Rose Petal Stable's 3-year-old colt Copper Tax, a three-time stakes winner at Laurel Park, is gearing up for his highly anticipated return to the races after a well-deserved break. The talented bay son of Grade 2 winner Copper Bullet has been training impressively, and his connections are eagerly anticipating his next chapter on the racetrack.

Unlocking the Potential of a Rising Star

A Promising Start and a Tough Decision

Copper Tax's journey has been marked by a series of impressive performances. The Triple Crown-nominated colt earned an automatic berth in the prestigious 149th Preakness Stakes (G1) after his victory in Laurel's April 20 Federico Tesio Stakes. However, after careful consideration, his connections decided to reroute him to the Ohio Derby (G3) at Thistledown, where he finished a respectable third."We wanted to rest him for a while," explained Rose Petal's Chris Loso. "He had a lot of races early in the season, and we felt it was the right decision to give him a break." The Ohio Derby proved to be a solid performance, with Copper Tax driving hard at the end, showcasing his determination and potential.

Rejuvenation and Renewed Vigor

The decision to provide Copper Tax with a well-deserved break has paid dividends. The colt has returned to training with renewed vigor, impressing his connections with his progress. "He's healthy, he's strong, and I think that time off has been good, just to give him a rest in general," Loso said. "There's nothing wrong with him; we just wanted to make sure he was going to continue to do well."Copper Tax's recent workouts have been nothing short of impressive, including a bullet five-furlong move from the gate in 1:01 on October 9th and another five-eighths in 1:02.20 on October 16th. These blistering times suggest that the colt is primed and ready to make his mark once again.

Charting the Path Ahead

As Copper Tax's connections look to the future, they are carefully considering the upcoming race options. "Right now, we're just ramping him up for running him later this fall and getting him ready for next year's campaign," Loso said. "We've talked about different races coming up, but we haven't pegged any of them yet. We should know in the near future, for sure."The final stakes race for 3-year-olds at Laurel Park in 2024 is the $100,000 City of Laurel, a seven-furlong sprint scheduled for Thanksgiving weekend on November 30th. Additionally, the track will host the six-furlong Dave's Friend and the 1 1/8-mile Richard W. Small on November 23rd, as well as the 1 1/16-mile Robert T. Manfuso on December 21st, all for 3-year-olds and up.As Copper Tax's connections carefully weigh their options, one thing is certain: the talented colt is poised for a triumphant return to the racetrack, ready to showcase his exceptional abilities and potentially cement his place among the sport's rising stars.