Ken Warketin Selections for Friday, April 5, & Saturday, April 6, 2024

Wednesday, April 3, 2024

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Race 1

3-Atta Boy Dan – 15YO Dan fresh off a solid second into vicious stretch wind gusts, positive speed before that & now an inside draw in a field where several that can be easily dismissed

 

1-Harry Hanover – Harry was fourth placed third again, closing from far back & now moves inside, while regaining form on the comeback trail

 

6-Ohmikiyoursofine – One for his last 36 & winless this season, got the parking ticket last out after a decent fourth & now can benefit from a pair of Big M acclimating miles

 

Race 2

3-Chucky Hanover – Two slow starts from tougher posts on Lasix & now gets the right dose of class & post relief for Team Cullipher

 

2-No Words – Returns to the scene of a rousing Big M score off a sick scratch after an upset & then a solid third @ Pocono & draws inside

 

6-Air Guitar – Bounced back with another bang up second from the rail, retains Yannick Gingras & his persistence could break a 2024 goose egg

 

Race 3

2-Love Your Work A – Somehow got parked from post two last Saturday, gets his fourth consecutive class drop, lands in a tailor made spot & retains Thunder

 

7-Mr Matt Major N – Followed up a winning qualifier with a strong second in the much-needed comebacker, lightly-raced 6YO draws tougher, but has upside

 

1-River Ness – Missed 22 days prior to that post nine tour of the oval, now hits the rock bottom condition & lands the rail for his second start under Per Engblom tutelage

 

Race 4

2-So Take That – Alexandra Goldin handed the lines to Joe Lee & that spelled a 180 turnaround & upset rally last week & now he’s rewarded with an improved post in a blank division

 

10-Camlachie Chrome – Beaten favorite inexplicably caught first over from the rail & saved second to a runaway last week & just missed from post ten two starts back

 

3-Tidal Shark – Started well from post nine & simply backed up with another poor performance, just missed with a mighty surge before that, finally draws inside, but who shows up tonight?

 

Race 5

4-Hello Rocky – Canadian invader exits a claiming series @ Mohawk, draws well here, finds a soft spot for his new barn & gets “Mr. March” in the bike

 

7-Coin Flip – Much better as a solid runner up in his last two, while chasing a couple of dominant winners, more demanding post, but facing no standouts

 

5-Western Depth – Thought he would be better last week off a commendable fourth in his Big M debut, yet keep in mind those stretch headwinds were wicked

 

Race 6

2-JL Cruze – The charismatic King returns, classy 13YO world champion & track record holder on the verge of $2M, been facing Open trotters @ Dover & draws inside here

 

8-Focus Pocus – Liked him last week as a willing runner up to a heavy favorite, tougher draw here, but look for more in his second try off the bench

 

7-Toccoa Falls – Returned to The Big M, stayed flat & chased a 1:50 track record setter, more challenging post here, yet gets further class relief

 

Race 7

6-Rags To Riches – Ships north up the Turnpike fresh off a wire-to-wire jogola @ Dover, now makes her first start for Per Engblom & we know what that means

 

3-She’s So Sweet – Just missed with pace at both ends from post seven in a sparkling Big M acclimating mile & draws inside the two Leg 1 winners

 

9-Roma Amor – Stormed home from a tough spot to nail Phelgon with a new mark of 1:54.2 into those fierce wind gusts & will need some pace to shoot at from post nine

 

Race 8

4-Rock On Line – Paid the price for a slow start from post seven last week & still finished well after a crushing first over score before that from post four

 

2-Whammer Jammer – That was some turnaround effort, grinding gamely & just missed to a well meant Warrawee Yankee last week & draws inside on the verge

 

10-Warrawee Yankee – Lived up to the massive tote hype with an ideal second over trip & he has repeat potential with the right trip & on best behavior

 

Race 9

2-Shake It Twice – Tripped out to a new mark of 1:52.4 three starts back, beaten favorite hit the board in her last two & draws better with The Hot Toddy

 

5-Im Princess Bella A – The Princess let us down when she brushed to the top & folded tent into last Friday’s wind gusts & gets a chance to atone in another soft spot

 

3-Almost Karen – This Karen wasn’t heard from against tougher company last week, yet note the sudden blowout @ Freehold before that & these are easier

 

Race 10

6-Beach Cowgirl – Classy 1:49.4 performer @ The Big M was able to turn things around in a big way chasing a heavy chalk & now this world champion makes her key third start off the bench

 

