Page McKenney, who spent the early part of his career in anonymity but has since developed into a multiple stakes winner with lifetime earnings of more than $1 million, was named the Maryland-based Horse of the Year for 2015 by the Maryland Racing Media Association.
Owned by Adam Staple and Jalin Stable, Page McKenney will be honored by the group Feb. 13 at Laurel Park, a day that includes the $75,000 Maryland Racing Media Stakes and is highlighted by the $300,000 Barbara Fritchie Stakes (gr. II) for older filly and mare sprinters.
Page McKenney is entered in the day's seventh race, the $75,000 John B. Campbell Handicap, and also is entered in the $250,000 General George Stakes (gr. III) Feb. 15 at Laurel.
A 6-year-old Eavesdropper gelding trained by Mary Eppler, Page McKenney won five of 10 starts and earned nearly $600,000 last year. All five of his wins came in stakes, including the John B. Campbell and Harrison E. Johnson Memorial handicaps and the Richard W. Small Stakes at Laurel.
He was third in the $1.5 million Charles Town Classic (gr. II), second in the Pimlico Special (gr. III), and third in the Cornhusker Handicap (gr. III). He was bred in Pennsylvania by Dr. James Bryant and Linda Davis.
"We are pleased to honor Page McKenney as Maryland-based Horse of the Year," Maryland Racing Media Association president Ted Black said. "His class and consistency epitomize the kind of hard-hitting Maryland runners that we've become so familiar with over the years. And we especially commend trainer Mary Eppler, owners Adam Staple and Jalin Stable, and the whole team on their marvelous job of managing most of (his) splendid career."
Page McKenney garnered the Maryland-based Horse of the Year title over Lady Sabelia, who won three of five starts and earned nearly $330,000 last year for trainer Robin Graham and owner/breeder Mrs. Frank Wright, highlighted by a victory in the Barbara Fritchie.
