Tax, Not That Brady could be Withers bound

OZONE PARK, N.Y. – Among the horses Jerome Stakes winner Mind Control could face in the Withers are Tax and Not That Brady.

Tax, trained by Danny Gargan, finished third in the Remsen in his first start after being claimed Oct. 21 for $50,000 by Hugh Lynch and Lucas Stritsman, who races as Corms Racing. Since the Remsen, both Dean Reeves and Raymond Hill III bought part-interest in Tax, Gargan said.

Coincidentally, Hill lost Not That Brady at the claim box for $50,000 in his career debut at Saratoga. Michael Imperio, Rudy Rodriguez and Vincent Vivolo, who races under the banner Liana Stables, claimed the horse, who was trained by George Weaver.

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After a disastrous debut – he was beaten 80 lengths – Not That Brady was second in a six-furlong maiden race then won a one-mile maiden race. On Monday, Not That Brady scored a three-length front-running victory in the Damon Runyon Stakes for New York-breds going a mile. He earned an 86 Beyer Speed Figure after running a mile in 1:40.68 over a sealed, good surface. He earned a 91 Beyer for his maiden victory.

“He’s a pretty strong horse,” Rodriguez, who trains Not That Brady, said. “When we claimed him from George he was doing everything right, but he was a little bit more mellow. Now we got to take him out with a lead shank because he wants to kick in the barn and everything. Before, anybody could gallop him. Now, he’s bigger and strong and more knows what he has to do.”