Gargan Eyes Oaklawn Stakes Races for Tax, Ice Princess

R. A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, and Corms Racing Stable's Tax breezed a half-mile in :49 2/5 April 3 at Palm Meadows Training Center in Florida, his second consecutive bullet breeze, in preparation for the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2), a 1 1/8-mile race May 2 at Oaklawn Park.

Trained by Danny Gargan, the former claimer excelled in graded stakes company in New York, winning last year's Withers Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct Racetrack and Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga Race Course. The dark bay gelded son of Arch who was claimed for $50,000 in October 2018 out of a Keeneland maiden win also hit the board in the 2018 Remsen Stakes (G2) and was second to Tacitus in the 2019 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2). He was elevated to 14th in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) after a difficult trip.

Off the board in the Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1) in August, Tax was a strong second in the Discovery Stakes (G3) at Aqueduct in November. Then, last out, Tax stumbled at the start and failed to threaten when ninth in the Jan. 25 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Presented by Runhappy (G1) at Gulfstream Park.

"He's doing great. We're pointing for the Oaklawn Handicap," Gargan said. "Hopefully, everything goes as planned. He's training well, and it's the only big race left out there."

Gargan said Tax is ready for his return.

"He's really aggressive right now, so I can't put company with him or he'll really go fast," Gargan said. "He's coming off a big layoff, so the next couple works have to be real racehorse works."

Gargan said he has drawn a line through the Pegasus World Cup.

"If he stumbles and doesn't get out there early, he'll take his ball and go home," Gargan said. "He got frustrated, and that was it."

Another Gargan trainee, Ice Princess, owned by Flying P Stable, R. A. Hill Stable, and Corms Racing Stable, worked four furlongs in :50.98 April 2 on the Belmont Park training track.

Bred in New York by Mina Equivest, the 3-year-old daughter of Palace Malice  graduated on debut in September at Belmont and finished fourth in the Frizette Stakes (G1). Following an allowance score in January at Aqueduct, Ice Princess won the Maddie May Stakes there in February.

With the Gazelle Stakes (G2) at Aqueduct called off, Gargan is considering sending the talented gray to the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3), a 1 1/16-mile test for sophomore fillies May 1 at Oaklawn.

"Ice Princess might run in the Fantasy. She worked really good yesterday, and we were hoping to run her in the Gazelle because I want her to go a mile and an eighth," Gargan said. "The Fantasy won't suit her as much because Oaklawn has (tighter) turns, but it's the only place she can run in a stakes race. 

"It's a short stretch there going a mile and a sixteenth, and she's a late runner. Against New York-breds, she just overpowers them, but in graded company, she needs a bit of a setup."