Lezcano Slated to Ride Tacitus in Saudi Cup

Jockey Jose Lezcano is slated to ride Juddmonte Farms' Tacitus in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, trainer Bill Mott said Feb. 23. The Hall of Fame conditioner was left seeking a new jockey a week out from the $20 million race after Jose Ortiz, the regular rider of Tacitus, was injured in a post parade accident.

"As of right now, it's Jose Lezcano. We've been through the list, and, of course, we've had our jockey arrangements for the last five months; that changed at the last minute," Mott said. "Lezcano was able to do it. For this particular day, everybody's made their arrangements already—most people have. (Lezcano) even had arrangements made at Aqueduct, but I think he's able to get out of them."

After Mott received Ron the Greek in his barn in 2011, Lezcano became the regular rider and won multiple grade 1 events with the horse. Ron the Greek was privately purchased and moved to Saudi Arabia, where he was the champion older horse in 2015 and the leading sire in 2019.

Lezcano's experience led Mott to assign the rider aboard Tacitus.

"It's twofold. No. 1, he's won a lot of big races for me. He won the Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1) for me and the Santa Anita Handicap (G1). He's ridden in Saudi several times. After we sent Ron the Greek over there, he went over to ride him a couple times, so he's been there, ridden there, he's won there," Mott said. "It's a one-turn, nine-furlong race, and they ride that race at Belmont all the time, so he's familiar with it."

Ortiz suffered a slight fracture of his right wrist Saturday when he was unseated from Atone during the post parade of Gulfstream Park's third race. Ortiz remounted Atone and finished sixth before taking off the rest of his mounts.

"We're covered, and we're certainly disappointed Jose (Ortiz) is hurt, No. 1," Mott said. "Not only the Saudi Cup, but it's a very busy time of year with a lot of important races coming up, and I know a lot of those guys are anxious to ride their Triple Crown or Derby hopefuls, and that's going to knock him out of the next go-around."

Mott said Tacitus, a multiple grade 2 winner who was third in the Sept. 28 Jockey Club Gold Cup in his most recent race, "couldn't be better" since arriving in Saudi Arabia last week.