Tacitus Exits Wood Fine, Bound for Kentucky Derby

Wood Memorial Stakes Presented by NYRA Bets (G2) winner Tacitus was no worse for wear the morning after his triumphant run April 6 in the final Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) qualifier at Aqueduct Racetrack. The Tapit  colt will seek to give Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott and owner/breeder Juddmonte Farms their first Derby victory at Churchill Downs.

"He came out of it very well," said Mott's assistant Leana Willaford. "He was a little tired, but that's to be expected. It's nice to see him overcome (an unfavorable trip). He'll go back to the track here in three days, and we'll train him lightly and send him over there when Bill gets to Churchill."

The first foal out of 2014 champion older mare Close Hatches, Tacitus picked up 100 points toward the Derby with Saturday's victory and is currently atop the leaderboard with 150 points. He garnered 50 points with his stakes debut in last month's Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

Willaford noted the conformational improvement that Tacitus, who debuted at Belmont Park in October and graduated in November at the Big A, has made over time. 

"He was down here from July until he broke his maiden, and he's changed a lot from July," Willaford said. "Then to not see him over the course of the winter, he's matured a ton. He's definitely filling out. He still has some more growing to do—he's only 3. He's a big old horse."

Tax came out of his runner-up effort in the Wood in good order and remains on track for a potential start in the Kentucky Derby next month, trainer Danny Gargan said the morning of April 7.

The Arch gelding, owned by R.A. Hill Stable, Reeves Thoroughbred Racing, Hugh Lynch, and Corms Racing Stable, earned 40 points under Junior Alvarado after finishing 1 1/4 lengths behind Tacitus. Tax has 52 points on the Derby leaderboard, the 12th-highest total, and he has never finished off the board in five starts.

With three consecutive races at 1 1/8 miles, Gargan said his charge has also improved and matured as he got older. 

"Everything was good this morning," Gargan said. "I thought he ran a tremendous race and can move forward off that effort. His last three races, he's improved tremendously. He learned a lot in the Remsen and then he moved forward in the Withers. We gave him almost nine weeks between those races, and yesterday he showed up.

"He got a little tired and got pushed down on the rail late, which was a little dead. But it was his first race in a while. I think we're set to move forward off this now. The goal all along was the Derby. That's why we passed on the Gotham. It was a (risk) to only run twice because with these point systems, you have to run well every time if you aren't running (often). We were lucky enough to win one prep and do well in another. To pass on a race in between, it was a gamble, but it's going to pay off in the long run."

Shadwell Stable's Haikal will more than likely also ship to Louisville, Ky., for the Kentucky Derby, trainer Kiaran McLaughlin said. The son of Daaher  was placed at the back of the field early and was asked for more by jockey Rajiv Maragh coming around the far turn. He found top gear nearing the eighth pole and made up considerable ground to finish third, beaten four lengths. 

Haikal, a half brother to grade 1 winner Takaful, earned 70 points after Saturday's effort, which was his first start since winning the March 9 Gotham Stakes (G3). He is ninth on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

"He came out of the race in good shape," McLaughlin said. "I still have to talk to (Shadwell Stable racing manager) Rick Nichols. … I would assume we're pointing that way. He ran very well, he finished the fastest last quarter, and we just needed another furlong."