lead

RACE 6

2-Amador – Got parked & was forced to grind from post nine after missing a couple of weeks off a sick scratch, remains at a reduced level & draws better

4-Dayson – Used twice, forced into a first over move & placed for stretch interference last week, this Team Burke trainee gets another dose of class relief

7-Ronnie Goldstein – Put together a decent third in his second start after a long layoff & recent sick scratch, moves outside, yet just needs to step it up further

RACE 7

3-Doc Semalu – Has been consistent & finished well to hit the board last week, now draws better for the potent combo of Anthony Verruso & Symon Spicer

4-Lyons Liberty – Landing on the fringes against slightly tougher Trackmaster foes, lands in an ideal spot to work out a trip & score an overdue win

2-Waves of Fire A – Struggled this season & hasn’t hit the board in seven starts, but drops out of $20,000 claimers, draws post two again & has license for a wake up call

RACE 8

6-Siri Blue Chip – Lightly-raced 4YO has won three times this season against comparable mares @ Mohawk, arrives in Team Burke program, so the sky is the limit here

2-Rable – Nine-time winner in 2021, yet winless this season, makes the mile track transition after chasing $50,000 claimers @ Yonkers, so it’s class relief & an inside draw

1-Break The Deal – Go back to her close fourth from post ten three starts back, plus she exits a Trackmaster Series, so let’s give her a big chance with a rail start again

RACE 9

1-Capozzo – Came back from a two-month layoff & dealt an energetic narrow loss @ Freehold, owns plenty of back class & lands the rail in a wide-open division

6-Late Mail N – Steadily picking up checks against $40,000 claimers @ Yonkers, closing style suits the mile track & has a chance to exploit this softer spot

7-Waimac Attack N – Hats off to Matt Zuccarello for a great drive from post seven last week, would assume we’ll see speed off the wings again with this 9YO in top form

RACE 10

1-Turnthefrownaround – Team Burke shipper off a highly productive campaign, freshened & qualified with a :26.4 last week, lands the rail & eligible to make an immediate impression

3-A Better Game – Has been launching her late bids from too far back, :25.3 two starts back, :26.3 last week, moves inside & somehow needs to gets within closer striking range

4-Cousin Mary – Needed just about every inch of that perfect trip to score the mild upset last week, in line to produce a similar trip & result from a slightly better post

RACE 11

3-She’s A Sassy Beach – Mohawk shipper added Lasix recently, hasn’t raced in 42 days, so tough to gauge, but switches to the Team Burke program & draws inside

4-Brush N Crush – Closed from far back to hit the board in a noteworthy Big M debut, with that confidence boosting mile under her we’ll likely see her get off to a better start

6-Culinary Artist – Just two thirds in eight starts this season @ The Meadows, but now gets a change of barns, venues & drivers, that could spell improved performance

RACE 12

1-Dance Ticket – Late-blooming & steadily improving filly for Chris Ryder picked up a share in a decent debut last week, now moves inside to capitalize on a prime spot to graduate

8-IQ Hanover – Team Alagna-tuned filly won her first three starts @ Dover Downs, missed three weeks prior to her latest loss, she could blast off & go down the road

7-Shezafreaklikeme – Stacy Chiodo has a couple of nice prospects in here, this was a 1:51 stakes winner last season & might be ready to be a serious player

RACE 13

7-Colonial AS IT – Lightly-raced 4YO gained some stakes experience at three, returns fresh off a standout qualifier & trainer Per Engblom is on fire

2-Halliama – Has been on a very nice roll this season for Team Chartrand, steamrolled to a decisive score last week & draws better to show more

3-Vinny De Vie – Vinny will be looking to rebound off an early miscue, his previous effort showed vigor & speed as a beaten favorite, drops back down & draws inside

Ken Warkentin’s Selections for Saturday, March 26

RACE 1

3-Game Of Change – Won three of his first four after switching to Estrada Racing, returns fresh off a solid second @ Freehold, draws inside & in line to trip out

7-Windsong Jack – Stalwart 12YO closing in on the $1M mark, beaten chalk in his last two, gave it another good try on the engine last week, tougher post, yet fresh claim

6-Manhattan Beach – Faded into those icy gusts two weeks ago, beat these with a gutsy under pressure effort three starts back & has a chance to regroup for Team Burke

RACE 2

4-Jula Pro Hanover – Added trotting hopples & Lasix & finished a more sure footed second in her 4YO debut to standout Emma Talking, draws well to follow up for Per Engblom

1-Ever Lovin – Leads the Jim Campbell trio, Muscle Hill sister to half million dollar winner You Know You Do makes her second career start from the rail with upside potential

10-Vendor Bill – See a lot of seconds & thirds last season, but this 4YO has been consistent & the qualifier was solid, just needs to avoid any traffic issues from post ten

Race 3

7-Pretty Ricki – Finished a close second again when he was barely outsprinted by a 1:49.4 Team Burke barn change, beaten favorite can atone with his persistency

4-Tuffenuftowearpink – Revving up on the comeback trail with Lasix, just missed upsetting standout Shake It, only one for 21, but draws better for his key third try off the bench