4-Miss Chantilly N – Won three of four before running into a salty top two last Saturday, look for another quick start as she plays a prime opportunist role in career form

 

2-Zanatta – Multiple Grand Circuit stakes winner won her Big M qualifier with a might late surge & draws inside to make an immediate impression for Team Bongiorno

 

Race 11
4-Shine On Susan – Prematurely committed to a late lead & got collared by a long shot & this lightly-raced 3YO draws well again off that inspiring comeback for Nifty Norman

 

1-Stay Classy – Another lightly-raced 3YO finished an even/nonthreatening fourth as the beaten chalk & this recent Team Cullipher acquisition is back on the rail to take another step up

 

5-Evas Sports Czech – Put forth an improved third after a better start in Leg 1 of this series, owns a bit of back class & looks to play a mid-pack opportunist role

 

Race 12

5-Sweetest Belle – Fringe player against tougher @ Yonkers, gets substantial class relief for Team Cullipher & her stalking style might be more suitable on the mile track

 

8-Century Jamila – Added Lasix for a nice qualifier against the classy Zanatta, tough draw, but returns at an easier level to give Team Cullipher a strong 1-2 punch

 

7-Dontkarenifido – Not sure what we have here, but ships in fresh off an easy win at Yonkers first time Lasix & expecting a rally given the typical Pat Lachance conservative style

 

Race 13

6-Lettuceriprita A – 14YO warhorse let er rip again for a stylish post eight repeat rally, has had plenty to spare & The Hot Toddy has been sizzling

 

5-Just A Rocket Man – Unleashed pretty decisive score for trainer Bryan Quevedo’s first Big M win, confident drive by Braxton Boyd & looms as a big mid-pack repeat threat

 

1-Pack Your Bags – Packed a much bigger wallop to grab a minor share behind “Rita” last week, finally draws inside & long overdue

 

Race 14

3-Tailgate Buzz – The Buzz was a very good runner up two starts back, then had too far to come from post eight & this is a cozy spot for an improving 4YO

 

6-The American Eagle – His early-season sterling rallies & wins indicating some ability & now this Per Engblom trainee drops into a now or never spot

 

1-Pencils Down – Plummets to much softer level after hitting the board in her last two for Team Cullipher & lands the rail in a field ripe for the taking

 

Saturday, April 6 Selections

Race 1

4-Lovethewayyoulie – Took a mark of 1:52.4 here this season, slow starts in his last two has led to fringe status in this series & draws better to stalk the speed

 

6-Mariner Seelster – 15YO warhorse went shooting for five in a row & came up a bit short from post ten last week & now draws better as the likely pacesetter

 

9-Yer So Bad – Strong closer is on a nice form spree, flaunted his big late kick to nail a very game Ferdinand A last week & only needs the right set up from a tougher post

 

Race 2

1-Whimsical Journey – Launched a huge/wide move from tenth & hit the board with a wicked :26.1, now has the rail off that excellent acclimating mile & retains The Money Man

 

4-Concur – 0 for 12 this season, yet that skid might not last much longer, just missed with a hard-used effort last week & has been on the ticket in his last three with Hot Toddy

 

5-Hold My Drink – Two ten-holes & tough trips in a row, grinded gamely last week & went from last to second @ 50-1 before that

 

Race 3

5-Blazing Deo – Daughter of world champion Six Pack returns off a pretty solid 2YO season with a mark of 1:54.4 @ The Big M & won her qualifier with a nice late burst for Nifty Norman

 

2-She’s Spicy – Lightly-raced, yet promising Uncle Peter filly won both Pocono qualifiers with keen energy for Per Engblom & draws inside to tap her potential further

 

3-Casanova Hall – Greenshoe filly has tasted some minor stakes success, finished well in her lone qualifier, draws well to contend right off the hop & gives Nifty Norman 1-2 punch

 

Race 4

5-Rush In – That was some explosive late rally to upset in his debut, forgive the post ten miscue last week, this colt has the talent & upside to rebound for Team Toscano

 

6-Steely Knife – KYSS graduate banked $100k as a freshman, drew clear to win his Big M qualifier & leads the Team Burke triple threat in here

 

2-Tenacious Hanover – Flashed some late pace to hit the board chasing standout Mccrunch in a solid career debut & lands post two again for Team Toscano

 

Race 5

3-Battlefield – Pace compromised last out, been plagued tough posts & trips, now this nine-time winner last year gets a dose of class relief & draws well for Team Cullipher

 

1-BB Lucky Boy – Sub 1:50 performer @ The Big M last season dropped n popped in emphatic style last week & that could propel him to another air out mission from the rail

