Page McKenney launches comeback in Native Dancer

The Native Dancer is the last of four $75,000 stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday. It also will be the first start in nine months for Page McKenney, one of the most popular runners in the region.

Page McKenney has won 15 races and more than $1.3 million since being claimed for $16,000 by owner Adam Staple and trainer Mary Eppler. He started off 2016 in the best form of his career, winning the 1 1/16-mile Native Dancer and Grade 3 General George before finishing second in the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic.

Eppler scratched Page McKenney from the $300,000 Pimlico Special due to filling in a tendon. He has since been hand-walked for three months, given three ultrasound therapy treatments, and spent enough time on an AquaTred to earn a lifeguard’s certificate.

Now 7, and with eight workouts under his belt, the question is, can he pick up where he left off?

“I think he can, yes,” Eppler said. “He’s acting the same pretty much. I think I have him ready even though he is probably a little heavier than usual.”

It should be remembered that Page McKenney didn’t tear his tendon and had only some swelling. Eppler has said he could have run in the Pimlico Special, but she did not want to risk aggravating the injury. Eppler said Page McKenney likely hurt himself by compensating for a hip ailment.

“My chiropractor and acupuncturist picked up some points in his hip and worked on them,” Eppler said. “When the tendon acted up, we ultrasounded the hip and found some inflammation. We gave the hip three ultrasound treatments, too, and it’s been fine. I’m just happy we were able to find it.”

Diagnosing injuries of this type often can be difficult, especially on a horse with a mild disposition.

“It’s hard to tell with him because he’s so laid-back,” Eppler said. “The only sign anything was bothering him was he began pulling on the rider during his gallops. It was like he wanted to get his work over with and get back to the barn.”

Handicappers should note that Saturday’s race is the first step in Page McKenney’s comeback and that more important goals lie ahead.

“I just want to see him run good and come back good,” Eppler said.

Page McKenney’s chief rival in the eight-horse Native Dancer will be Charitable Annuity, who is coming off a strong win in the $100,000 Swatara at Penn National. Both Charitable Annuity and Page McKenney are likely to come from off the pace, and reasonable fractions seem likely with Warrioroftheroses, Red Dragon Tattoo, and Comic Destiny in the field.

Native Dancer, Race 7

Key Contenders

Page McKenney, by Eavesdropper
Last 3 Beyers: 101-101-97

◗ He missed a work in early January due to the weather but came back to breeze five furlongs in the slop Jan. 13. Eppler said he also worked a mile Dec. 18, but it didn’t make the work tab.

“I worked him first thing in the morning, and it was still dark,” she said.

Charitable Annuity, by Charitable Man
Last 3 Beyers: 91-89-81

◗ A winner of 13 of 21 starts, he is based with trainer James W. Casey at Charles Town. Casey’s son, James M. Casey, is the trainer of record for this race.

Kid Cruz, by Lemon Drop Kid
Last 3 Beyers: 66-90-92

◗ Trained by Linda Rice, he will be making his first start since August after being turned out for 90 days.

◗ Kid Cruz is 2 for 2 at Laurel, having won the John B. Campbell last February and the Private Terms in 2014.

Red Dragon Tattoo, by Bellamy Road
Last 3 Beyers: 93-75-80

◗ Undefeated in three starts for Parx-based Carlos Guerrero, he will be making his stakes debut.