Copper Tax Wins $125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park
In an exciting race at Laurel Park, Copper Tax, owned by Rose Petal Stable, made a stunning comeback to win the $125,000 Federico Tesio Stakes. The talented three-year-old colt came from behind, overtaking pacesetter Speedyness to clinch the victory by three-quarters of a length. The thrilling race took place on the second day of the Spring Stakes Spectacular, which featured five stakes races totaling $550,000.
Trained by Gary Capuano and ridden by J.G. Torrealba, Copper Tax showcased his pedigree, being sired by Copper Bullet out of Wilhelmina. With this win, Copper Tax secured a spot in the prestigious 149th Preakness Stakes, as the Tesio Stakes served as a ‘Win and In’ qualifier for Triple Crown-nominated horses.
Capuano expressed his excitement about Copper Tax’s performance, noting the horse’s talent and determination. The victory marked Copper Tax’s seventh win out of 10 starts, with four of those wins coming in stakes races. The colt’s previous wins at Laurel Park include the 2023 James F. Lewis III Stakes and this year’s Private Terms Stakes.
The Federico Tesio Stakes has a rich history of producing contenders for the Preakness Stakes, with Copper Tax joining a prestigious list of Tesio winners who went on to compete in the Triple Crown series. As Copper Tax gears up for the Preakness, racing enthusiasts are eager to see if he can continue his winning streak on the big stage.
