Gargan rethinking Belmont Stakes start for Tax following Saturday work

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Danny Gargan was hoping to see a little more from Tax than he did in a Saturday morning workout at Belmont Park and now the Withers winner’s status for the $1.5 million Belmont Stakes is in limbo.

Tax, who finished 14th in the Kentucky Derby, worked a half-mile in 48.81 seconds Saturday morning over the Belmont Park main track, starting six or seven lengths behind stablemate Blurred Line and finishing about a neck in front of him at the wire. While the work was satisfactory, it may not have been enough to convince Gargan to run the colt in the Belmont Stakes.

“I just don’t want to run unless I love how he’s doing,” Gargan said. “He worked good, but it wasn’t awesome. It wasn’t like before.”

Gargan labeled Tax “50-50” to run in the Belmont, a decision that would be made after discussions with owners Randy Hill, Dean Reeves, Hugh Lynch and Lucas Stritsman.

Tax was one of four horses under consideration for the Belmont who put in workouts on Saturday morning. At Belmont, trainer Todd Pletcher’s pair of Spinoff (five furlongs in 1:02.22) and Intrepid Heart (five furlongs in 1:00.78) had in-company workouts. At Monmouth Park, Joevia, a pace factor if nothing else in the Belmont, worked five furlongs in 1:00 in company with Showmanship.

Spinoff, who finished 18th in the Kentucky Derby, was ridden by Javier Castellano in his workout. Castellano will ride Spinoff for the first time in the Belmont.

Spinoff worked outside of the recent 3-year-old maiden winner Principled. In an effort to get away from another horse who was going to break off at nearly the same time for a five-furlong work, Spinoff and Principled got a good run-up to the pole. Pletcher, worried that the pair might go too fast, cautioned his riders “to sit chilly.”

Spinoff, who was a neck or so in front of Principled, went an opening quarter in 24.60 seconds and three furlongs in 36.38. Spinoff and Principled got their last quarter in 25.84 but Spinoff picked it up on the gallop-out, going out six furlongs in 1:14.54 and seven furlongs in 1:26.69.

“What I liked about it is he got in a very good. comfortable rhythm, relaxed and then when I told [Castellano] to go ahead and let him gallop out a little bit, he said as soon as he kissed to him he jumped right into the bridle,” Pletcher said. “I thought his three-quarter and seven-eighths gallop-out were very good.”

Pletcher wanted a little stronger move from Intrepid Heart, who was working for the second time since his third-place finish in the Peter Pan Stakes. For the second straight week, Intrepid Heart worked with Outshine. Intrepid Heart, with blinkers on for the second straight week, and on the inside of his mate, went five furlongs in 1:00.78, getting his final quarter in 24.66. He galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.20 and seven eighths 1:25.79. Pletcher had Intrepid Heart galloping out a mile in 1:38.69.

“Intrepid Heart worked a half last week, I wanted to make sure I got a good gallop-out, which I thought the seven-eighths and mile gallop-out were exceptional,” he said.

John Velazquez was aboard for the work and will ride Intrepid Heart in the Belmont.

At Monmouth, Joevia worked in company with Showmanship. Via text, trainer Gregg Sacco said he worked “really good” and he is in the process of finalizing a jockey for Joevia. If Tax doesn’t run, Irad Ortiz Jr. becomes available.

► Tacitus, the Wood Memorial winner, galloped Saturday morning over the main track in advance of his scheduled final workout on Sunday morning.

► It was another relatively light day of training for Master Fencer. On the training track, he alternated walking, jogging and cantering for about 1 3/4 miles. Since his workout on Wednesday, Master Fencer has had a walk day and two easy training sessions.