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

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

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Selections for Friday, November 25

RACE 1

8-Lets Ryde Girl – Has won three of her last four & two of three since the barn change, just aired it out against N/W 4 @ Pocono, strong in the win column & speed overcomes a tough draw

 

5-Always B Mimi – Been landing on the edges against stiffer competition @ Yonkers, steady 4YO lands midpack here to employ her stalking style & acclimate promptly

 

4-Corsini A – Flashed plenty of late life in a very good sloppy track acclimating mile, now gets class & post relief & could be trending towards an overdue win in a wide-open curtain raiser

 

RACE 2

10-Pure Countess – Breeders Crown finalist broke on the lead as the heavy favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, stuck outside here, but may hold a speed edge for Team Svanstedt

 

7-Elliot Cloud S – Set the pace & held on to finish a close second in a decent qualifier, Swedish import could make an immediate impression in this field full of question marks

 

6-Portofino – One of two new Mohawk invaders for Team Burke, picked up a check in the OSS Super Final first time Lasix, makes her Big M debut off 41 days, so she is a mystery

 

RACE 3

8-River Dali – Freshened off a GSY 1 Series win back on September 2, runner up to Niki Hill in a strong qualifier, tough draw, but he can fire off the wings & Juan Cano found the key to this one

 

9-Whimsical Journey – Scored two straight upsets in a Trackmaster Series, 3YO rallied for a sharp new mark of 1:50.4 in that final & sharp enough to handle this level with the right set up

 

4-Thndrfrmthethron N – Three for-three since the switch back to The Big M, overcame interference to pay off the chalk players & draws inside again to keep it going despite the step up

 

RACE 4

5-Marquis Volo – Runner up with improved efforts in his last two, just missed a huge upset with a strong surge last week & draws better on the verge of an overdue score

 

9-Henderson Seelster – Horse-for-the-course parlayed a winning qualifier into a solid third behind Marquis Volo, tougher post now, but trotting hopples have helped & has room to improve

 

4-Troycen – Well supported in his Big M debut for Team Burke & made a late break, 3YO gets a  big chance to rebound at this bottom level from another inside post

 

RACE 5

3-All American N – Nine-time winner this season got roughed up from post seven @ Pocono, gets further class & post relief for a barn that’s popped a few recently & nothing stands out here

 

5-Say You Do – Ships here off a rare miscue @ Pocono in a softer class, just missed before that, has a winning history here & can stalk the speed from midpack

 

1-Gotwuteverittakes – Exploited the rock bottom drop, got revved up & somehow held it together, could attempt a similar front-end mission from the rail off that confidence builder

 

RACE 6

4-Captaingiddyupngo – Team Alagna Captaintreacherous colt was much better chasing Niki Hill in his second qualifier with Lasix added & draws well with a serious motor under the hood

 

6-Stun Gun – Took some tote action & grinded gamely through a :54.4 back half to hit the board in an inspiring acclimating mile, now draws a bit better while going in the right direction

 

7-Restaurant Bully – Dropped from N/W 4 @ Pocono & rallied with a :26.3 to be a solid second in his noteworthy Big M debut, tougher post, but has the potential to show more

 

RACE 7

4-Rigginswind – Razor sharp shipper with a 1:52.1 win here this season, she’s been on a tear in PA, draws well @ the bottom here fresh off a post seven score & can show them who’s boss

 

6-Best Keepsake – Just two for 30 this season, yet sports a 1:51.2 mark @ Mohawk, took the aggressive route & settled for third last week & gets another shot at this reduced condition

 

3-Sassy Cindy – 4YO been working her way back in shape @ Dayton, ships into the Juan Cano barn, draws well off 23 days & could surprise this toss up field

 

RACE 8

2-Highrthananeagle A – Got parked from post eight in the comebacker @ Plainridge where he took a mark of 1:50.1, drops into a soft claimer here & draws inside with Dexter Dunn

 

10-SGT Papa Daddy – Has been ripping up Vernon Downs where he’s won six of his last nine, lands outside here, but has the speed to overcome the stiffer assignment

 

7-Play Jet Ray – Ships in off a dull effort @ Mohawk 18 days ago, now lands in a dartboard field here for a new barn & gives Pick 6 players something enticing to consider

 

RACE 9

2-Down The Pike Mike – Mike was forced to make a wide rally to hit the board from post eight off a win @ Yonkers & now moves fresh off that encouraging acclimating mile

 

7-Wow Lester – Was able to steal away, rate & hold on in a much better second start here with Yannick Gingras, class hike & tougher post, yet faces several easy toss outs

 

10-Tad Krazy Hanover – Flashed some positive late trot from an impossible spot in her Big M debut, stuck outside again, but figures to show more & keeps Dexter Dunn

 

RACE 10

3-Italian Delight N – Got parked in the slop here two weeks ago, his record shows a distinct affinity for The Big M, has tumbled down the class ladder & draws inside

 

4-Air Guitar – Took a mark of 1:51.2 here this season, nine-time winner this season drops dangerously & draws well to play his stalking game

 

