BALTIMORE, Md. – Rose Petal Stable’s Copper Tax remains under consideration for the 149th Preakness Stakes (G1) May 18 at Pimlico Race Course as his connections continue to formulate a plan for the multiple-stakes winner’s next start.
Copper Tax earned an automatic berth in the $2 million Preakness by virtue of his three-quarter-length victory in the $125,000 Federico Tesio going 1 1/8 miles April 20 at Laurel Park. The Preakness is contested at 1 3/16 miles.
Trained by Laurel-based Gary Capuano, Copper Tax has put together back-to-back stakes wins around two turns, beginning with the 1 1/16-mile Private Terms March 23 over his home track. He also won a pair of stakes at 2, and seven of 10 career starts.
“Right now, we do not know. We’ve been meeting with [Capuano] to discuss what the best opportunities are for us, whether we want to run him in the Preakness or another race that day or looking at what’s coming up on the horizon,” Rose Petal’s Chris Loso said. “We’re still just kind of feeling it out.
“Everything’s open right now. We’re just waiting to see what horses are entering the race and what’s going to be the best opportunity for Copper Tax to do well,” he added. “It’s not just about going into a race like the Preakness just because it’s a big race. You want to make sure that the horse you have in there is there to do well. We want to make sure we give him the best opportunity possible to perform well. We are weighing every option.”
Copper Tax was stepped on leaving the gate, lost a shoe and raced well off a speedy track bias when he was sixth in the 1 1/8-mile Remsen (G2) Dec. 2 at Aqueduct, a race where subsequent graded-stakes winners Dornoch and Sierra Leone ran 1-2. Sierra Leone came back to be beaten by a nose by Mystik Dan in the Kentucky Derby (G1).
“His leg had gotten clipped coming out of the gate and so he didn’t have the greatest run,” Loso said. “I think it’s a testament that he’s a good horse. It’s a matter of what’s the best race for him and how he can perform.”
Copper Tax was ridden in each of his last two races by J.G. Torrealba, a five-pound apprentice who won the riding title at Laurel’s recently concluded spring meet. The son of Grade 2 winner Copper Bullet has yet to breeze back since the Tesio.
“Right after the race I saw the horse and he’s just as focused and he was really well-settled, so there’s no concerns with his physical abilities or his state of mind,” Loso said. “He’s focused. He’s all business.”
Editor’s Notes on Copper Tax by Maribeth Kalinich
Conditioned by veteran Maryland trainer Gary Capuano, Copper Bullet was ridden to victory by rising star apprentice jockey, J.G. Torreabla, who also just finished on top of the standings for the Laurel meet that just wrapped up.
Bred by Lance Sullenberger in Kentucky, Copper Tax is out of Majestic Warrior mare Wilhelmina who hails from the El Prado line (IRE). The bay mare had a whopping 53 career starts with eight victories plus four second and six third place finishes. She earned Black Type in the Goldfinch Stakes at Prairie Meadows with a third.
Sire Copper Bullet is from the Unbridled’s Song line through More Than Ready. He raced nine times and finished first and second six times combined.
In his 10 career starts Copper Tax has won a notable seven including two stakes this year.
After landing second in his five-furlong debut June 10th by a neck, Copper Tax scored a string of five victories – four at Delaware Park and the final at Laurel Park – that included two stakes wins.
When breaking his maiden less than three weeks later, Copper Tax pressed the pace, challenged three across on the turn, dueled for the lead, drew off mid-stretch and extended the lead while kept to task by 4-1/2 lengths.
He won his allowance follow up at 5-1/2 furlongs by eight lengths in September after a three-month break.
Refeshed and ready Copper Tax scored a six-furlong allowance 26 days later at Delaware Park taking the lead at the half-mile to clear the finish line by 3-3/4 lengths n a muddy sealed track.
October 14th Rocky Run Copper Tax took command at the start, set the pace and drew off to a handy 6-3/4 length victory on a muddy, sealed track at one mile.
Getting a little reboot in a six-furlong sprint, after being bumped twice including at the start, Copper Tax fought for the win in the James. F Lewis to prevail by a neck.
The colt stepped up to graded stakes company with disappointing results.
In the Grade 2 Remsen at Aqueduct in December, Copper Tax was stepped on leaving the gate, lost a shoe but raced well off a speedy track bias.
He finished sixth of ten to Dornoch and Sierra Leone, who nosed each other for first and second, respectively. But he did finish one above Domestic Product on the muddy, sealed track at 1-1/8th miles.
Copper Tax was caught five wide on the first turn, settled on the outside, jostled with a foe leaving the backstretch, moved from three to five wide under urging on the far turn, spun six wide into the stretch and had nothing left.
After a three-month layoff, In the Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay Downs Feb. 10th, Copper Tax failed to get any footing in the race and ended up tenth of twelve with West Saratoga getting third in the race.
Copper Tax raced in the four path around the first turn, continued up the backstretch at the back of the pack on the outside, angled in to save ground around the far turn and made no bid.
Vastly improving both his speed figures and win percentages, Copper Tax earned Black Type with the tight victory in the 1-1/16 miles Private Terms March 23rd on a sloppy, sealed track. The 3-year-old colt earned an Equibase Speed Figure of 102 for the effort.
In the Tesio April 20th at Laurel, Copper Tax stumbled but determinedly rallied to win by 3/4 lengths on a fast track going 1-1/8 miles. He also earned his second triple-digit ESF.
Notes to take away from this review are that Copper Tax can run back in short time with success, can win a duel or rally clear, he’s a good router and, he seems to be comfortable with sloppy, sealed tracks. If it rains on Preakness day this colt should definitely be looked at as a contender.
MJC Notable
Uncle Heavy scoring in the Withers. (Joe Labozzetta)
Trainer Butch Reid informed Pimlico racing office officials Wednesday afternoon that Uncle Heavy will be entered in the Preakness Stakes. The son of Social Inclusion, who is owned by Michael Milliam and LC Racing LLC, won the Withers Stakes (G3) before finishing fifth in the April 6 Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
Join the Coach at the Alibi Breakfast Thursday, May 16 to ‘Boast, Toast and Roast!’
The Alibi Breakfast features an annual gathering of horsemen and media to celebrate the Preakness and to solicit interesting race predications. It has also become an opportunity for the Maryland Jockey Club to recognize those who have made significant contributions to the racing industry. Click for tickets.
