Page McKenney returns with triumph in Lyman

It wasn't easy, but Page McKenney did what was needed to win the $100,000 Lyman, a seven-furlong stakes for Pennsylvania-breds at Parx Racing on Saturday.

Page McKenney was returning from a 10-week layoff after bruising one of his heels while training following a rough-trip second in the John B. Campbell Stakes at Laurel Park in February. The Lyman distance also is a bit short for the 7-year-old gelding, who has now won 18 of his 47 starts.

Page McKenney moved up to a contending position behind the leaders on the backstretch, then went outside pacesetting Duval and Moe Trouble nearing the stretch. Page McKenney did not immediately accelerate for jockey Horacio Karamanos, but he ground out a 1 1/4-length victory, while clocked in 1:23.38.

Someday Jones, who was never far back, swung out four wide entering the stretch. He continued willingly in the stretch under jockey Jorge Vargas Jr. and nosed out Duval for second.

Page McKenney, Duval, and Someday Jones all drifted during the stretch run. Vargas lodged an objection against Page McKenney and Karamanos for interference, but after a lengthy inquiry, the stewards correctly let the order of finish stand.

Page McKenney, who races for Adam Staple and is trained by Mary Eppler, paid $5.20 as the favorite in the 11-horse field, which included an entry. Page McKenney is Pennsylvania-sired as well as bred and earned $75,000 of the total purse of $121,500.

Page Mckenney now has earnings of $1.54 million. Staple and Eppler claimed him for $16,000 out of a nonwinners-of-two claiming race at Penn National in July 2013. He has since won 17 races.

Foxy J. G.: Discreet Senorita scores an upset

Discreet Senorita, making her second start following a 15-month layoff, sprung a 10-1 upset in the Foxy J. G. Stakes, a seven-furlong race for Pennsylvania-bred fillies and mares.

Neither of the two favorites, Disco Chick nor Dark Nile, had a good beginning. Disco Chick, 2-1, broke slowly and then steadily worked her way to the lead during the opening quarter-mile. Dark Nile, the 8-5 favorite who was making her first start since August, stumbled at the break. She moved up between horses but was finished early and was eased in the stretch.

Rowd E Allie settled into second position behind Disco Chick. Discreet Senorita and 19-1 Heatherly raced third and fourth early.

Rowd E Allie began to weaken in upper stretch. Discreet Senorita lodged her bid outside Disco Chick, while Heatherly stayed to the inside.

As Disco Chick began to shorten stride, Discreet Senorita took control and defeated Heatherly by two lengths.

Disco Chick finished third, 2 1/2 lengths behind Heatherly. It was 2 3/4 lengths farther back to Rowd E Allie.

Discreet Senorita paid $13.40 in the eight-horse field. She was timed in 1:23.76.

A 5-year-old daughter of Discreet Cat trained by Ed Lehman, Discreet Senorita won the Dr. Teresa Garofalo for statebreds at Parx in September 2015. She made three more starts that fall before going to the sidelines for an extended layoff. She finished third in an optional claiming race at Parx in her comeback in February.

Discreet Senorita is now eight for 14 in her career with earnings of $365,396.