Copper Tax Rides Streak into Rocky Run 

Hoofprints, Inc., photo

Chris Sobocinski/Delaware Park

WILMINGTON, Del.—After winning his last three starts at Delaware Park by a combined margin 16 ¼-lengths, Rose Petal Stable’s Copper Tax tops a field of ten in $100,000 Rocky Run Stakes at Delaware Park this Saturday. The stake, for 2-year-olds drew a field of eleven, but is limited to ten starters due to the one-mile distance.  The Rocky Run Stakes has been carded as the seventh race with a scheduled approximate post time of 3:30 p.m.

Copper Tax has made all four of his career starts at Delaware Park going short. On June 10, the son of Copper Bullet made his career debut by running second beaten a neck going five furlongs. The Kentucky-bred trained by Gary Capuano followed by breaking his maiden by 4 ½-lengths going five furlongs on June 28. In his last two, both restricted to Delaware-bred or certified, he posted an 8-length triumph in the five and half furlong $50,000 Dover on September 1 and a 3 ¾-length victory in the six furlong $100,000 First State Dash on September 27.

“He has always acted like to us that he was going to be a two-turn type of horse, so we are pretty excited about this next step for him in his progression,” said trainer Gary Capuano. “He has been great sprinting and he has shown he has a lot of talent, but it is time to stretch him out. This seems like to be a good spot. He has done everything we have asked, and he has improved with each race, so hopefully we can pass the next test. If he can go two-turns, like we think he can, that will open up a lot of options”  

$100,000 Rocky Run Stakes, For 2-year-old at a mile