'Aggressive' Tax taking on Oaklawn Handicap

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-mile 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 Withers (G3) at Aqueduct and Jim Dandy (G2) 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 Remsen (G2) ahead of a runner-up effort behind Tacitus in the 2019 Wood Memorial (G2). He was elevated to 14th in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby after a difficult trip.

Off the board in the Travers (G1) in August, Tax was a strong second in the Discovery (G3) at Aqueduct in November. Last out, Tax stumbled at the start and failed to threaten in the Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) 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."