Ken Warkentin’s Weekend Selections: Feb 18 & 19

Wednesday, February 16, 2022

Ken Warkentin’s Friday, February 18 Selections

RACE 1

6-Camden Hills – Beaten favorite got rolling late & just missed to a trip sitting All the Truth in a nice 4YO debut for Team Bongiorno, draws a bit tougher, but has license to show more

3-Stay Close – Has typically needed a couple of acclimating miles after racing well @ The Meadows for Team Burke, lightly-raced 5YO flashed some late trot last week & now moves inside

1-Spunkin’srocketman – The Rocket Man flew home in :27 after a slow start last week, going in the right direction since the big upset on January 14 & lands the rail

RACE 2

7-MV OK Palacio BR – Brazilian bred continues to display positive hints with stronger finishes, solid runner up last week & looms large despite a tougher post

4-Kingofthejungle – Used hard to grab command & wilted under steady pressure last week, , draws better & might have a slight edge in a field of several easy toss outs

10-Bungalow Bill N – The classy Bungalow managed to pass several from last to third last week, stuck outside again & was just one for 25 last year

RACE 3

4-Captain’s Reign – Beaten chalk roughed in first over & just missed a repeat to Pirates Alley, new barn off the claim, post four again & retains Todd McCarthy

3-Opus Blue Chip – Basically had his own way from the rail & faded to third last Saturday, fresh claim has been on a roll & draws well again

2-Pirates Alley – Finally draws better fresh off a sterling rally for the upset last Saturday, figures to get away within striking range & can’t rule out a repeat

RACE 4

3-Peaceful Mission NO – Lightly-raced Norwegian-bred mare by Muscle Hill out of the great Peaceful Way, almost wire-to-wire in her second US start @ Yonkers & lands in a soft spot

4-Funky Biscuit – The Biscuit bounced back with a solid qualifier here for Juan Cano, draws inside & has a chance to trip out in a wide-open match up

6-Marvelous Trix – Rallied to hit the board as the beaten favorite last week, draws a more challenging post, but always merits respect with her final quarter & she’s long overdue

RACE 5

3-Captain My Captain – Beaten favorite suffered from a slow start, plus pace compromised & paced home in :26.1, finally draws inside the main concerns & gets a chance to play a stalking role

7-Unsung Hero – 3YO Always B Miki colt slipped one by us last week with a mighty late burst of :26.1 in a sparkling career debut, now the post is tougher, yet the opposition is basically the same

8-Miki Minaj – Yannick Gingras tried to put the field to sleep, but couldn’t stave off Unsung Hero, this lightly-raced Team Burke 4YO draws outside again, yet continues to ramp it up & will likely be blasting

RACE 6

3-Beantown Madness – Gathering steam on the comeback trail, landing on the edges, drops back to this level with no standouts & draws a bit better in a tricky puzzle

4-Goes Down Smooth – 6YO has a winning history here, yet hasn’t won in a long time, looks like a Richard Johnson “project horse” & flashed some strong trot in the comebacker

5-Chiplosive – Snapped a losing skid with a perfect trip in the slop against some softer opposition, Team Cullipher gelding steps back up in class with renewed confidence

RACE 7

3-Cliffhanger – Took a serious shot from post eight, got parked & still held for minor spoils last week, draws better for his new barn & just needs a patient stalking trip

2-Statesman – 15YO caught fire recently @ Freehold, no chance from post ten last week, 10-time winner in 2021 now moves inside for Melissa Arbia

1-Galactic Galleon N – 13YO hasn’t been able to get involved from outside posts in his last three, won a GSY Final on New Years Eve & follow up with another upset

RACE 8

4-Uptown Lady N – Her TM rating is over 86, paced home in a brisk :26.1 last week, solid runner up before that, third try off a sick scratch & lands in a cozy spot

1-Break The Deal – 1:51.2 performer here last season squandered a perfect trip last week, but hadn’t raced in three weeks & has stalking potential from the rail

9-Juxta Cowgirl – Beaten heavy favorite got nosed out after rating unpressured last week, moves outside, but retains Gingras who can always find a way

RACE 9

4-Bytheway Hanover – Nosed out in his first try on Lasix, flying late last week in a five-ply photo, post four again against six of the same opponents in a complete toss up

