Breezing for the first time since finishing seventh behind Code of Honor (Noble Mission {GB}) in the GI Runhappy Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 24, Tax (Arch) covered a half-mile in a leisurely :50 seconds over the Belmont main track Friday morning.
“We just took him an easy half. He's fit. He came out of this race better than his other races,” said Danny Gargan, who trains the one-time claimer for Randy Hill's R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corns Racing Stable.
Gargan indicated that the gelding holds entries for the GI Pennyslvania Derby Sept. 21 and the GIII Oklahoma Derby on the dirt Sept. 29 as well as the GIII Hill Prince S. at Belmont Oct. 5, a nine-furlong test that would mark Tax's turf debut.
“I'm leaning towards the race at Remington or the grass race. It would give him a little more time,” said Gargan.
Winner of the GIII Withers S. in February, Tax was second to Travers runner-up Tacitus (Tapit) in the GII Wood Memorial S. in April. Promoted to 14th in the GI Kentucky Derby, the dark bay was fourth in the GI Belmont S. ahead of his Jim Dandy tally in which he reversed form with Tacitus. He was beaten 5 3/4 lengths in the Travers.
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