MATCH Series a Cherry on Top of Page McKenney's Career

With its 2018 relaunch, the Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship Series returned just in time for a horse like Page McKenney.

In the final start of his career, the 8-year-old Eavesdropper gelding delivered a third-place finish in the Monmouth Cup Stakes (G3) July 29 at Monmouth Park. He earned MATCH Series points with that effort as well as his May 26 victory in the Salvator Mile Stakes (G3) and his runner-up finish in the Philip H. Iselin Stakes June 30 to clinch the title in the 3-Year-Old and Up Long—Dirt Division.

Not every good horse is going to compete for classic wins, a Breeders' Cup victory, or an Eclipse Award. The MATCH Series provided just a bit of extra spotlight for Page McKenney this season before the popular veteran wrapped up a seven-season career in which he won two graded stakes, 12 other black-type stakes, and placed in another 13 stakes for trainer Mary Eppler and owners Adam Staple and Jalin Stable,

Page McKenney won 22 of 58 starts and earned more than $1.9 million, a fantastic career for a hard-knocker who lost the first 12 starts of his career. His MATCH Series division title adds more recognition, not to mention divisional bonuses for the top finish of $25,000 for the owners and $15,000 for the trainer.

Page McKenney was claimed for $16,000 in July 2013 at Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course from his breeders, James Bryant and Linda Davis, who then rejoined the team as co-owners through Jalin Stable. He is the leading Pennsylvania-bred male in the overall MATCH Series by points, so his breeders will earn a $5,000 bonus provided by the Pennsylvania Horse Breeders Association.

A tendon injury in his left front leg ended Page McKenney's racing career.

"Who has runs like this? I'm watching all these elite-level horses—ones that have come and gone, good geldings, good stallion prospects. There are some that we've run against that already have racehorses out there," Staple said when Page McKenney's retirement was announced Aug. 25. "You look at it and all you can do is shake your head and say, 'It was amazing.' It was a long, amazing run."

MATCH Series Leaders

Rank    Horse    Points

Overall leaders

1.  Laki*    23

2T.  Page McKenney*    22

2T.  Oak Bluffs*    22

2T. Jessica Krupnick    22

5.  Imprimis    20

3-Year-Olds and Up, Long—Dirt Division

1.  Page McKenney*    22

3-Year-Olds & Up, Fillies and Mares Sprint--Dirt Division

1.  Jessica Krupnick    22

2T.  Startwithsilver    8

2T.  Liz's Cable Girl    8

4. Day by Day    4

3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Turf Division

1.  Oak Bluffs*    22

2T.  Imprimis    20

2T.  Pool Winner*    19

4.  Dubini*    12

5.  Ray'swarrior    5

3-Year-Olds and Up, Fillies and Mares Sprint—Turf Division

1.  Smiling Causeway    12

2.  Pretty Perfection    10

3. Daylight Ahead      2

3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint—Dirt Division

1.  Laki*    23

2.  Lewisfield*    19

3.  Chublicious    11

4.  It's the Journey    7

5.  Fellowship    4

Note: Standings only include horses in top five places by division who have completed enough starts to qualify, (marked with a "*") or could have enough starts to qualify.