2-Baileys Rock – Classic knocking on the door type just missed in his last two with different tactics, draws inside & looks to be forwardly placed

 

RACE 11

8-Like Clockwork – Just missed with an aggressive speed try from post ten two starts back, tough post, but returns to The Big M @ the bottom rung & that might be enough

 

4-Bank Sea – Beaten favorite failed to polish it off despite a class drop @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, 1:50.2 Big M winner this season draws well for his third start off the bench in a headscratcher

 

3-Mister Donald A – Took advantage of some class relief with an improved second @ Harrah’s Philadelphia last out, drops further here, post three again & adds Andrew McCarthy

 

RACE 12

1-Wiggle My Cookie – Makes her third try off the bench from the rail since switching barns, faces a weaker TM 74 grouping, picks up Yannick Gingras & has a chance to trip out

 

7-Doubleoffthewall – 0 for 24 this season, but rallied to hit the board in two of her last three, demanding draw, but still gathering momentum on the comeback trail

 

5-Rhyme N Roll – Pocono shipper with a one for 24 record this season, lands in a real soft TM 74 Rating & can employ a midpack stalking strategy in a camera-shy bunch

 

RACE 13

5-Game Of Change – Cooked parked out through a sizzling pace in his rude return to The Big M, sports a 1:51.2 mark here this season & stands out for the potent combo of Brennan & Drennan

 

2-Ponderingjacksfame – A dull seventh in his last three @ Yonkers since switching to Team Bongiorno, but this 10-time winner with a mark of 1:50.4 in 2022 can rebound from post two

 

3-Gee Wilikers – One for 37 record this season a huge knock, but solid runner up in his last two here & draws inside again to stalking the speed for the Cutting Crew

 

RACE 14

3-Grateful Kiss – Used hard to clear the lead from post ten & finished a solid second last week & now moves inside & lands in a prime spot to snap his 0 for 28 this season

 

6-Always A Panther – Made a smooth transition to The Big M riding the pocket to finish third behind Grateful Kiss & eligible to have more in the tank with another alert start

 

1-Art Scaping – This is a finale field ripe for an upset, here is a 1:51.4 winner @ The Big M last season making only his fifth start of the year, plus he lands the rail & retains Todd McCarthy

 

Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, November 26 Selections

RACE 1

7-Ana Afreet N – Steady Team Cullipher with winning history here ships back on a form spree, just missed in the Dover Open, retains Tetrick & can blast off with the best

 

2-Adam Crocker A – Simply shrugged off the class hike & tripped out from post nine to repeat off a recent sick scratch, now moves inside fresh off that lifetime best & could handle more

 

10-All About The Hunt – Team Burke 3YO surprised a few with a speedy & gutsy 1:49.3 upset despite missing three weeks, now it’s post ten in a wildly competitive opener

 

RACE 2

1-Paduka N – Finally draws inside for the ship back to the scene of his best performances, also has been facing tougher @ Yonkers & looks to be well spotted for Team Stratton

 

4-Paternity Suit A – Was no factor after an unusually slow start from post ten, won his previous two @ Pocono & has license to show that speed from an improved post in a supreme puzzler

 

10-Good Rockin – Has won two of his last three here, that was such an impressive rally to blow up the board @ 69-1 from post nine & looks capable of stepping up another notch

 

RACE 3

7-Village Jade – May lead the Team Burke 1-2 punch in this one, arrives on a serious roll on smaller tracks & looms as a stalking threat despite a challenging post in a mixed bag toss up field

 

3-Always B First – Recent addition of Lasix kicked in @ Pocono, then launched a wicked late move & got nosed out here, draws inside again & steps up in class for a sharp barn

 

9-Man Dontforget Me – Has struggled most recently in the Yonkers Open & draws outside here, but might hold a slight class edge & picks up Todd McCarthy

 

RACE 4

3-Heart On Fire – Regained top form in her last two & just missed by a nose to Bond in the Kindergarten Final at long odds, draws inside that rival for Team Alagna & on the verge

 

9-Bond – Held on bravely to edge Heart On Fire in the Kindergarten Final & took a new mark of 1:52.3 for Team Svanstedt, stuck outside again has the talent to overcome & make it six in a row

 

1-Wild Jiggy S – Just missed to Heart On Fire two starts back, then had too far to come in the Kindergarten Final, now moves inside, retains Dexter Dunn & gives Team Svanstedt a 1-2 punch

 

RACE 5

6-Kimmeridgian – Liked him last week when he squeezed through & was barely outsprinted by Celebrity Bambino, this Matron Stakes winner is an improving Walner colt for Team Svanstedt

 

2-Celebrity Bambino – Muscle Hill colt has come to hand this Fall for Team Burke, a close second in the Breeders Crown, came right back to win the elimination from post eight & moves inside

 

9-Volume Eight – Still buzzing about that miscue/recovery two starts back, destroyed them in the Kindergarten Final, just a fifth off the track record, logically big threat despite post nine

 

RACE 6

3-When Dovescry – Stole this last year, holding off Atlanta, tripped out to beat the top two in the Dayton Oaks, 2019 Oaks winner has always been very steady & took a mark of 1:50 here

