Page McKenney Seizes Overall MATCH Series Points Lead
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Photo: Bill Denver/EQUI-PHOTO
Harlan Punch earned 10 MATCH series points with his June 30 win in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes at Monmouth Park
While Page McKenney settled for second place in the $100,000 Philip H. Iselin Stakes (G3) June 30 at Monmouth Park, that outcome was good enough to vault the 8-year-old veteran to the top in the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship series.
In his MATCH series debut, David Jacobson's Harlan Punch secured a clear lead early in the field of four and rolled to a 5 1/4-length score, completing the 1 1/16-mile test in 1:44.53. While Harlan Punch earned 10 MATCH series points with the win, Page McKenney earned 7 points when he overcame some bumping to finish second. Page McKenney, who picked up 10 points when he won the May 26 Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) at Monmouth, also moved to the top of the 3-Year-Old and Up Long Dirt Division.
Mary Eppler, who trains Page McKenney for Adam Staple and Jalin Stable, said the hard-knocking gelding, who won the grade III Salvator Mile to kick off the MATCH Series division, came out of the Iselin in good order. She said the third race in the division July 29, the $150,000 Monmouth Cup (G3), is on the radar.
July 7 will mark a busy day for the MATCH series, which will offer three races. Parx Racing will welcome the both the 3-Year-Old and Up Sprint Turf Division, when runners line up for the $200,000 Parx Dash Stakes (G3T); and the 3-Year-Old and Up Fillies and Mares Sprint Turf Division, in the $100,000 Turf Amazon Stakes. Both races will be contested at five furlongs.
At Delaware Park Saturday, runners in the $75,000 Dashing Beauty Stakes will be earning points in the 3-Year-Old & Up Fillies and Mares Sprint Dirt Division.
Rank Horse Points
Overall Divisional Leaders (Top Five, through June 17)
1. Page McKenney
2. Oak Bluffs 15
3. Lewisfield 12
4. Eight tied with 10
3-Year-Old & Up Long-Dirt
1. Page McKenney 17
2. Harlan Punch 10
3. Shaft of Light 7
4T. Backsideofthemoon 5
4T. Sunny Ridge 5
3-Year-Old & Up Female Dirt Sprint
1. Vertical Oak 10
2. Chalon 10
3. Startwithsilver 8
4. Jessica Krupnick 7
5T. Ms Locust Point 5
5T. Liz's Cable Girl 3
3-Year-Old & Up Turf Sprint
1. Oak Bluffs 15
2. Imprimis 10
3T. Rocket Heat 7
3T. Dubini 7
5. Jaguar Poz 5
3-Year-Old & Up Female Turf Sprint
1T. Girls Know Best 10
1T. Morticia 10
3T. Pretty Perfection 7
3T. Rocky Policy 7
5T. Anna's Bandit 5
5T. Just Talkin 5
3-Year-Old & Up Dirt Sprint
1. Lewisfield 12
2T. Switzerland 10
2T. Chublicious 10
4. Long Haul Bay 7
5. Laki 6