2-Kaitlyn N – Beaten favorite had the table set, took dead aim & came up half a buck shy in that wild finish last week, draws much better for her key third start off the bench

5-In the Night – Tried to pull off the rare last to first, forced wide & towered up late in :27.2, now draws better to set up her late charge

RACE 10

3-So Miki Hanover – Finished well off cover in the Sweetheart last Saturday, nice acclimating mile first time Lasix & draws inside off her second start off a sick scratch

1-JM Betonsix – Team Burke trainee continues on a nice roll, it took a perfect trip by her stablemate Divine Deo to deny her four in a row & draws inside that rival

6-Divine Deo – We nailed her @ 8-1 last week when she tripped out with the mile of her life, tactical speed puts her in play again as part of the strong Team Burke 1-2 punch

RACE 11

1-Lady Lou – Lived up to her strong tote support with a close second last week, including a :26.4 third quarter, fourth start since coming back & lands the rail for Team Alagna

3-April Ava – Comes off the best season of her career, struggling from outside posts @ Yonkers recently, yet Team Burke might have spotted her in an ideal spot

2-Filly – Logically needed her first start after a four-month layoff, 4YO makes only her tenth career start & draws an improved post for Team Bongiorno

RACE 12

7-Zlatan – Finally showed some late life with a sharp :27.1 to grab second last week, perhaps Brett Beckwith holds the key, post seven again to follow up

8-Trixie Dust – The Dust took charge & took advantage of a soft early pace to score an overdue win last week, moves outside, yet remains in prime form

1-Shezabarhoppinchic – Pace compromised & picked up a minor share last week, just one for 20, but lands the rail in a wide-open affair

RACE 13

2-Rogerthat Bluechip – Team Bongiorno claim drops into a soft bottom condition, draws inside & might be considered a slam dunk in this finale

9-Jumping Jake – Draws outside, but comes off a sharp narrow loss with a solid final quarter, remains at this bottom level & just needs some speed to shoot at

6-BNGs Express – Classy 10YO looks to rebound off a complete clunker fresh off the claim, eligible to do so dropping to this rock bottom level

Ken Warkentin’s Saturday, February 19 Selections

RACE 1

2-Cool Blues Man – Was used hard from post eight & gave way under intense pressure last week, sharp & patient upset before that & draws much better to rebound

5-Manhattan Beach – Classy 9YO jogged in his Big M debut for Team Burke, then was all out from the pocket off dueling leaders, top contender in a field of question marks

8-Vergeofgreatness N – Towered up late from last on the far outside to grab second with a more serious final quarter last week, moves outside & looks for the right speed set up

RACE 2

8-Ocean Ridge N – NZ import burned some chalk in his US debut @ Dover Downs, now first time Lasix off a sick scratch & post eight here, but this is a field begging to be beaten

7-Crunch – Just one for his last 38, makes the mile track transition from a challenging post, yet it’s his second start for a high percentage barn & owns gate speed

2-S Mckee – Proven capable here in the past, picked up minor spoils from post nine last week & draws much better to carve out a smooth stalking trip

RACE 3

2-Game Of Change – Was able to steal a soft :57 half & hold on when favored in his Big M debut for a new barn, draws better & capable of a slight step up in a competitive affair

1-So Take That – 13YO warhorse came flying home in :26.4 to just miss to a well-rated Sonic Flare last Friday, moves inside & his persistence could pay off

7-Sonic Flare – Draws a tougher post off the well-driven score as the heavy favorite, recent claim rallied from post ten back on January 15, then just missed from post eight

RACE 4

7-Schnitzledosomethin – Classy Dylan Davis shipper was no factor from post ten off a lively qualifier @ Dover Downs, drops into a softer spot & can overcome a demanding post

1-LL Mystro – Sat back off a brisk pace & clearly needed the start off an injury scratch, now moves to the rail in a wide-open field & might be ready to bear down for Team Bongiorno

2-Globaldomination N – Struggled to adjust here in his last two against high-priced claimers, now gets some needed class & post relief for a possible wake up call

RACE 5

1-Hippestcatintown – 4YO gathering steam on the comeback trail against N/W 8 @ Yonkers, a lively runner up in his first start for Team Burke & lands the rail