3-Majorly Sexy – Was forced into a long first over grind & still finished third with a :27.2 in his long-awaited career debut, chased Covered Bridge in his previous qualifier & draws better

RACE 4

1-I’ll Drink To That – NYSS champion & major stakes player at three, added Lasix & qualified well here before an early miscue @ Yonkers, lands a softer spot here for Chris Ryder

5-Tam Major A – Moved to the rail & suddenly produced quite a turnaround effort, just missed to the favorite Decision Day, gets a chance to stalk again from midpack

7-Rockin The Aces – Beaten favorite rallied for third into wicked headwinds two weeks ago, gets further class relief & looms large if the fractions set up right

RACE 5

1-My Pal Joe – Sports a 1:48.3 mark here in 2021, contender in the Preferred ranks this season, a strong third as the beaten favorite two weeks ago & stands out on the rail

5-Imaginary Line – Missed a month prior to last week’s sneaky good mile from post nine off a sick scratch, strong in the win column last year & draws better for Team Bongiorno

3-Palomar – Team Cullipher has this horse-for-the-course on his toes, runner up to a raging Da Delightful last week, draws inside again to stalk & flaunt his big late kick

RACE 6

5-Jula Muscle Pack – Gunned down Scirocco Rob in his 4YO debut here, returns off a no-chance mile @ Yonkers & has high end potential for the red-hot Per Engblom

3-Double Account – Almost went all the way against heavy favorite Big Oil before the early bobble in the slop last week, drops back down & draws inside for Team Cullipher

7-Scirocco Rob – Took full advantage of last week’s ideal conditions & romped to a sharp 1:51.4 clocking, draws outside, but this classy 7YO remains fresh on the comeback trail

RACE 7

4-Im A Powerplay A – Aussie import qualified nicely @ Freehold, took his requisite post ten tour of the oval here, now moves inside & could surprise this camera-shy bunch

6-Arrhythmic Surge – Certainly been knocking on the door as a gallant runner up in his last two, beaten favorite grinded gamely last week & trending in the right direction

2-Party Boy – Hasn’t quite lived up to his tote hype in two starts this season, but has finished well, draws much better & has a big chance to trip out & kick in late for Hot Toddy

RACE 8

2-Rogerthat Bluechip – Forced first over off a rated half & couldn’t believe he didn’t go by the well bet wake up special Sheriff N, live Team Bongiorno item draws inside again

7-Mindtrip – You could say he squandered a perfect second over trip behind Roger, yet the recent claim almost never quits in the stretch & figures to get the speed target he needs

6-Wrappers Delight A – Twice beaten favorite forced wide from too far back last week, beat these back-to-back in February & we’re looking for a more aggressive effort

RACE 9

4-Vettel N – Flashed a hint he was cycling back around here in late February, then scored back-to-back, draws inside to flaunt his controlling speed for Team Bongiorno

2-De Los Cielos Deo – Beaten favorite got scorched by hot fractions in the slop last week, great season so far for Team Burke & has license to rebound from post two again

5-Bettor Memories – Classy 9YO makes his fourth start on the comeback trail for Team Burke, drops from the top ranks @ Dover Downs & faces several moving up in class

RACE 10

1-Truffle Dog – Took a new mark with an absolutely perfect set up second time Lasix, consistent Team Cullipher trainee back on the rail & big threat to repeat

7-Ucantouchthis – Made MC Hammer proud with a huge wake up barn change bonanza & sparkling new mark of 1:49.4, look for another blastoff to lead the Team Burke trio

4-Mullinax – Really came to life in his second start here, set a rated pace & outsprinted by a trip-sitting Truffle Dog, draws well to be forwardly placed again in a tight match up

RACE 11

7-Tolly-Ho – Got shuffle behind a gapper & shook loose late in a crisp :26.4 chasing Rockabilly Charm, draws a tougher post, but that effort was encouraging

1-Rockabilly Charm – Rebounded with solid speed at both ends of the mile in a dominant performance last week, moves inside & looks to come right back

8-Miki Minaj – Beaten favorite stuck with post eight again after getting roughed up first over, lightly-raced Team Burke 4YO also steps up a notch, but has some upside

RACE 12

9-Cool Blues Man – Loved him last week & exploded home in :26.1 to take a new mark of 1:50.3 for Mark Mac, stuck outside now, but actually gets to drop off the big win

1-Machdavid – After hinting in his previous two he added Dexter Dunn & went right down the road from post seven for a new mark of 1:51, moves inside to make his presence felt again

5-Manholmes – Was up against a pretty salty crew in his comebacker last week & logically expecting more in his second try off the bench at a reduced level

RACE 13

7-Good Rockin – Got stung by some stiff fractions in the slop last week, 1:50 performer here last season draws a tougher post, but gets a double class drop

8-Barbados – Considering he just missed against $40,000 claimers two starts back this is a substantial class drop to offset post eight, just needs to avoid traffic issues

3-Captainofrocknroll – 4YO son of The Captain has found his best stride in his last two, flew home from far back in :25.4 last week & now draws better in a wide-open finale