 

1-Bella Bellini – Was third last year @ age three, two-time Breeders Crown champ, leading money winner among older trotters this season makes her second start in a month

 

2-Atlanta – Well-decorated mare was runner up in her last three TVG Finals, draws inside while on her toes for Team Burke, tuned up with a sharp qualifier & could go out a winner

 

RACE 7

3-Strong Poison – Capping a very strong season, while leading the Team Burke trio in this one, roughed it first over in the Breeders Crown, finished with a flurry last week & draws much better

 

1-Bellisima Hanover – Was so impressive in her last two here, going all the way with :25.2, then lunging late in :26.2 to upset the Kindergarten Final & now rewarded with the rail

 

2-Zanatta – Added Lasix & El Dube & posted a well-meant post eight upset in the elimination, moves inside off that decisive score & has the class & form to repeat for Team Bongiorno

 

RACE 8

3-Jujubee – 2021 Trotter of the Year & track record holder finished sneaky good in a much-needed Preferred tune up & the Allerage Farms winner in 1:50.2 draws inside again

 

5-Ecurie D DK – Two-time Breeders Crown champ went barefoot & finished sixth last week, a bridle change didn’t work in the MGM International Trot, won the Cutler with a world record 1:49.1, which Ecurie D DK shows up tonight?

 

7-It’s Academic – Team Burke really turned this one around with convincing scores back-to-back, including a 1:50.1 lifetime best, if allowed to take control he could be tough to overhaul

 

RACE 9

2-Test Of Faith – Defending Horse of the Year capping another super season, including a 1:47 world record Dorothy Haughton, just missed a Breeders Crown repeat, sizzled home in the qualifier & draws inside for a marquee match up

 

8-Niki Hill – 2021 Dan Patch Award winner continues to blaze the comeback trail, served notice with a 1:48.4 mark in the Glen Garnsey, just missed from post ten in the Breeder Crown & romped in the Matron, tuned up nicely, huge threat despite post eight

 

1-Treacherous Dragon – Jugette winner in straight heats came back to upset Niki Hill in the Breeders Crown & vaulted past $1M for Team Takter, freshened with a standout qualifier & lands the rail next to the 4YO Test Of Faith

 

RACE 10

4-Bulldog Hanover – Many considering him one of the best ever for his devastation this season, returns to the scene of his 1:45.4 world record fresh off a Canadian record Breeders Crown, with Horse of the Year locked up enjoy his swan song

 

8-Tattoo Artist – Can’t jump off his bandwagon after setting fast fractions & fading to fourth last week, runner up in the Breeders Crown & Potomac & ten-time winner this season can rebound & overcome post eight with speed

 

5-Abuckabett Hanover – The scramble is on for minor spoils & this 4YO tuned up with a strong qualifier here with Andrew McCarthy, finishing on the edges recently in a lean transition season, but can spark something with a trip close to the pace

 

RACE 11

5-El Rey – After scoring his first four wins in a row he finished a hard-charging third to Combustion in a sparkling :25.4 & leads a formidable Team Alagna quartet

 

6-Combustion – 1:49.3 Grand Circuit winner @ The Red Mile shook loose late & fired home to win his elimination, tougher post, but razor sharp & might hold a slight edge in a thriller

 

4-Ammo – The Breeders Crown shocker came right back to just miss to Combustion as the beaten favorite, peaking perfectly & draws well again for a Hall of Fame duo

 

RACE 12

8-Rockin The Aces – Sub-1:50 horse-for-the-course always brings his work boots, just missed in a blanket photo last week, moves outside, but drops a notch in a handicapping headscratcher

 

9-PD The Big Easy – All over this one when he tripped out for his new barn in 1:50, stuck outside here, but drops back down & can blast off for Brennan & Drennan

 

6-King Triton A – Set a moderate pace & got nosed out in his US debut as the heavy favorite @ Pocono, transitions to a pretty tough spot here for Team Bongiorno, yet could be this good

 

RACE 13

1-Control Heaven – Completes the Team Cullipher 1-2 punch in here, continues his descent down the condition ladder, lands the rail & has two acclimating miles under him now

 

3-Letsgotobrazil A – Steamrolled first over & blasted down the road to a new mark of 1:50.3 two starts back, just missed with a similar effort last week, drops back down a notch & draws better

 

2-Truffle Dog – 1:49.2 performer here this season got shuffled last week, finished a solid third before that, drops back down & draws inside again for Team Cullipher

 

RACE 14

5-Ario Hanover – Team Burke sophomore crushed these in 1:50.4 two starts back, then left in the wake of Beach Glass @ Dover, back here to stand out in a field riddled with question marks

 

2-Quick Snap – 1:50 performer @ Pocono this season had no recent luck in Indiana, returns to The Big M for Team Alagna with an inside draw in a softer spot, but hasn’t raced in a month, making him difficult to gauge

 

1-Forrest Blu – Finished with a strong back half in a much-needed Big M debut, now moves inside & this NYSS star as a freshman has a big chance to salvage something in a disappointing season