Majorca wins again for Eubanks

LAUREL, MD—A little time, love, and tenderness from owner-breeder Mary Voss and trainer Danielle Hodsdon transformed Zevon from a surly young horse into a successful equine athlete.

“They sent him to me because he couldn’t get on a trailer,” Hodsdon said after Zevon wired the field in Sunday’s co-featured fifth race, a $49,000 first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up at 1 1/16 miles on the Exceller Turf Course. “They had an animal communicator, and people worked with him, but he wouldn’t get on a trailer, only big vans.”

That, along with other behavioral quirks, forced Hodsdon to take her time with Zevon.

Zevon, making his seasonal debut, bounded to the lead under jockey Horacio Karamanos, set early fractions of 24.18 and 48.59, continued rolling after six furlongs in 1:12.43, then had enough left in the stretch to repel Alakan by three-quarters of a length in 1:42.51 on firm going.

“He likes to sit handy,” Hodsdon stated. “I was a little surprised when he actually hit the lead, but then they were allowed to go easy enough fractions. He loves just galloping along like that.”

Punxsutawney Phil finished another length behind in third place. Edgerton, Drilling for Gold, El Tinmarin, Hanksdiviningrod, Spring Decision, Respighi, Beekman Street, Koru, and Waldrip followed.

Zevon paid $41.40 to win. Long Legged Luis, Fighterown, Joe the Jet, and Street Rockin scratched out.

Zevon, making his 17th lifetime start, raced with Lasix for the first time.

“He actually started bleeding at the end of last year, so we gave him a nice long break, and decided to add it,” Hodsdon admitted.

Zevon’s lone prior victory came in a 1 ¼-mile maiden special weight at Colonial, and he finished a strong second in a first-level allowance at Laurel at 1 ½ miles late last summer.

“He's probably one of the biggest horses I've ever been around,” Hodsdon continued. “He'd like to go longer. I would have much preferred 1 1/8 miles, but he did it today.”

Zevon is an 8-year-old Maryland-bred by Imagining, out of Grade 1-placed Zafeen’s Pearl, by Zafeen.

“He’s always been a bit of a project,” Hodsdon said. “I got him when he was four, but he’s just been a fun horse that always tries.”

Zevon flashed a bit of his devilish streak in the paddock before Sunday’s race. He circled the paddock twice as Hodsdon tried to cinch the girth around his huge frame.

“Today was a really good day," Hodsdon laughed. "He's very good at home, but he's tough at the races.”

*Majorca wins again for Eubanks

Last month, Majorca’s victory marked the 500th career win for veteran trainer Annette Eubanks.

Eubanks has been in poor health recently and was represented in the winner’s circle that afternoon by her son, Daniel Eubanks.

Since that race, Daniel Eubanks obtained his own trainer’s license and recorded his third lifetime win with Majorca in the co-featured eighth race, a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up at one mile.

Following a delay caused by a photo-finish camera malfunction, Majorca showed good early speed under jockey Martin Chuan and engaged in an early tussle with Who’s the King through fractions of 23.78 and 47.65 seconds.

Majorca had Who’s the King’s number after six furlongs in 1:14.34 and fended off all stretch challengers to win by three lengths in 1:41.61 on the fast main track.

Straight to Water finished second, followed by Brindano, Jolly by Golly, Who’s the King, and favored Reynolds Channel. James P Sullivan, Tony Eclipse, Marcan Love, and Mugatu scratched out.

Majorca, a 4-year-old gelding sired by Volatile, has an interesting background. He was purchased for $135,000 as a yearling and ran his first six races for trainer Todd Pletcher before being sold for $52,000 at a public auction last summer.

“I received a call from Keri Brion, one of my trainers,” Daniel Eubanks said after Majorca’s maiden win. “Someone bought him at the sale and sent him to Joe Sharp in Saratoga. He worked once for Sharp and cracked a sesamoid. It was a miscommunication between Sharp and the owner. The owner wanted to retire him, and Sharp sent him for surgery and gelding as well. After the surgery, I got a call from Keri saying the owner didn’t want to keep the horse and would basically pay the bill if you want to take the time to work with him. So, I took on the challenge.”

Challenge accepted. Majorca is unbeaten for the Eubanks clan and has apparently found a cozy home at Laurel Park.

*Around the track:

Trainer Jose Corrales saddled two winners on Sunday’s program. Corrales teamed with jockey Denis Araujo to win the second race with Kitty’s Son ($13.60), then partnered with Matilda Burnham to win the sixth race with Artillery Gunnar ($18.60).

Live racing resumes Friday with a ten-race card featuring two “Value Pick 5” wagers, each with a low 12% takeout. The first post time is noon ET. There is a $12,893 carryover into the late “Value Pick 5”.

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