Ken Warkentin’s July 7, 8 and 9th Selections
Monday, July 4, 2022
RACE 1
7-Ucandoit Blue Chip – More than delivered on the 1-9 with a sizzling 1:51.4 debut & :25.4 sprint, sire Keystone Velocity was the 2017 top older pacer, this is the 11th foal from Linda Toscano’s first Breeders Crown champion Molly Can Do It
1-Fox Valley Adele – Lazarus N fifth foal from a family of winners, Adele was a picture perfect two-for-two @ Pocono, went all the way here in a well-controlled effort & lands the rail for Team Miller
3-Devilish Dreams – Lazarus N fourth foal out of a sister to A Rocknroll Dance, eager to please with a couple of nice moves in her lively debut & looks to turn the tables on Ucandoit from a better post
RACE 2
1-Wall Of Blue – Pace compromised & forced wide chasing standout Fox Valley Adele, kicked home in :26.2 in a noteworthy debut & draws better, Lazarus N first foal out of a 1:50.3 dam
4-Make Sweet Magic – Lazarus N first foal out her Western Ideal dam, finished fourth behind Wall Of Blue in a fairly competitive opener & certainly has license to improve
2-Anna’s Wish – Lazarus N first foal from an Art Official mare, made a wide move from a tough spot to pick up minor spoils with a :26.2 & draws inside to step it up another notch in a wide open division
RACE 3
6-Grand Fashion – Shuffled & emerged from traffic with plenty of late trot in her debut, sister to two-time Dan Patch Award winner Broadway Donna & NJSS champ Fashion Schooner has ample upside
1-Quick Stop – Fired out from post seven, opened up & Dexter Dunn nursed her to a debut win, rewarded with the rail, first crop of 2018 Breeders Crown champ Tactical Landing & 8th foal from millionaire Falls For You
2-Southwind Cherry – Muscle Hill 6th foal from a family of winners, flashed some decent late trot chasing a well-rated Quick Stop, post two again to stalk n pop
RACE 4
5-Hungry Man – First crop of 2016 1:47.3 Cane Pace winner Stay Hungry, 4th foal from world champion Big Mcdeal, kicked into high gear in his second baby race with a 1:53.4 romp for Team Alagna
2-Blue Lou – $160,000 Sweet Lou colt romped at first asking in 1:54 with a :26.4, then rallied into a strong headwind fro Team Takter, first foal from a sister to 1:48.4 performer Talent Soup & $903,765 winner American Mercury
1-Ants Marching – Tried it on the lead, rated nicely & just missed in his second trial, lands the rail as part of a Team Takter trio, $125,000 colt from the second crop of Downbytheseaside & 5th foal out from his dam
RACE 5
1-S Mckee – The Juan Cano-tuned gelding has been better in his last three, lands the rail inside the main concerns, big chance to trip out & long overdue
7-Shaving Mug – The 13YO Mug has somehow been rejuvenated over the past month here with two wins, solid runner up last week, demanding post, but in top form
9-Six Day Wars – Parlayed that much-improved second @ Saratoga into two more on-the-board finishes here since switching to Team Estrada, yet Braxton Boy has a challenge from post nine
RACE 6
6-Cultured – $120,000 Captaintreacherous filly first foal from her Bettor’s Delight dam, a perfect two-for-two in baby races, the latest here a wrapped up 1:53.2
3-Cantgetuoutamymind – Homebred Always B Miki filly, second foal off the Rocknroll Hanover dam, excellent morning trials @ Gaitway & runner up here with a :26.4, inside draw for this promising Joe Holloway trainee
2-Diamondsnpearls – Captaintreacherous fifth foal from her Western Ideal dam, flawless two-for-two in Big M baby races, draws well for Team Takter & could be anything
RACE 7
8-Walner Payton – Walner second foal out of a sister to millionaire Bar Hopping, finished strong to hit the board in :26.4, stuck outside, but obviously we can expect more
4-Secret Volo – Walner first foal off her Muscle Hill dam, runner up to a dominant winner in a strong debut, draws well & looms large for Team Melander
6-Network Extender – Homebred Walner filly finished an even fifth in her debut & continues to march in the right direction for Team Orange Crush
RACE 8
7-Bargain Shopper – Tonight’s Price Play has picked it up in his last two @ Harrah’s Philadelphia, owns a win here this season against better & looks for the right set up in wide-open affair
1-Final Justice – 10YO parlayed a much-improved second from the rail two starts back into solid score, just a fifth off his lifetime mark & lands inside again, looks like the one to beat
5-Kingofthejungle – 11YO dropped out of the GSY Series & just missed with a lively effort as the beaten favorite, draws midpack again & knocking on the door
RACE 9
6-Machdavid – Took a mark of 1:51 here this season, has taken a tumble down the condition ladder & that alone makes him a big target in this finale
5-So Take That – 1:52.2 performer here in 2022 was tackling tougher claimers last time we saw him here, switches back to the mile track & stalks from midpack
