Page McKenney aims for third straight at Parx

Page McKenney is based at Pimlico with trainer Mary Eppler. But with no racing in Maryland since early June, the 4-year-old Page McKenney has found a home away from home at Parx Racing near Philadelphia.

Eppler has brought Page McKenney to Parx three times since late May, and the Pennsylvania-bred gelding collected two wins and a close second. Despite clearing his first two allowance conditions in his two most recent outings, Page McKenney remains eligible for Monday’s $45,000 feature, a first-level allowance scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf.

Under the conditions of the eighth race, Page McKenney’s victories against statebreds don’t count against his eligibility, so he figures to be a heavy favorite against eight rivals.

Viable alternatives include the 3-year-old School On a Hill, who makes his first start off a $40,000 claim for high-percentage trainer Mike Pino, and Big Feat, the winner of a restricted stakes on turf at Parx last season.

Race 8

KEY CONTENDERS

Page McKenney (Last 3 Beyers: 81-77-86)

◗ Each of his last two turf Beyers (81-86) exceed the par of 80 for Monday’s race level.

◗ Formulator Fact: Eppler is 0 for 4 with last-out winners in turf routes coming back within 21 days, including a sixth-place finish by Page McKenney last November.

School On a Hill (Last 3 Beyers: 56-74-66)

◗ Formulator Fact: Pino is 13 for 36 (36 percent) the first time off a claim with runners freshened from 61 to 180 days.

◗ Formulator Fact: Pino runners going from synthetic to turf following a layoff of more than 45 days are 9 for 23 (39 percent).

Big Feat (Last 3 Beyers: 69-76-62)

◗ Won the 1 1/16-mile Crowd Pleaser Handicap almost exactly a year ago.

◗ Second at the same level as Monday’s race two starts ago.

Merry’s Very Won (Last 3 Beyers 76-64-70)

◗ Returns to turf for the first time since a runner-up finish at this level last September.

◗ Winless in six tries on grass.

Global Glow (Last 3 Beyers: 79-72-68)

◗ Rallied from 10 lengths behind to miss by three-quarters of a length against similar horses a month ago.

◗ His only win in the past two years came against much weaker company at Atlantic City.