Page McKenney drops down to defend title in Robellino

Page McKenney, second or third in each of his last four starts against graded stakes-caliber competition on dirt, switches surfaces and drops into restricted company Saturday in the $75,000 Robellino Stakes at Penn National.

The Robellino, which goes as race 4 at 7:22 p.m. Eastern, is scheduled for 1 1/16 miles on turf and drew a field of 10 Pennsylvania-breds, including two also-eligibles.

Although the 5-year-old Page McKenney won last year’s Robellino by daylight, that race was shifted to the main track. His last 10 races have been on dirt, including a runner-up finish in the Grade 3 Pimlico Special and thirds in the Grade 2 Charles Town Classic and Grade 3 Cornhusker Handicap earlier this season.

The last time Page McKenney tried turf, he was third in last fall’s Alphabet Soup at Parx.

The 8-year-old Roadhog won the 2012 running of the Robellino and was second in the 2011 renewal, but his only win in 10 starts over the past two seasons came on Tapeta at Presque Isle Downs. He’s cross-entered in the $60,000 Find at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Laurel Park.

Forward Thinker is a synthetic specialist, with all six of his wins coming at Presque Isle. His lone try on turf produced an 89 Beyer Speed Figure in a nose defeat. If he can replicate that performance, he would be a serious contender.

Five of Waynesborough’s six wins have come on dirt, but he was a good second on turf against open company in a second-level optional $25,000 claimer at Parx in May and merits respect with the drop to statebreds.

Non-firm turf would benefit Athelstane, who missed by a head over yielding ground in last summer’s Crowd Pleaser at Parx, and Starry Moon, who was 1 1/4 lengths behind Athelstane in that same 1 1/16-mile stakes.