Tacitus Runs Away With Suburban Stakes
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Photo: Coglianese Photos
Tacitus is alone at the wire in the Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park
Juddmonte Farms' homebred Tacitus regained his winning form July 4 at Belmont Park and ran away with the $200,000 Suburban Stakes (G2) by 8 3/4 lengths.
Though winless since taking the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) in the spring of 2019, the son of Tapit and champion Close Hatches has continued to earn black type. After the Wood Memorial last April he placed in his five other starts as a sophomore: the Kentucky Derby Presented by Woodford Reserve (G1), Belmont Stakes (G1), Jim Dandy Stakes (G2), Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), and Jockey Club Gold Cup Stakes (G1).
He made his 4-year-old debut Feb. 29 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, finishing fifth in the Saudi Cup, then returned home to run fourth, rallying from ninth, in the May 2 Oaklawn Handicap (G2).
"We've put a lot into this horse. We took him to some big races and he's run some good races," said Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott. "We took him half way around the world earlier this year looking for something like that (Suburban effort) in Saudi and in Dubai before they canceled the race (Dubai World Cup Sponsored by Emirates Airline, G1)."
John Velazquez first rode Tacitus in the afternoon in the Oaklawn Handicap and was back aboard for Saturday's 1 1/4-mile race. The gray/roan colt settled off the pace in third and shuffled positions with June 11 Flat Out Stakes winner Moretti in fourth. Parsimony, a winner in Dubai in February, led through a mile with fractions of :24.68, :48.32, 1:10.82, and 1:34.98. Sir Winston, the 2019 Belmont Stakes winner, trailed the field and was 17 lengths back at that point.
Tacitus was only a half-length off Parsimony at the quarter-pole, picked off the leader, and proceeded to open up down the Belmont Park stretch. He lived up to his even-money odds as he crossed the wire on a fast track in 1:59.51.
"He was going comfortable the whole way. We had a little pressure in the first part of the race and little by little we kept reaching back and reaching back. I just wanted to be a little further back," Velazquez said. "Once we passed the five-eighths pole, I put my hands down and he got into a great rhythm. From there on, I knew he was comfortable and in a position to win."
Tacitus sported the addition of blinkers in the Suburban.
"It seems to make him level off a little more and stay in the bridle a little more," Mott said.
Moretti managed second a neck in front of Parsimony, who was followed by Just Whistle and Mr. Buff. Sir Winston trailed throughout and finished last, beaten 21 1/2 lengths by the winner.
Tacitus is the first of five foals out of Close Hatches, a First Defence daughter who received the Eclipse Award for champion older mare in 2014. He has a 2-year-old full brother named Maximus Aurelius and a full sister born March 16.