Gargan mulls options for stable stars Tax, American Anthem

Coming off a second-place finish at a mile last month, the next step for American Anthem hasn't been determined.

But trainer Danny Gargan said he has decided against one option: Saturday's Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) at Oaklawn Park.

Gargan cited as one reason the logistics of shipping from Belmont Park in New York to Oaklawn in Arkansas with the restrictions resulting from the coronavirus outbreak.

"It's not an easy place to get to," he said. "... If you ship to Oaklawn, you can't come back here."

New York is a hotspot for the virus with more than 9,000 dead there and more cases than any U.S. state. As a result, strict quarantine restrictions are in place.

Plus, Gargan said, after American Anthem's showing in the one-mile Stymie Stakes on March 7, "we don't want to sprint him."

"We like how he ran" at that distance, Gargan said. "We'd like to go 7/8 or a mile."

Since purchased for $145,000 at last November's Keeneland sale, American Anthem, a 6-year-old by Bodemeister, has made two starts with Gargan, also running fourth in the Toboggan (G3) in his first out for new owner Don Tiger.

Gargan also isn't sure about running stable star Tax in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).

"There's a chance. I could run Tax, could run Ice Princess. It just depends on what Kentucky does," he said.

In his last outing, Tax, a 4-year-old gelded son of Arch, finished ninth in the Pegasus World Cup (G1) at Gulfstream Park after stumbling at the start. He's stabled at the Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, perhaps making for an easier ship to Oaklawn.

Ice Princess, a 3-year-old filly who has won both of her starts this year, last ran in the 1-mile Maddie May Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 23. She'd be a candidate for the May 1 Fantasy (G3) at Oaklawn but is based at Belmont.

By Kentucky, Gargan meant Churchill Downs in his hometown of Louisville. The track has postponed the start of its Spring Meet, originally scheduled for April 25, but has not canceled altogether. Its stable areas are scheduled to open April 28, and opening day for the Spring Meet will be determined later.