Multiple horses are contending for the overall Mid-Atlantic Thoroughbred Championship Series title heading into what was supposed to be the final weekend, but the weather forecast has forced changes to the series' schedule.
Because of the expected impact of Hurricane Florence, the Maryland Jockey Club Sept. 10 called an audible and rescheduled its Sept. 15 multi-stakes program—including many grass races—to Sept. 22. Based on current forecasts, the storm could dump up to four inches of rain in the area.
The MJC will instead draw a non-stakes program for Sept. 15. Nominations for the stakes scheduled for Sept. 15 were reopened and will now close Sept. 12.
The three MATCH Series races scheduled for Saturday at Laurel will move to Sept. 22, with the draw to be held Sept. 19. They are the grade 3, $250,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash (3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint-Dirt Division), $100,000 Laurel Turf Dash (3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint-Turf Division), and the $100,000 Sensible Lady Turf Dash (Filly and Mare Sprint-Turf Division).
As of yet, the weather forecast hasn't led to any changes at the other two tracks holding MATCH events Sept. 15-16.
The draw for the $100,000 Roamin Rachel Stakes (Filly and Mare Sprint-Dirt Division) at Parx Racing takes place Sept. 10, with the race scheduled for Sept. 15. The draw for the $200,000 Presque Isle Mile (3-Year-Olds and Up Long-Dirt Division) Sept. 16 will be Sept. 11, but with the retirement of division winner Page McKenney and multiple horses that passed on MATCH stakes to run in stakes in New York, no horse entered will qualify for bonus money.
The following is a look, researched by MATCH organizers, at the maximum and minimum points a horse could have should they win, or finish sixth through last, respectively, in one of the final MATCH Series legs. All horses listed also are in the running for either a division title ($25,000 to the owner and $15,000 to the trainer) or owner and trainer bonuses for a second- or third-place finish by points in a division (second, $15,000 and $10,000; and third, $10,000 and $5,000).
The owner of the overall MATCH champion by points regardless of division will collect $50,000 and the trainer $25,000.
Horse Maximum points Minimum points Upcoming race
Laki 40 31 De Francis Dash
Oak Bluffs 39 30 Laurel Turf Dash
Jessica Krupnick 37 28 Roamin Rachel
Lewisfield 34 25 De Francis Dash
Pool Winner 34 25 Laurel Turf Dash
Imprimis 30 21 Laurel Turf Dash
Dubini 27 18 Laurel Turf Dash
Smiling Causeway 22 13 Sensible Lady
It's the Journey 22 13 De Francis Dash
Liz's Cable Girl 18 9 Roamin Rachel
Daylight Ahead 12 3 Sensible Lady
Pool Winner, Smiling Causeway and It's the Journey weren't nominated to their respective MATCH division stakes, but nominations were reopened through Sept. 12 because of postponement of the Sept. 15 program.
Page McKenney had competed in the first three legs of the 3-Year-Olds and Up Long-Dirt Division and accumulated 22 points with a win, a second and a third in three consecutive grade III stakes before his retirement was announced. The 8-year-old Pennsylvania-bred gelding, a former $16,000 claimer, captured the spirit of the MATCH Series and, due to his success at Parx Racing over the years, will be inducted into the Pennsylvania track's Hall of Fame Sept. 15.
Page McKenney, owned by Adam Staple and Jalin Stable and trained by Mary Eppler, started at Parx 10 times with seven wins, two seconds and one third from 2014 to 2017. Five of his victories came in stakes: the Pennsylvania Derby Champions (2017), the Roanoke (2017 and 2015), the Lyman (2017), and the First Responder (2014).
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
2. Liz's Cable Girl 8
3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint--Turf Division
1. Oak Bluffs* 22
2T. Imprimis 20
2T. Pool Winner* 19
4. Dubini* 12
3-Year-Olds and Up, Fillies and Mares Sprint--Turf Division
1. Smiling Causeway 12
3. Daylight Ahead 2
3-Year-Olds and Up Sprint--Dirt Division
1. Laki* 23
2. Lewisfield* 19
4. It's the Journey 7
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.