Copper Tax overcomes stumbling start to take Tesio

LAUREL, M.d. – “He’s got this,” trainer Gary Capuano said tapping his chest.

Copper Tax definitely showed his big heart by overcoming a difficult trip to win Saturday’s $125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes for 3-year-olds racing 1 1/8 miles at Laurel Park.

Not only did Copper Tax overcome the far outside post in the ten-horse field, but he stumbled terribly at the start, and was forced five wide going into the first turn.

Things looked bleak.

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Meanwhile, favored Speedyness blasted to the lead from the inside post, and controlled fractions of 24.07 and 47.21 seconds, while clear of pace-trackers Classic Joke and Malinois.

The first to challenge Speedyness was Inveigled, who made a strong surge entering the second turn. He provided cover for Copper Tax, who was working hard under jockey J. G. Torrealba.

Speedyness completed six furlongs in 1:11.90 and coasted into the stretch four lengths in front as Copper Tax and Inveigled battled for second.

Then, Copper Tax unfurled his stride. He gained inch-by-inch on a tiring Speedyness and drove past him to win by three-quarters of a length in 1:52.01.

Inveigled held third, a head in front of Carolo Rapido. Then came Lat Long, Startswithadream, Celtic Contender, Circle P, and Classic Joke. Malinois was eased after a bleeding incident and walked off the track. Mission Beach scratched.

Copper Tax returned $8.40 to win as the second choice in the wagering.

“I was hoping [for the best]” Capuano said as he discussed Copper Tax’s disastrous opening quarter-mile. “I’m watching [Speedyness], and no one is going with him, so that’s not good. But he just kept sustaining that run and he didn’t quit.”

The Tesio gives the winner a berth for the Preakness Stakes, but Capuano remained non-committal as to whether Copper Tax would compete in the second jewel of the Triple Crown.

“I don’t know. That’s a stretch,” Capuano said. “He’s not a big horse. We’ll make that decision in a week or two.”

Torrealba, a five-pound apprentice, earned his first stakes victory when Copper Tax took Laurel’s Private Terms last month, and Capuano gave the youngster plenty of credit after that race.

“He’s been riding really good,” Capuano said of Torrealba. “He’s been working with me in the mornings and has ridden a couple for me. Bug riders, they’re hungry. They ride hard and he did that.”

Bred in Kentucky by Lance Sullenberger, Copper Tax was purchased for $45,000 as a yearling by Rose Petal Stable. He is a son of Copper Bullet out of stakes-placed dirt sprinter Wilhelmina and was widely considered the best 2-year-old in the Mid-Atlantic region after winning five of seven starts.

After finishing a dull eleventh in his seasonal debut in Tampa Bay’s Sam F. Davis, a race that Capuano said could be excused due to Copper Tax not handling the track, the colt returned to form in the Private Terms, earning a career-best 84 Beyer Speed Figure while besting Inveigled and Speedyness in a thrilling finish.

Overall, Copper Tax has won four stakes with lifetime earnings of $386,500.

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