2-Gambling Addiction – 0 for 16 this season, yet sports a few bright spots recently @ Yonkers, getting some needed class relief & draws inside here
Ken Warkentin’s Friday, July 8 Selections
RACE 1
3-Dire Straits – Homebred Muscle Hill fourth foal off the Chocolatier dam, two-for-two in Big M baby races, then battled gallantly to prevail in a sharp :26.3 & draws inside again
2-Celebrity Bambino – Muscle Hill first foal out of a half million dollar dam went two-for-two @ Gaitway, then bumped into a well-rated Upstaged, post two again inside that rival & also hooks up with Dire Straights
7-Upstaged – This Muscle Hill colt won two modest morning trials here, was allowed to brush to command in a soft pace & outsprint the heavily favored Bambino, similar attempt expected from another challenging post
RACE 2
6-J-S Jasper – Fresh off a wake up win @ Pocono he brushed to the top & gave way to fourth in a decent Big M acclimating mile, retains Dexter Dunn in another soft spot
7-Fix-It-Up – Freshened with a couple of months off & bounced back with a solid qualifier @ Gaitway for Team Bongiorno, lone win this season came here back in early March
1-Marvelous Trix – Not much to write home about in a winless season, plus dull recent form, but finally draws inside with a chance to perk up in a blank field
RACE 3
5-If The Shoe Fits – Father Patrick third foal off the Donato Hanover dam really stepped up to win her second baby race herein a solid 1:56 & looms large for Team Alagna
3-In Italian – Easily swept through both trials @ Gaitway for Team Burke, $750,000 Chapter Seven sister to the great Atlanta lands post three again
1-Bond – Southwind Frank fourth foal out of a sister to Bella Bellini romped in her lone qualifier here 27 days ago, factors from the rail for Team Svanstedt despite the sick scratch
RACE 4
4-Onecrookedleg – Sweet Lou filly makes her Big M debut in a much softer spot after toiling in The Stallion Series & chasing the likes of Treacherous Dragon in PASS
2-Taken Control – Sat well off a rated pace & finished a hard-charging in a solid Big M debut off a sick scratch & now draws better for Team Bongiorno
6-MG’s Best Era Eva – Lightly-raced filly ships in after winning two of three in PA this season, definitely going in the right direction & faces mostly bottom level condition foes here
RACE 5
7-Chief Of Staff – Everybody can see his previous romp three starts back in the GSY 1, a career best 1:53.2 upset for David Yarock from post eight, a similar effort would suffice
5-Always A Force – Freshened with a winning qualifier @ Gaitway, then faded to sixth here last week, yet has a chance to step it up in his second start off the bench with AV
8-Peter Pumpkineater – Very good runner up with an inexplicable Scrappin Gold two starts back, returns to the Big M with gate speed to put him in play again
RACE 6
7-Corsini A – Relegated to the rear off the rated pace & was flying late in :25.4 last week, tougher post here, but that was a decent acclimating mile & has license with the right set up
4-Flossie N – Shipped south & has acclimated nicely on Lasix, excellent efforts in her last three @ Yonkers, draws well to trip out for Andrew McCarthy
2-Kathy’s Moment – Sat a three-hole trip, got shuffled late & outsprinted fourth in :26, post two again, sports a 1:51.4 mark here this season & plays stalking opportunist
RACE 7
4-Sunshine’s Finest – Just missed as the beaten favorite in a Trackmaster Series two starts back, returns to the GSY 1 & draws better as his form continues to sharpen
1-Svengali – Forced wide & finished a hard-charging third last week, looks like Mark Silva has him turned around & another inside draw is an asset
2-Rock To Glory – Team Chiodo have the 14YO going well again with a nice upset two starts back, then a :26.4 to hit the board last week & gets to stalk from an inside post
RACE 8
5-The Claw – Finished a much-improved third in his second start here, Huntsville colt continues to claw his way up in the right direction & faces a wide open field
6-Boardwalk Bet – Lightly-raced son of Betting Line arrives fresh off the mile of his life as the heavy favorite @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & has a big chance to assert himself here
7-Code Cracker – Don’t know what happened to this Team Burke trainee when he faded to last in his Big M debut, star of The Stallion Series in PA could rebound despite a tougher post
RACE 9
1-Handlelikeaporsche – Lazarus N first foal out of a sister to world champion Vegas Vacation, finished a lively second to Lifes A Puzzle from post nine & moves inside
3-Lifes A Puzzle – Looks like a bargain $10,000 Lazarus gelding, puzzle solved both baby races & scorched his opener here in 1:50.4 with a :27 flat third quarter, then :26.1 home from the same inside post
4-Voukefalas – Made a dazzling move to win his second Gaitway baby race, then rallied for third behind Lifes A Puzzle, draws better to possibly turn the tables
