Richest of Eight Stakes, Four Starter Stakes, on ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races’

LAUREL, MD – Crystal Park Stables Inc.’s Brilliant Ice powered through an opening along the inside at the top of the stretch and rolled home an easy 5 ¼-length winner in the $150,000 Maryland Million Classic to cap an emotional Saturday at Laurel Park.

The 1 1/8-mile Classic for 3-year-olds and up headlined the 39th Jim McKay Maryland Million Day program of 12 races featuring eight stakes and four starter stakes worth $1.08 million in purses on ‘Maryland’s Day at the Races,’ celebrating the progeny of stallions standing in the state.

Brilliant Ice ($13) had never raced beyond a mile and a sixteenth through 25 starts before stretching out in the Classic, completing the distance in 1:50.19 over a fast main track under jockey Jeiron Barbosa.

It was the first Maryland Million winner in 15 tries for 80-year-old trainer Annette Eubanks, who watched the race at home while recovering from a knee replacement. Earlier on the card she ran second in the $100,000 Sprint with Band Camp, a horse she also owns with her son, Dan, of Rising Sun Racing Stables, Inc.

“It’s very emotional because mom is not doing very good today. It’s the biggest day of her career and she couldn’t be here for it,” Eubanks said. “The horse ran huge. It’s like a homebred for us and for them. We just missed with Band Camp, and it’s just an awesome day. Mom’s 80 years old and having her best year ever. This is amazing. These horses can break your heart, and sometimes they can make it.”

Brilliant Ice, a 5-year-old son of Great Notion, was raised on the Eubanks’ Hillbizion Farm in Lothian, Md. His victory moved Great Notion into a tie with Allen’s Prospect for the second-most wins among sires in Maryland Million history with 22, having been represented by at least one winner for 15 consecutive years.

“She’s been our trainer for over 30 years,” Crystal Park’s Phil Bratz said. “We met her when she claimed Ice’s great grandmother away from us. She’s just phenomenal. She really cares about the animals and that’s why we’ve stayed with her for so long. She’s awesome and I wish she could be here today but, Annette, nice job.”

Annette Eubanks began her training career in 1987 and has already reached a personal best with more than $515,000 in purse earnings. She has 17 wins from 67 starters this year and has four wins, six seconds and one third from 11 starters at Laurel’s calendar year-ending fall meet that began Sept. 7.

“I employ quite a few trainers and everybody gives me a hard time about it. They always say, ‘Mom wins the most for you,’ and it’s true. My mom has taught me a lot about horses and about horsemanship, and so has my dad, and I hope to continue winning races for the Eubanks,” Dan Eubanks said.

“She’s home and watching right now. She’s wishing she could be here,” he added. “I love my mom and she loves her horses. A lot of people love my mom. It’s just great. It’s a great feeling.”

Brilliant Ice settled in seventh as Mosler Time, sent off as the 2-1 favorite in a field of 11, led through a quarter-mile in 23.67 seconds and a half in 47.54 pressed by defending champion and 25-1 long shot Ain’t Da Beer Cold and Dolice Vita racing along the rail. The top runners drifted out exiting the far turn and leaving a huge opening for Brilliant Ice to come through, and he accelerated with aplomb and drew clear.

“It was exciting,” Bratz said. “He is the great-grandson of the first horse that we ever owned. We were there the day he was born, and he loves my grandson, Wyatt. He’s just a big dog. He’s a great horse. I didn’t know he had this in him, but we gave it a shot and he ran big today.

“His grandmother, who we owned, won at a mile and an eighth and the way he was finishing at a mile we thought he could do it,” he added. “I didn’t think he would be this dominant, but it was awesome.”

Mosler Time edged Mugatu by a half-length for second. It was another half-length back to Hittheroadjak in fourth, followed by Market Maven, Vance Scholars, Feeling Woozy, Little Lance, Crossland, Dolice Vita and Ain’t Da Beer Cold. Maryland-bred also-eligibles Goodafternoonoscar and Excellorator were scratched.

Brilliant Ice had two wins and two seconds from nine starts this year, having run second in back to back optional claiming allowances at Laurel going one mile July 26 and seven furlongs Aug. 11, his most recent race. The Classic was just his third stakes attempt after finishing sixth in the 2023 Not For Love and fourth in the April 13 Frank Whiteley.

“We’ve never won a stakes before and to win this race is just awesome,” Bratz said.