Page McKenney will get time to recover from tendon injury

Mid-Atlantic favorite Page McKenney, who was scratched by trainer Mary Eppler the morning of the $300,000 Pimlico Special on May 20 with slight filling in a tendon, is doing well but is unlikely to return to training in the near future.

Eppler said the injury is relatively minor. She had an ultrasound performed the day the injury was discovered and had another image done last Friday. She was pleased with what it showed.

“The swelling is pretty much down; there is very little filling there,” Eppler said. “This is the type of injury he can definitely come back from.”

Eppler said Page McKenney has had shock-wave therapy on his tendon and will have three additional sessions two weeks apart. At that point, another ultrasound will be performed. Page McKenney remains at Eppler’s Pimlico barn.

Shock-wave therapy can promote faster healing by stimulating bone growth, tissue regeneration, and the release of endorphins.

“After we’re done with the treatments, I’m probably going to send him to the farm for a while,” Eppler said. “I think he likes that, and he sure deserves it.”

Eppler said it is too soon to know if Page McKenney will race again this year.

“I’m going to be patient with him,” Eppler said. “Page doesn’t even think he’s hurting at all. He’s bouncing around the shed row, just playing. He would have liked to gallop this morning.”

Page McKenney has been an amazing claim. Taken by owner Adam Staple and Eppler for $16,000 out of a nonwinners-of-two race in July 2013, he has since won 15 races and $1.38 million. He has not finished worse than third in 24 straight races dating to April 2014.