Page McKenney romped in the Harrison Johnson at Laurel earlier this year. Photo by The Racing Biz.
From a Maryland Jockey Club release
Page McKenney has finished second and third in his last two starts, both in graded company. Now, the multiple-stakes winner, claimed for $16,000 two years ago by his current owners and trainer Mary Eppler, is headed to Prairie Meadows and the $300,000 Cornhusker Handicap (G3) Saturday, June 27.
The Cornhusker will be Page McKenney’s first start since finishing second May 15 in the Pimlico Special (G3) behind the graded-stakes winner Commissioner. The gelding previously finished third April 18 in the Charles Town Classic (G2). Eppler said the 5-year-old came out of the Pimlico Special fine with the exception of a cut on the back of his left ankle.
“He hit it coming out of the gate at Charles Town but all he did was knock the hair off,” she said. “He must have hit it again in the Pimlico Special. When he came back it was bleeding. Back at Parx he stumbled leaving the gate and hit himself in front, and those are the only three times he’s really done that.”
Eppler said the ankle has fully healed and she’s looking forward to the Cornhusker. When asked about Page McKenney’s performance this year, which includes victories at Laurel in the Harrison Johnson Memorial and John B. Campbell, Eppler said; “I wish I had more like him.”
“He just has such a huge heart,” she added. “He doesn’t care who he runs against. I was looking at the field for the Pimlico Special and those horses were huge, and then there’s little Page. He doesn’t care, he just tries. And he’s a fun horse to be around because he’s no trouble. He’s easy to train and I think he just really loves being at the racetrack. He’s in the first stall at the barn and he can see the racetrack. He just stands in the front of his stall and watches the horses train. He just loves the atmosphere.”
