R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, and Corms Racing Stable’s Tax has posted back-to-back bullet works at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida in preparation for the Grade 2, $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap, a 1 1/8-miles test for 4-year-olds and upward rescheduled for May 2 at Oaklawn Park.
Trained by Danny Gargan, the former claimer excelled in graded stakes company in New York winning the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct and Grade 2 Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets at Saratoga. The dark bay son of Arch, who was claimed for $50,000 in October 2018 out of a Keeneland maiden win, also hit the board in the 2018 Grade 2 Remsen ahead of a runner-up effort behind Tacitus in the 2019 Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets. He was elevated to 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby after a difficult trip.
Off-the-board in the Grade 1 Travers in August, Tax was a strong second in the Grade 3 Discovery at Aqueduct in November. Last out, Tax stumbled at the start and failed to threaten in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January at Gulfstream Park.
“He’s doing great. We’re pointing for the Oaklawn Handicap,” said Gargan. “Hopefully, everything goes as planned. He’s training well and it’s the only big race left out there.”
Tax worked a half-mile in 48 flat on March 26 and followed up on Friday morning with another four-furlong effort in 49.40 at Palm Meadows. Gargan said Tax is working solo and firing on all cylinders in preparation for his Oaklawn Park debut.
“He’s really aggressive right now so I can’t put company with him or he’ll really go fast,” said Gargan. “He’s coming off a big layoff, so the next couple works have to be real racehorse works.”
Gargan said he has drawn a line though the Pegasus World Cup effort by Tax.
“If he stumbles and doesn’t get out there early he’ll take his ball and go home,” said Gargan. “He got frustrated and that was it.”
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