Tax

[Wandering Eyes]

TAX (g, Arch-Toll, by Giant’s Causeway) 
O-R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Lynch, Hugh and Corms Racing Stable. B-Claiborne Farm and Adele Dilschneider (KY). T-Danny Gargan. Lifetime Record: GSW, 5-2-2-1, $326,300.
Last Start: 2nd, GII Wood Memorial S., AQU, Apr. 6
Next Start: GI Kentucky Derby, CD, May 4
Equineline PPs. KY Derby Points: 52.
Tax is shaping up as one of those horses who goes off north of 40-1 in the Derby and does not resonate as a clear win threat, but he has a stamina-centric pedigree and has demonstrated enough fight that you can envision him flying home dangerously if he gets the right trip. In the Wood Memorial, this Arch gelding (out of a Giant’s Causeway mare) bulled his way to a contending position from the one hole despite chaos to his outside that resulted in a disqualification, and he settled into a rhythmic stride down the backstretch while leading the second flight behind daylight-margin duelers. Tax got first run on the caving pacemakers, then held his position decently enough on the inside while racing in close quarters with the intimidating Tacitus. Tax was second, beaten 1 ¼ lengths, but galloped out on even terms with the favored winner. “He got a little tired and got pushed down on the rail late, which was a little dead,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “His last three races, he’s improved tremendously. He learned a lot in the [GII] Remsen and then he moved forward in the [GIII] Withers. We gave him almost nine weeks between those races, and [Saturday] he showed up.”

VIDEO PPS

FINISH	RACE
2nd	GII Wood Memorial S.
1st	GIII Withers S.
3rd	GII Remsen S.
1st	Maiden Claimer
2nd	Maiden Claimer

 

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