Tax Code, Brady Boy cede experience in allowance dash

Brady Boy and Tax Code, both lightly raced 3-year-olds coming off maiden wins, will get tested for class when they face more seasoned horses in an allowance race for non-winners of two or non-winners of three Washington-breds at Emerald Downs on Saturday. The 6 1/2-furlong dash for 3-year-olds and up drew seven horses and goes as race 7 on an eight-race card that begins at 2:15 p.m. Pacific.

Tax Code will be making his first start at Emerald and for trainer Shelly Crowe. He won a maiden special weight race on Tapeta at Gulfstream Park in his second start June 18 and has been training forwardly at Emerald for what will be his final start this year.

The Kentucky-bred son of Speightstown was purchased by Vicki Wilson for $75,000 out of the Fasig-Tipton selected horses of all ages sale on July 11. Wilson and her husband, Steve, race as Mischief Racing Stables. Retired Washington Hall of Fame trainer Sharon Ross is their stable manager.

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“Vicki does not like to race in the winter and she bought Tax Code with an eye to having a nice horse next year,” said Ross. “He has been training well since he got here, but the main focus is on next year.”

Ross is enjoying being “retired” with her husband, Larry, at their 11-acre farm in Auburn, roughly 15 minutes from Emerald. Ross refers to herself as the “maid in a horse hotel that delivers room service twice a day.”

“Once you have been involved with horses it is hard to stay away,” she said.

Tax Code will break from the outside post with leading rider Alex Cruz up. Adding to Tax Code’s appeal is that Crowe is winning races at a 32-percent clip at the meet.

“Shelly is doing a great job for us,” said Ross.

Brady Boy took them all the way Aug. 21 in his second start at the meet, and the 74 Beyer Speed Figure he received for his 2 1/2-length win in the $30,000 optional maiden claimer is the best in the field.

Trained by Blaine Wright, Brady Boy will break from post 2 with Kevin Radke retaining the mount.

Itsallabouttheride will appreciate the move back to a sprint after finishing fifth in the 1 1/16-mile Muckleshoot Derby on Aug. 14. Trained by Bonnie Jenne, Itsallabouttheride edged Executive Challenge by a head going 6 1/2 furlongs in the $50,000 Irish Day on July 17.

The Tom Wenzel-trained Midnight Mojo came from well back to finish second in the Muckleshoot Derby. The Kentucky-bred son of Midnight Lute will have speed to run at and could get up in time if things fall his way.