Consistent Page McKenney Back for Another Try in $100,000 Richard W. Small; Sonny Inspired Looms as Local Threat in $350,000 De Francis Dash
Consistent Page McKenney Back for Another Try in $100,000 Richard W. Small; Sonny Inspired Looms as Local Threat in $350,000 De Francis Dash
Apprentice Jockey Lane Luzzi Continuing Family Tradition
LAUREL, MD – Narrowly beaten in each of his past two starts, D Hatman Thoroughbreds’ Sonny Inspired makes his return to stakes company in Saturday’s $350,000 Frank J. De Francis Memorial Dash.
A gelded 4-year-old son of Artie Schiller, Sonny Inspired was third by a head in a seven-furlong optional claimer Oct. 23 at Laurel, his first start since being beaten a neck when third in a Timonium allowance Aug. 29.
Those starts came after a pair of failed turf attempts, where Sonny Inspired was off the board in the Lucky Coin at Saratoga and third behind Ben’s Cat and Night Officer in Laurel’s Mister Diz Stakes Aug. 22.
“He’s the kind of horse that runs to his competition. He wants to win or lose by a nose,” trainer Phil Schoenthal said. “We’re going to make an equipment change and run him with blinkers off and see if that helps him.”
Bred in Maryland and based at Laurel, Sonny Inspired represents a local threat in the De Francis. He has run 15 times at Laurel and been worse than third just twice, with four wins. His last victory came over the track and at the distance in an optional claiming allowance Feb. 14.
“The horse is doing good and ready to run. We might as well run and take a shot on our home track,” Schoenthal said. “He’s doing great, he has a great appetite, and he’s happy. He has his game face on, so there’s no reason not to put him in the entry box.”
Consistent Page McKenney Back for Another Try in $100,000 Richard W. Small
Second in last year’s race, Maryland-based multiple stakes winner Page McKenney will make his 40th career start in the $100,000 Richard W. Small for 3-year-olds and up going 1 1/8 miles on the main track.
Adam Staple and Jalin Stable’s 5-year-old gelding won the Robellino Stakes and was second by a nose in the Roanoke Stakes facing fellow Pennsylvania-breds in his past two starts. His last wins against open company were back-to-back stakes triumphs over the winter at Laurel, the John B. Campbell and Henry Johnson Memorial, each at 1 1/8 miles.
“He’s doing great right now,” trainer Mary Eppler said. “He’s very happy and he’s training well.”
Claimed for $16,000 in April 2013, Page McKenney has 12 wins, 12 seconds, four thirds and $860,178 in purse earnings over his career, and has not finished off the board since April 25, 2014, a span of 19 consecutive starts. The stretch includes five stakes victories, a second in the Pimlico Special (G3) and thirds in the Cornhusker Handicap (G3) and Charles Town Classic (G2) this year.
Page McKenney will break from post 8 in the nine-horse field with regular rider Horacio Karamanos at topweight of 124 pounds.
Apprentice Jockey Lane Luzzi Continuing Family Tradition
More than 2 ½ decades since Mike Luzzi got his start on the Maryland circuit, apprentice jockey Lane Luzzi is following in his father’s footsteps.
The 18-year-old Luzzi made his professional debut Wednesday at Laurel Park, closing from last after a troubled start to finish third in a $15,000 claiming event for 3-year-olds and up going 5 ½ furlongs on the main track.
Luzzi’s mount, Blimey, is trained by Lacey Gaudet, whose father, Eddie, was instrumental in giving Mike Luzzi a boost early in his career. The elder Luzzi would earn the Eclipse Award as top apprentice in 1989 and go on to more than 3,400 career victories, and counting.
Despite having had to battle back from numerous injuries, including one that cost him 10 months before his return this summer at Saratoga, Mike Luzzi remains supportive of his son’s career choice.
“It’s kind of mixed emotions. I’m a jockey. I block things out very easily. That’s why I’ve been able to do this for so long,” Luzzi said. “I kind of block all that stuff out and concentrate on doing what I can for him. He’s kind of in other people’s hands, and comes to me for advice. He’s been in the jock’s room since he was 4. He’s been riding the Equicizer since he was 3.”
Represented by agent Scott Silver, Lane Luzzi is not named to ride in any of the 11 races on Saturday’s six-stakes program. Mike Luzzi has the call on Spring to the Sky in the De Francis Dash. Luzzi won the inaugural running of the De Francis in 1990 aboard Northern Wolf.
