Bump N Run Courageous in Sunday Feature
Yedsit Hazlewood Rides Three Winners
LAUREL, MD—March has been a whirlwind month for Danny Eubanks.
Eight days ago, he was in the winner’s circle celebrating his mother Annette Eubanks’s 500th career training victory.
On Friday, the Eubanks family gathered at Laurel Park to honor Guy Eubanks, Danny’s father, for his 90th birthday.
This afternoon, it was Danny’s moment to shine. Making his official debut as a trainer—although he has managed Annette’s barn for the past year and a half—Eubanks scored a win on his first try.
Mugatu ($9.40) surged from last under jockey Carlos Lopez to win the day’s opener, a $20,000 starter allowance for 4-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles.
“I think I stopped breathing at the quarter pole until he crossed the line,” Danny Eubanks said in the winner’s circle. “This isn’t as big as the emotions when my mom won her 500th because that took a lot more effort. This feels pretty easy, but this was a work in progress all along. Right now, to have my mom’s 500th, dad’s 90th on Friday, and this first start for me, it’s awesome.”
It’s been an interesting journey for Mugatu, a 5-year-old gelding sired by Maryland stallion Blofeld.
Two years ago, Mugatu competed in the Preakness Stakes while trained by Jeff Engler. The chestnut also finished in the top three in two stakes races that year, including third place in the Maryland Million Classic.
After moving through various barns, Mugatu was bought by Danny Eubanks’s Rising Sun Racing Stables in a $30,000 claim last summer.
“My good friend and trainer, Greg Sacco, called me and asked if I wanted to claim something for the [2025 Maryland Million] Classic,” Eubanks explained. “I felt like I paid a little too much for him, especially when entries came out for the Classic. He didn’t belong, but that’s why I claimed him, and I stuck with the game plan. I knew I had this three-life condition that he’s eligible for to protect him for $20,000. It took me a little longer than I expected. This is what I’ve been expecting for three or four races.”
Although Danny Eubanks has gone solo, Annette isn’t retiring just yet.
“The ones that are in our name, she wants to stay on as trainer,” Danny Eubanks said. “Anything that’s Rising Sun or some other partners I’m bringing along will be in my name.”
*Bump N Run courageous in Sunday feature
“Glad to meet you,” trainer Tim Shaw said to jockey Angel Cruz as the latter led Bump N Run back to the winner’s circle after the featured tenth race, a $56,000 allowance race for 4-year-olds and up at six furlongs.
Shaw is based at Parx during the winter, and he needed a rider for Bump N Run after his listed jockey, Silvestre Gonzalez, was unavailable.
Enter Cruz, who has experienced a resurgence during this Laurel Park meet. He ranks second in the jockey standings with 19 wins and gave Bump N Run a strong ride.
There wasn’t much early speed entered, but Cruz kept Bump N Run close to the pace while the favorite, Prince of Jericho, posted fractions of 23.24 and 46.88 seconds.
Prince of Jericho tried to slip away, but Bump N Run smoothly moved to the front as they entered the stretch. Bump N Run then refused to yield to his tough opponent, winning by a neck in 1:11.53 on the fast track.
Bump N Run paid $43.60 as the sixth betting choice.
Howgreatisnate finished 1 ¾ lengths behind the runner-up. No Easy Days, Karan’s Notion, Bouncer, and Goodbye Note finished in that order. Studlydoright was scratched.
Bump N Run, a 6-year-old gelding bred in Maryland by Shaw and Elaine Morgan, is owned by Morgan. He’s by Tapiture out of stakes-placed turf sprinter Trish’s Wish by Smoke Glacken.
Although Bump N Run was one of the longest shots in the field, Shaw exuded confidence before the race.
“He’s won this condition three times already,” he said before walking Bump N Run up the homestretch and back to the barn area.
*Yedsit Hazlewood wins three races
Apprentice jockey Yedsit Hazlewood, the meet’s top rider, won three races on Sunday afternoon.
Hazlewood, who holds a commanding 24-win lead over Cruz in the race for the riding title, teamed up for two winners with his mentor, trainer Jose Corrales. They won the third race with Last Gift ($4.80), then took the seventh aboard recently claimed Momentum Files ($4.60).
Hazlewood finished the afternoon with a win aboard Bjorn ($4.20) for trainer Hugh McMahon.
A native of Panama who turned 18 on March 10, Hazlewood was the runner-up in last year’s Eclipse Award balloting for Outstanding Apprentice Jockey. Currently, Hazlewood is tied for second in the nation in wins this year.
Around the track:
Miracle Wood Stakes winner Taj Mahal breezed four furlongs in 50.80 seconds on Sunday morning for trainer Brittany Russell. The undefeated Nyquist colt is targeting the Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct on April 4.
Unbeaten Magic Wallet, unraced since winning the Dover Stakes at Delaware Park on August 14, worked a half-mile in 50.60 seconds for trainer Kieron Magee.
Maryland Million Lassie winner Slewperstitus completed six furlongs in 1:14.20 for trainer Robbie Bailes. The Great Notion filly also placed in multiple stakes last year, including her most recent race, the Gin Talking at Laurel on December 27.
Apprentice jockey Jose Vargas, who won three races at Laurel on Friday, kept his hot streak going by winning twice on Sunday afternoon. Vargas scored a natural double, riding Sunflower State ($4.20) in the fourth race and Crab Daddy ($7.20) in the fifth.
Live racing resumes Friday with an eight-race card. The first post is at 12:00 pm ET. Additionally, Laurel Park offers two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout rate.
The free “Laurel Park Handicapping Guide” is available on every race day. It provides picks, analysis, trainer stats, trip notes, horses to watch, track bias info, and more from The Maryland Jockey Club’s team of handicappers. Friday’s guide is released on Thursday evening. Click here to view it.
Reserve your spot for our weekly “Bubbly Brunch Sundays.” Relax with friends over delicious brunch favorites and bottomless mimosas at our vibrant Stone Bar Restaurant and Bar. Sunday Brunch starts at 11:00 am ET. Learn more here.
Never miss a second of the action on the Laurel Park YouTube channel. Click here to watch full pan and head-on replays.
Watch “Today at the Races,” the Maryland Jockey Club’s morning handicapping show every racing day at 11 am ET on the Maryland Jockey Club X account. Click here to watch.
