by New York Racing Association Press Release
May 25, 2019
ELMONT, N.Y. - Trainer Danny Gargan was looking for an easy move out of graded stakes winner Tax on Saturday morning and that's exactly what he got as the 3-year-old gelded son of Arch went a half-mile in 49.80 seconds over the Belmont Park training track.
Under mostly sunny skies and temperatures in the early 60's, Gargan sent Tax to the training track at 7:40 a.m. on Saturday morning as he recorded his first serious work since a 14th place effort in the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 4 at Churchill Downs.
"It was just a maintenance work, I wanted a nice easy work," Gargan said. "He gallops out like he always does, nice and strong. We worked him by himself so he wouldn't go too fast.
"When he was in company, he grabs the bridle and works more impressive but today we just wanted to keep him going forward. We'll come back next week and work him and get a stronger breeze in him. Hopefully we can work on Saturday next week. I'll work him with another horse next week, so he gets a lot more out of it."
Gargan stated that Tax is pointing towards the Grade 1, $1.5 million Belmont Stakes on June 8.
"That's what we're pointing for; we're aiming for that. If everything goes as planned that's where we'll run," said Gargan.
Tax's energy level following the 'Run for the Roses' was good according to Gargan. He stayed on the rail throughout the Derby but was not a factor following the eventual disqualification of Maximum Security. In six career starts, it was the only off-the-board effort for Tax, who won the Grade 3 Withers at Aqueduct before a runner-up placing in the Grade 2 Wood Memorial presented by NYRA Bets.
"We didn't do much running in the Derby. I expected the track to be sealed tight so I told him to stay on the inside and they harrowed it and it was kind of a disaster," Gargan said. "We didn't do that right thing by getting on the rail when it was so deep. It is what it is and we'll just move on to the next race. Hopefully the Belmont will be a good track that day and we can show that we can run with these horses."
Owned by R A Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch and Corms Racing Stable, Tax was bred in Kentucky by Claiborne Farms and Adele Dilschnieder. He is out of the Giant's Causeway broodmare Toll and comes from the same family as two-time Grade 1 winning millionaire Elate.