Tax won't be far off pace in Essex Handicap

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Tax can move into a new bracket Saturday as he enters the $500,000 Essex Handicap at Oaklawn Park on the cusp of becoming a millionaire.

The race, which is for 4-year-olds and up over 1 1/16 miles, is one of five stakes on a program led by the Grade 2, $1 million Rebel.

Tax will start as the 120-pound highweight in a field of seven that includes past Essex winners Rated R Superstar and Night Ops, Grade 2 winner Green Light Go, Grade 3 winner Harpers First Ride, and local Fifth Season winner Silver State. Tax, who is now 5, enters with earnings of $982,060.

“He’s a cool horse,” trainer Danny Gargan said. “We’d like to keep him around. He’s a gelding. We’ll try to run him more than last year. We didn’t get to run much because of COVID. A lot of races canceled. We’d like to get seven or eight starts. We’ll see how he does throughout the year campaigning.”

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Tax, who races for R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, and Hugh Lynch, registered his biggest victory in 2019 in the Grade 2 Jim Dandy at Saratoga. He also won the Grade 3 Withers the same year at Aqueduct. In more recent times, he’s won the Grade 3 Harlan’s Holiday in December at Gulfstream Park, with a career-high Beyer Speed Figure of 105. Tax has raced once since, finishing 10th in the Grade 1 Pegasus World Cup Invitational on Jan. 23 at Gulfstream.

“I think he bounced off the big number,” Gargan said. “He’ll do that sometimes when he runs a big race. He’s done that before.”

Tax arrived Tuesday from his base at the Palm Meadows training center in South Florida. He will break from post 4 under Joel Rosario and figures to be with the pace Saturday.

“He’ll be up close, if not on it,” Gargan said.

Also on the card for older males is the $150,000 Temperence Hill over 1 1/2 miles. The field of 10 includes Grade 2 winner Tenfold and Grade 3 winners Campaign, Plainsman, and You’re to Blame.

You’re to Blame has moved into this region after being purchased by Staton Flurry, who said the plan was to target the Temperence Hill, which was introduced in 2020.

“We know this is his thing, he wants to be a marathon type of horse,” trainer Ron Moquett said. “I’m wanting to see that big, long, staying stride. I’m very happy Oaklawn has the race as a way for marathon horses to showcase their abilities.

“The card Saturday, top to bottom – what a fun card.”

Joel Rosario has the mount from post 2.

Plainsman runs for John Ed Anthony, who raced Temperence Hill.