Kentucky Derby 2019 Daily: Was Tacitus the 'most impressive'?
Welcome to Horse Racing Nation’s Kentucky Derby Daily, which will each day leading up to the May 4 race at Churchill Downs detail all the news and notes related to contenders in one convenient space.
By the end of the weekend, Santa Anita Derby (G1) winner Roadster had been bet down to favoritism in Pool 4 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager, and experts voted him No. 1 in the consensus 2019 Kentucky Derby Media Poll.
But did Tacitus put forth a superior showing on Saturday when winning the Wood Memorial (G2)?
BloodHorse’s Bob Ehalt and Mike Shutty, author of Horse Racing Nation’s Super Screener handicapping system, echoed one another in determining Tacitus’ run the “most impressive” across a trio of Derby preps.
The Tapit colt absorbed a bump leaving the starting gate and again before the first turn. Despite getting a bit rank, he settled into stride and went on to win by 1 1/4 lengths.
Ehalt said Tacitus “had a reason to call it quits after some bumping at the start of the Wood, but still rallied widest and won.”
“He was the only winner Saturday that got a true Kentucky Derby-type trip,” added Shutty. “He got knocked around and had encountered traffic problems in a bulky field interrupting his stride twice but recovered and showed courage winning the Wood with something in reserve.”
Tacitus came in at No. 5 in the Derby Media Poll behind only Roadster, Improbable, Game Winner and Omaha Beach. Ehalt and Shutty both voted the Juddonte Farms runner, who’s trained by Bill Mott and the first foal out of champion Close Hatches, at No. 1.
Mott’s assistant, Leana Willaford, worked with Tacitus upon his arrival to the racetrack last summer until the Tapit colt’s maiden victory at Aqueduct in November. She said Tacitus returned to New York looking different — and well-suited for a rough and tumble Wood win.
He’s also in select company having also won the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) to open the campaign.
“Tacitus has put together two big victories in a row, a rare accomplishment on the 2019 Kentucky Derby trail,” said Horse Racing Nation’s Matt Shifman. “He is unusually mature and calm for a 3-year-old son of Tapit.
"Could he become the first Derby winner for the big gray sire?”
Game Winner won consecutive Derby points races last fall, and War of Will began his 3-year-old season with back-to-back scores. Aside from those, Tacitus is the only Derby hopeful to string together points victories. Omaha Beach will also get the chance in Saturday’s Arkansas Derby (G1).
"He came out of it very well," Willaford said of Tacitus exiting the Wood. "He was a little tired, but that's to be expected. It's nice to see him overcome (the trip). He'll go back to the track here in three days and we'll train him lightly and send him over there when Bill gets to Churchill.”
Derby links
• See more on this week's Derby Media Poll rankings, in which Bob Baffert trainees swept the first three spots.
• HRN's Laura Pugh also thought Highly of Tacitus' Wood Memorial in her weekly look at grading the Derby preps.
• Have a future wager in on Bourbon War? Hold all tickets. Connections are leaving him under Derby consideration.
• Anothertwistafate is confirmed to try the Lexington Stakes (G3) as a final chance to earn points. He's not the only colt in the field with such aspirations.
• We're awaiting word on whether Mucho Gusto could join them. He breezed Monday for the first time since the Sunland Derby (G3).
In case you missed it...
Sunday's Derby Daily report featured a conversation with odds maker Mike Battaglia, who's leaving the door open to making twice-defeated Game Winner his morning line favorite.