Tacitus Could Return in May 2 Oaklawn Handicap

Tacitus, last year's Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) winner, is under consideration for a start in the $600,000 Oaklawn Handicap (G2), where he could join a lineup in the May 2 race expected to include grade 1 winners Improbable and Combatant.

The gray son of Tapit  out of the Eclipse Award-winning mare Close Hatches was in the Middle East this year for the Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline (G1), which was slated for March 28 but was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The 4-year-old colt owned and bred by Juddmonte Farms since returned to Belmont Park, where he posted a pair of breezes just five days apart, including a five-furlong move April 20 in 1:01.35 on the dirt training track.

"He'll work again, and if that goes OK, we might go to Oaklawn," said trainer Bill Mott, who is on the cusp of saddling 5,000 winners in North America, a milestone matched by only six others.

As of April 23, Mott has won 4,988 races from 25,463 starts in North America.

Tacitus made his 4-year-old debut off a five-month layoff in the inaugural Saudi Cup and finished fifth, beaten 4 1/4 lengths.

"He hadn't been out in a long time," Mott said.

Tacitus made his sophomore debut a winning one in March 2019 with a rallying effort in the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2). He then recorded a 1 1/4-length score in the Wood Memorial at Aqueduct Racetrack.

He was elevated to third in the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), which was awarded to stablemate Country House. Tacitus finished second in the Belmont Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), and Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1).

He completed his 3-year-old campaign with a third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1) in September at Belmont Park, banking more than $1.6 million for the year.

Mott also nominated Godolphin homebred Endorsed to the Oaklawn Handicap. Previously trained by Kiaran McLaughlin, who has switched gears to become a jockey agent for Luis Saez, the 4-year-old Medaglia d'Oro  colt was fifth behind Combatant in the March 7 Santa Anita Handicap (G1).

"If Tacitus runs, he probably won't run," Mott said of Endorsed. "He's a nice horse, and we're optimistic as he's been improving a little bit. He looked like he was improving for Kiaran, and hopefully he'll continue in that direction."

Mott has a trio of talented fillies in Harvey's Lil Goil, Lake Avenue, and Antoinette nominated for the $400,000 Fantasy Stakes (G3) May 1 at Oaklawn Park. The 1 1/16-mile test offers 100-40-20-10 Longines Kentucky Oaks (G1) qualifying points to the top four finishers.

"All three might make their way to Oaklawn," Mott said.

The trainer is looking for his first win in the Kentucky Oaks, which this year will be run Sept. 4.

The Estate of Harvey A. Clarke and Paul Braverman's Harvey's Lil Goil romped to a six-length maiden win at second asking in December at Aqueduct and followed with a 7 1/2-length score over next-out Busher Invitational winner Water White in the nine-furlong Busanda Stakes in February.

"She might not get in the Fantasy. They have a big field, and she might not have enough earnings," Mott said. 

Entries for the Fantasy will be taken April 25, followed the next day by those for the Oaklawn Handicap.

Harvey's Lil Goil is out of the Tapit broodmare Gloria S, a half sister to 2012 Kentucky Derby winner I'll Have Another  and the Mott-trained dual graded stakes winner Golden Award.

Mott said the filly relishes a distance of ground, which should suit her well as she gears up for grade 1 races like the Kentucky Oaks and the 1 1/4-mile Alabama Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.

"She's a nice filly, and distance isn't going to hurt her," Mott said. "I really didn't want to shorten her up to the mile and a sixteenth in the Fantasy if she gets in there, but if we don't run there, we might not be running for a while."

Harvey's Lil Goil is 21st on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 10 points.

Godolphin homebred Lake Avenue won the Demoiselle Stakes (G2) at 1 1/8 miles in December at Aqueduct. After a disappointing fourth in the Busher Invitational to launch her 3-year-old campaign, the Tapit filly was third last out in the Fasig-Tipton Gulfstream Park Oaks (G2).

"She's doing well. She ran much better here in the Oaks than her previous race in New York," Mott said. 

Lake Avenue is 11th on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard with 35 points.

Godolphin homebred Antoinette, a daughter of Hard Spun , graduated at second asking on the Belmont turf in October and followed with a victory in the off-the-turf Tepin Stakes in December at Aqueduct.

Last out, in the Twinspires.com Fair Grounds Oaks (G2), Antoinette moved to 12th on the Oaks leaderboard by garnering 20 points with a troubled third-place run.

"It was a good race. She had to wait for running room, but she ran a decent third. She's doing well," Mott said.