Tacitus

Tacitus finished fourth in his career debut on Oct. 4, 2018, at Belmont Park. He rallied from off the pace to win his second race by a neck on Nov. 10 at Aqueduct.

The gray or roan Tapit colt made his 3-year-old bow in the Grade 2 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby on March 9 at Tampa Bay Downs, and Tacitus again charged from off the pace to seize command from the inside in deep stretch on his way to victory. The win earned the Juddmonte Farms homebred 50 qualifying points for the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve on May 4, all-but guaranteeing him a spot in the first jewel of the Triple Crown.

Tacitus made his final prep start for the Kentucky Derby in the April 6 Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets at Aqueduct. He had a rough early trip under jockey Jose Ortiz heading into the first turn, bumping with horses and having to alter his course, but once the field moved into the backstretch, he settled behind dueling pacesetters Joevia and Not That Brady before moving into contention through the far turn.

Tacitus and Withers Stakes winner Tax separated from the field in early stretch and dueled through the final furlong with some late bumping, but Tacitus prevailed by 1 ¼ lengths and extended his winning streak to three heading into Derby 145. Tacitus rallied well to cross the wire in fourth in the Derby and was elevated to a third-place finish following the disqualification of Maximum Security.

Tacitus skipped the Preakness Stakes to target the June 8 Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets, where he was sent off as the 1.95-1 favorite. Breaking from the far outside post in a field of 10, Tacitus traveled wide throughout the 1 ½-mile race and made his patented late charge through the stretch to finish second behind upset winner Sir Winston. Tacitus ran another strong race in the $1.25-million Runhappy Travers Stakes. He took the lead in early stretch from a game Mucho Gusto, but neither could match strides late with a surging Code of Honor as Tacitus settled for second.

Tacitus finished third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup to close out his 3-year-old season in 2019, and then fifth in the Saudi Cup and fourth in the Oaklawn Handicap in his first starts at age 4 in 2020. Shipped back to New York for the 1 ¼-mile, Grade 2 Suburban Stakes on July 4, Tacitus stalked the pace and took over at will under John Velazquez, cruising through Belmont Park’s stretch to post a 8 ¾-length victory, his first since the Wood Memorial.

Tacitus is the first foal and first starter produced by five-time Grade 1 winner Close Hatches, by First Defence.