Copper Tax certainly had a troubled trip when he won Saturday’s Federico Tesio Stakes at Laurel Park. How troubled? We break it down here.

The win was important on its own terms — what stakes win isn’t, to the connections? — but it also punched the sophomore a ticket to the Grade 1 Preakness Stakes May 18, should his connections decide to go that way.

[READ: Copper Tax overcomes trouble to win Tesio]

Will they? It’s certainly no easy spot, and Copper Tax will need to step forward. On the other hand, this performance was certainly better than the speed figs will tell you. So…

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