RACE 10
2-Saying Grace N – This Team Cullipher trainee has faced much tougher here this season, the 1:52 blowout two starts back must’ve sparked something, draws better & gets Tetrick
4-Straight Talk – Here’s a horse-for-the-course who drops another notch & draws much better, that could certainly spell wake up in a ripe-for-taking field
1-Brackley Beach – Didn’t exactly get a warm welcome to The Big M with another slow start off a rated pace, bit this Team Bongiorno trainee gets another class drop & moves inside
RACE 11
1-Point Of Perfect – Solid runner up to heavily favored Little Expensive in his opener, Walner first foal out of a sister to world champion Southwind Frank lands the rail to take another step step forward for Team Burke
9-Oh Well – $530,000 Muscle Hill first foal out of a $643,987 winning dam, got nosed out by heavy favorite Dire Straits in :26.3 with broken equipment, big threat despite post nine
3-Up Your Deo – $100,000 Walner colt first foal off a Cantab Hall dam, near flawless in both baby races, showed zest to win his second trial & draws post three again
RACE 12
7-Willtowin Hanover – Lightly-raced Cantab Hall filly finished a solid second to the favorite Keystone Cecelia & moves forward off that superb acclimating mile for Team Orange Crush
2-Natural Kemp – Drops back down & moves inside, 10YO rallied to be a very good second before that, looms large at this level & overdue
3-Hammer Time – Stayed flat & charged home to hit the board in a sharp :27.2 behind Willtowin Hanover, lands post three again & eligible to trip out
RACE 13
7-Crystal Fashion – Classy double millionaire finished well in his qualifier after several months off, returns at a vastly reduced level & could be ready to overhaul these despite the challenging draw
6-Knight Angel – Sparked his winning form with back-to-back romps @ Harrah’s Philadelphia last month, now gets a class drop off a dull effort for Team Orange Crush
8-Sermon – 1:51.4 performer last year has chased some of the top trotters in training, lands outside, but makes his fourth start off the bench in a field of question marks
Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, July 9 Selections
RACE 1
3-Big Chic Magnet – Switched to Team Bongiorno right after his first win of 2022 & the mile of his life @ Harrah’s Philadelphia & finished a close second to Decoy, looks to keep it going from an inside post here
2-Decoy – Reeled off back-to-back wins @ Harrah’s Philadelphia before reaching too high here last week, expect him to bounce back with a more aggressive effort from post two
5-What The Luck – Went on his usual speed mission & just missed to the trip-sitting favorite, looks like the one to track down again if conditions are favorable
RACE 2
2-Bella Bellini – Dexter Dunn said last week once you tip her off a helmet she really explodes & it’s the sharpest she’s felt all year, back-to-back lifetime marks are clear evidence, the Dan Patch Award winner & Oaks champion is the current queen of this division
3-Herculisa – Skipped last week after rebounding with a close second to Bella Bellini, this is a fresh threat for a sharp barn who can certainly keep the big favorite in her sights
1-HP Mama B – Was allowed to set a soft pace & held for third two weeks ago, a useful acclimating mile, though she wasn’t seen last week she now has the rail to work with
RACE 3
4-Air Guitar – Went from awesome & new lifetime mark two starts back to the back of the bus last week, expect him to rebound with one of his lively efforts from a better post
5-BNGS Express – Trying to snap an 0 for 22 skid this season, forced wide from a tough spot & hit the board at big odds last week & banks on some sort of mayhem
3-Ferdinand A – Just wired a GSY 1 Series field as the favorite with pace to spare, now rewarded with an improved post in very tricky start to the Survivor Pick 7
RACE 4
2-Patrick Palema – Got shuffled & pinned in before shaking loose with keen late trot in the Reynolds, lightly-raced Team Svandstedt colt draws inside for his third start off a sick scratch
7-Stride The Hill – NJSS consolation winner barely outsprinted in :27.2 two starts back, then left in the wake of a 1:51.2 standout in the Reynolds & getting some class relief here in a wide open field
6-Sonny’s Moni – Moni Maker homebred Muscle Hill colt & first foal from the dam, jogged in his 3YO debut as the heavy favorite @ Vernon Downs, Hambo eligible with lots of upside & might be worth a swing
RACE 5
1-Leon David – Gave a good account of himself finishing third off the sick scratch, gets further class relief & lands inside to stalk within striking range
7-Ucanttouchthis – 4YO boosted his confidence with back-to-back wins @ Pocono, then was forced to sprint from a tough spot here last week, Team Burke trainee drops a notch
8-Hail Christian N – Was toiling on the edges against N/W $20,000 stock recently, no chance from post ten last week, post eight hurts here, but gets his third consecutive class drop