 

7-Bobcat Bay – The Bobcat almost tripped out & just missed from post nine two weeks ago, draws a challenging post, but drops another notch in this very intriguing puzzle

 

Race 6

4-Chapercraz – NYSS champion chased a 1:50 track record setting stablemate last week & draws well for his anticipated follow up off that much-needed start for Team Burke

 

1-Oh Look Magic – Late-season acquisition for Team Burke caught fire before taking three months off, equaled his lifetime mark in the qualifier here & lands the rail

 

9-Stable Genius – Hasn’t missed the board in four starts on the comeback trail for Team Cullipher, versatile gelding draws outside, yet continues to sharpen his sword

 

Race 7

5-Double Metal – Regaining form since the late February sick scratch, kicked home with crisp late pace to hit the ticket last week & might be on the verge

 

9-Jack’s Shadow N – 10YO been tackling some salty company @ Dover recently, note the energetic win in 1:50.4 three starts back & we could see a blastoff from post nine

 

1-Lyrical Genius A – Caught fire in his last three for Team Stratton, handled the class hike with a hard-charging third in Leg 1 last week & now rewarded with the rail

 

Race 8

7-Loorim Lake A – Was able to abruptly turn his game around with a vicious rally & just missed to Caveman A last week & figures to get another speed target to shoot at

 

4-Stonebridge Reef – Dropped another notch & suddenly found himself on a pressured lead & just missed to the trip-sitting Stride, this beaten favorite has the class to atone

 

5-Colossal Stride A – Fresh off a narrow loss he capitalized on a tailor made trip to deny Stonebridge Reef last week & we simply can’t rule out a repeat

 

Race 9

4-Mad Max Hanover – Three-time 1:47.4 performer @ The Big M gets class & post relief off the requisite tightening mile & can assert himself in a lively field

 

10-A Rocknroll Star – Beaten chalk again almost went all the way in aggressive style last week, stuck outside in this one, but remains in career form

 

6-Stellar Yankee – Overmatched fifth chasing Red Right Hand & the boys last week & drops back down to the level of a gritty wake up win two starts back

 

Race 10

7-Maximus Mike – Red-hot invader winning @ Dover & Pocono this season, crushed first over in the slop last out as the heavy favorite & figures to acclimate quickly with his relentless style

 

8-Nandolo N – Classy 10YO been tangling with Invite foes @ Yonkers, this noted Big M lover arrives fresh off a win on Monday & can handle an outside draw

 

5-Big Skewy N – Got overly ambitious in his US debut on Lasix, while pacing in 1:49.3 against the top guns & this might be a prime spot for him to continue on the rise

 

Race 11

4-Mask On Mask Off – Drops back down to the TM 80 level of the two-move score from post seven two starts back & draws better on a form spree

 

9-Just Plain Loco – 0 for ten this season & slammed with post nine, but gets some class relief fresh off a solid second last week & retains Todd McCarthy

 

8-Seeuinnashville A – Bumps up a notch fresh off a bounce-back upset last week & will need some pace to shoot at from a tougher post in a headscratcher

 

Race 12

6-Interest Free A – 0 for his last 23, yet actually showed some late interest in his last two, while gathering momentum & trending right on the comeback trail

 

1-Duddie’s Lor – Has flashed some positive hints while on the edges at times, finally drops a notch, lands the rail, long overdue & retains Yannick Gingras

 

4-Mister Donald A – Here’s another drop down & wake up candidate, on the board in two of his four & draws better in a camera-shy field that is a combined 0 for 44 this season

 

Race 13

7-Sidd Finch – Owns three Big M wins this season, two a notch above this, now he gets a double class drop & has a big chance to regain winning form

 

6-Amador – Ramping up on the comeback trail & fresh off a narrow loss, he rates serious contender status & looms large with a stalk n pounce strategy

 

5-Massive Matter – Beaten chalk just missed for the second time in his last three, steps up a notch, but loves the Big M & appears on the verge

 

Race 14

3-The Will To Play – What can you say? This rejuvenated 4YO has easily gone two-for-two since arriving in the Team Estrada barn, has lowered his mark to 1:51 & draws a better post

 

2-Its Rockin Randy – Was somehow able to flip a switch & blasted down the road to equal his lifetime mark from post seven & draws better to prove that was no fluke

 

1-Ferragamo Hanover – 4YO has sharpened his sword, solid runner up to The Will To Play in both series legs & lands the rail again to play a prime opportunist role