5-Odds On Delray – Came up with one his better efforts when second to a revived De Los Cielos Deo last week & has license to drop n pop this suspect field

4-Revolver – Known to light up the board here with his big kick, hasn’t been heard from since his New Years Eve fireworks, but drops a notch & finally moves inside

RACE 6

2-Walknafter Midnite – Hit the board again with :54 back half last week, now three consecutive thirds, drops a notch, draws better while razor sharp & on the verge

3-Nutcracker Sweet – Fresh off an awesome turnaround wire-to-wire blowout in a dazzling 1:50.2 two weeks ago, bumped up & moves inside for his third try off a sick scratch

4-Imaginary Line – Freshened & qualified with a :26.3 here last week for Team Bongiorno, was competitive against N/W 8 @ Yonkers & strong in the win column last year

RACE 7

6-Big Oil – 2020 Hambo Finalist took a 1:51.3 mark last year for Team Orange Crush, a solid eager-to-please third in the much-needed comebacker & drops a notch

10-All The Truth – Fired out & tripped out to a new lifetime mark of 1:53.3, Team Burke-tuned 4YO building momentum & looks capable of tackling post ten

8-Kenziesky Hanover – Steady mare & horse-for-the-course now a twice beaten favorite & moves outside, but drops a notch & sharp enough for Team Cullipher

RACE 8

2-Ana Afreet N – Sharpening his sword for Team Cullipher, just missed with an aggressive effort two starts back, flying from a tough spot last week, drops back down & draws inside

5-All Hands On Deck – Was on a form spree for Team Bongiorno prior to a couple of months freshening, qualified with a :26.2 eruption, lands midpack in a reduced condition

6-No Lou Zing – Beaten favorite rode a rated pocket & angled late, regaining top form in his last two, remains at a reduced level, yet tackles a challenging field of live items

RACE 9

5-Way To Close – Rebounded with a first over crush last week, denying Perfectboy, lands midpack to set up a repeat attempt & possibly break up the every-other pattern

7-Ballerat Boomerang – The Team Bongiorno Boomerang has won three of four since the mid-December sick scratch, flaunted his versatility with an off-the-pace score last out

10-Perfectboy Hanover – Was rated perfectly by Gingras & barely outmuscled by Way To Close, draws outside, but his tactical speed & sharp form makes him a prime time player

RACE 10

2-American History – Classy Team Alagna trainee had no chance to make an impression in a sleeper Preferred comeback & now moves inside to get aggressive off that tightener

4-Tito Rocks – Left for a three-hole ride, angled & exploded in :26.3 for the mild upset last week, draws better for his fourth start on the comeback trail & strong in the win column

8-Dean B Hanover – Steamrolled first over & was right there in a blanket photo last week, moves outside off that acclimating mile, yet still on a roll in an impossible Late Pick 4 start

RACE 11

1-Pretty Ricki – Has caught fire since adding Lasix @ The Meadows, arrives off two in a row & fresh off a new mark of 1:51.4, plus lands the rail & gets Todd McCarthy

4-Truffle Dog – Just missed with a couple of sharp efforts in his last two, finally draws a decent post & that might be enough to put him across for an overdue win

8-Ucantouchthis – Another freshened up Team Bongiorno trainee who qualified with some energy, draws a tough post, but returns in a softer class for his mile track transition

RACE 12

3-Air Guitar – Fresh Team Bongiorno claim took a month off, qualified with renewed vigor, drops into an easier condition & draws inside to fire out

1-Paduka N – Gets a severe dose of class & post relief off a no-chance mile, also missed three weeks prior to last week’s acclimating mile against high priced claimers

4-Duddie’s Lor – If you’re fishing for a longshot this is a double class dropper with an inside post making his second start after a long layoff & loves this track

RACE 13

3-P-Drive Hanover – Draws an improved post fresh off a sharp narrow loss flashing speed from post seven, plus now he’s making his second start off the recent claim

6-Hes Gone Badder – Has been going better in the GSY Series, 8YO just rallied to take a new lifetime mark from the same post last Friday & might have room to show more

4-Hulou – Team Burke has now had a few starts to figure this 4YO out, pace & trip compromised @ Pocono last week, draws inside to step up in a wide-open finale