- Sportsbook Odds: +800
- Jockey: Jose Ortiz
- Trainer: Bill Mott
- Owner: Juddmonte Farms
- Career record: 4-3-0-0
- Career earnings: $653,000
- Kentucky Derby points: 150
- Pedigree: Tapit – Close Hatches, by First Defence
Tacitus is a contender that is flying a bit under the radar despite winning his two Derby preps, currently sitting at early betting odds of +1000 at Sportsbook, sixth choice in the wagering.
The colt made his stakes and three-year-old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2) where he pulled off the upset at 9-1. Sitting more than 10 lengths back early, he came with a good late rally to win by 1 ¼ lengths under jockey Jose Ortiz.
His final prep came in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct where he was sent off as the 5-2 betting favorite. He stalked the pace while fourth and took over the lead heading for home, winning by 1 ¼ lengths over Tax.
Before his Wood win, his early betting price was +2500 but horseplayers jumped on the bandwagon after his latest victory.
The Wood Memorial has produced 20 Kentucky Derby Sportsbooks, but we have to go way back to 2003 to find the last one, Funny Cide getting the job done and the runner-up Empire Maker also used the Wood as a prep.
Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has won a ton of important races but has come up empty in the Run for the Roses. He has started eight runners, but none have been a factor. His best finish came last year with a seventh-place finish with Hofburg.
This colt does have a very nice pedigree, by Tapit out of the multiple Garde 1 Sportsbook Close Hatches, who won $2.7 million in her stellar career.
Don’t let Mott’s mediocre record in the Kentucky Derby sway you off this colt. He has enough talent and pedigree to be a threat on the first Saturday of May.
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