RACE 6
5-Beach Glass – NA Cup runner up from the last crop of 2008 Pace runner up Somebeachsomewhere for the same trainer Brent MacGrath, makes only his ninth career start with potential untapped, Yannick looking for his third Pace
2-Frozen Hanover – A solid third in the NA Cup from post nine, tuned up with a decisive score & new mark of 1:50 last week & this late-blooming 3YO draws an improved post
6-Early Action – Colt from the first crop of 2017 Pace winner Huntsville had his early-season derailed due to throat surgery, last year’s Governor’s Cup winner with a freshman mark of 1:49.4 looks to play catch up & has the talent to do it
RACE 7
4-One Eight Hundred – Added Lasix recently & came up just a neck shy of the raging Carbine in the Graduate Series two starts back, then chased a 1:47.1 Charlie May track record, this spot figures to be more to his liking
3-Stone Hanover – Stone launched a fierce late bid & just missed in a sizzling 1:47.2 last week, been knocking on the door & draws inside again to make a similar attempt
2-Ultimaroca – Team Burke trainee was somehow able to turn his game around with a lively third with pace @ both ends from post eight last week & draws better to set up a stalking trip
RACE 8
4-Test Of Faith – Defending HOY was parked every step from post ten & still paced home in :25.3 to be second in the Perfect Sting, the Roses Are Red winner moves inside to gain revenge on Mikala
5-Mikala – Puts her four-for-four season streak on the line after outsprinting Test Of Faith in :25 flat, two weeks rest & dangerous controlling speed with The Minister
6-Oakwoodanabella IR – Decisive Graduate division winner @ Mohawk bounced back with a solid third behind the top two here two weeks ago, can see her firing out, yet will need to step up into another stratosphere
RACE 9
6-Rattle My Cage – Has really blossomed into a top class 4YO, winning three in a row, gunned down the heavy favorite Cuatro De Julio in :26.2 & leads a very strong Team Svanstedt trio
5-Ambassador Hanover – 1:51.2 winning 3YO here last season has regained his best stride, just missed to Ahundreddollarbill two weeks ago & adds punch to the Team Svanstedt contingent
10-Cuatro De Julio – The Cutler runner up from post nine almost went all the way when heavily favored two weeks ago, can fire off the wings & still finish well, making him a serious contender despite post ten
RACE 10
2-Caviart Camden – From the first crop of 2017 Pace champ Huntsville, world champion 1:48.3 freshman in 2021 has taken a few starts to peak for this & draws well off a gallant parked out third tune up last week for Team Alagna
5-Night Hawk – Lightly-raced Brian Brown trainee with three wins & two seconds in six starts this season, sports a mark of 1:48.4 in PASS, picked up a check from far back in the NA Cup & has a big chance to acclimate quickly here
3-Atlas Hanover – Son of Tony Alagna’s 2013 Pace winner Captaintreacherous did some decent work & gained valuable top level experience in the Messenger, transitions to the mile track with an inside post in a wide open elimination
RACE 11
2-Bulldog Hanover – Has emerged as The Monster of 2022, going two-for-two @ The Big M with 1:47 and 1:46 devastation, draws inside a wildly competitive final fresh off a world record romp in the Roll With Joe & the sky’s the limit
10-Rockyroad Hanover – Added Lasix & catapulted off hot fractions with a dazzling 1:46.2 last week, may indeed encounter a rocky road from post ten, but there figures to be plenty of speed to shoot at
8-Linedrive Hanover – The Juravinski Cup winner nosed out in the Mohawk Gold Cup & runner up to The Bulldog two weeks ago, tough draw in a vicious field, but two weeks rest & can fire off the wings
RACE 12
2-Thankful NO – Open class player @ Yonkers with three starts under him on the comeback trail, draws inside to stalk the speed & the American Viking hands the lines to Dexter Dunn
7-Storm Is Raging – Switched to Team Burke & promptly won five of six, all wins @ Pocono, finished a decent fourth in a Graduate division here two starts back & this gives him a chance to assert himself
1-Balenciaga – Went all the way to equal his lifetime mark of 1:52.2 here before trying the Graduate Series, looms as the dangerous controlling speed on the rail in a competitive affair
RACE 13
2-Stonebridge Reef – Beaten favorite bumped into a suddenly revved up drop down in Rockin On Venus last week, draws inside again to possibly turn the tables
8-Rockin On Venus – Dropped to this level, abruptly took charge & went down the road in a career best 1:49, moves outside to employ similar strategy for Team Cullipher
7-De Los Cielos Deo – Long productive season so far for this Team Burke stalwart, gets a double class drop, big threat likes to get involved, yet can do it either way
Track Conditions
Updated
11/16/2024
Fast
Variant:
42°F