By Joe Bianca
April 25, 2014, Pimlico Race Course. Page McKenney (Eavesdropper) was cut off at the start of a 1 1/16-mile first-level allowance on turf, had traffic trouble going into the clubhouse turn and ran on too late to factor, finishing fifth at 7-1. This result doesn't sound significant, but it is, only because of what has–or hasn't–happened since.
The chestnut gelding has run 24 times in the intervening two-plus years and has not once finished out of the trifecta. 13 wins, eight seconds and three thirds, all despite a diet of nothing but stakes races in his last 19 outings.
“He just tries every single time,” Page McKenney's trainer, Mary Eppler said. “If you ever met the horse, you would think that he was just a pony. You wouldn't think, in the barn, that he would have that kind of competitiveness.”
Claimed for $16,000 by Eppler and owner Adam Staple back in July 2013, 'Page' has now earned over $1.4 million and became a graded stakes winner with his head victory in the GIII General George S. at Laurel Park Feb. 15. Friday, he will try to capture the GIII Pimlico Special, a race in which he was runner-up last year. The Special is one of the most historic stakes in Maryland racing and one that Eppler feels a unique connection to.
“I trained for Mr. [Alfred G.] Vanderbilt,” Eppler said, “and he was the one that got the race going, so it would mean an awful lot to me.”
Page McKenney's remarkable consistency makes him feel like an especially young 6-year-old. Eppler is hoping to have him around for many more racing years–and beyond.
“Sort of like Ben's Cat, we're hoping that he can come back and still be competitive at 10,” she said. “He's just such a nice horse and I love being around him. I was talking to Jim Bryant, the breeder and part-owner, that I would love to have him for my stable pony when he retires, because he would love to do that.”
As for the here and now, Page McKenney most recently finished second to Stanford (Malibu Moon) in the GII Charles Town Classic S. when that one was able to dictate a slow pace. Stanford is on the fence about running Friday, but if he does, Eppler envisions more preferable race dynamics for Page.
“I think it's a whole different race scenario here,” she opined. “One, it's only two turns. Two, there's other speed in the race. The last time, Donworth and Stanford were the only speed. Donworth didn't break, we ended up having to chase the pace, which I think is very tough and a little bit off his game, but he still ran very well. This race, there's a lot of pace up front, you have Warrioroftheroses, Noble Bird and Stanford, so I think it's going to set up totally different and there's an eight-pound weight shift.”
One thing's for sure: if you're betting the race, it would be wise not to leave Page McKenney out of any trifecta plays.
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