Tacitus Adds Blinkers in Final Travers Work

Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott is not afraid to try something new before a big race. So when the discussions came up to race Tacitus with blinkers for the Aug. 24, $1.25 million Runhappy Travers Stakes (G1), he was not hesitant to make the equipment change.

Juddmonte Farms' homebred dual grade 2 winner sported blinkers when beginning Mid-Summer Derby preparations, which included a final breeze Aug. 17 on the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga Race Course when the gray/roan Tapit  colt went five furlongs in 1:00.48 in company with Seismic Wave. Regular rider Jose Ortiz was aboard for the journey, the fastest of five recorded works at the distance. 

"It was what we were looking for. He was a bit more focused with the blinkers," Ortiz said. "There was a loose horse, so we pulled up at the quarter-pole and when he galloped to the seven-furlong (pole) he was very focused. Before, he used to look around and play around, but he doesn't do that now, so that makes me more confident. He worked unbelievable. He has a nice way that he goes, he can do 12 (second splits) the whole way around there."

Tacitus, who is out of 2014 champion older filly Close Hatches, enters the Travers off a pair of runner-up finishes in the Belmont Stakes presented by NYRA Bets (G1) and the Jim Dandy presented by NYRA Bets (G2), where he stumbled coming out of the gate, but managed to recover enough to finish a strong second to fellow Travers aspirant Tax.

"It was a small field, but it was very impressive what he did," Ortiz said. "He went to his knees, got up and ran a very nice race. I think he's probably one of the best 3-year-olds but he's just been very unlucky. Hopefully, we turn the tables in the Travers. We talked about (adding blinkers) after the (Jim) Dandy and we both agreed. (Mott) said he'd think about it. He ran third in the Derby, second in the Belmont, so we didn't want to change much."

Mott was pleased with how Tacitus trained with blinkers and said that he appears much more focused than before.

"I think the blinkers seem as though they helped him focus a little bit. Even in the workout, it looked like his head carriage was a little more straight and level," Mott said. "Does he absolutely have to have them? Maybe not. But if they help him an inch it'll be worth it. The good thing is that they didn't make him anxious or rank. They just helped him focus through the stretch."

Mott added he was satisfied with the work. 

"I thought it looked good. He tracked (Seismic Wave) and joined him at the head of the lane. It looked like he cruised on by with not a lot of encouragement," Mott said. "He was very focused. He galloped out nicely."

With the recent defections of reigning champion 2-year-old Game Winner and two-time grade 1 winner Maximum Security, Tacitus could end up being the favorite for the Travers. 

"At this juncture, anybody who has a horse just hopes they stay healthy until race time, whether it's a soundness issue or whether there's a virus," Mott said. "You cross your fingers and hope you stay in good shape. I don't think you want to be acting joyous over someone else not being able to run because you could be in the same shoes. We were bringing Hofburg up last year and he got sick right before the race. I'm just worried about my one horse and cross my fingers that he stays healthy for race day."

Three-time Eclipse Award-winning trainer Chad Brown is the overwhelming favorite to wrap up his fourth consecutive trainers title at the historic summer stand. He'll look to cap another successful summer with his first career victory in the Travers, saddling pair of formidable contenders in Highest Honors and Looking At Bikinis.

W.S. Farish's Highest Honors, a Tapit gray, and Long Lake Stable, Madaket Stables, Thomas Coleman, and Doheny Racing's Looking At Bikinis, by Lookin At Lucky , visited the main track following the renovation break at 8:45 a.m. EDT.

Highest Honors completed five furlongs in 1:01.66.

"He went super," said Brown. "It was a nice little maintenance move. He galloped out strong and came back with a lot of energy."

Highest Honors finished second by a neck in his career debut on April 20 at Keeneland, and graduated in his second start going 1 1/16 miles on June 1 at Belmont Park. The rapidly improving colt won his stakes debut in the July 26 Curlin Stakes by 1 1/2 lengths over a muddy track, besting stablemate Looking At Bikinis.

"He's been looking for a mile and a quarter for some time," said Brown. "I know he's lightly raced and lacks some experience, but I'm confident the distance will suit him."

Looking At Bikinis posted a five furlong move in 1:00.85. The well-regarded colt won his first two career starts at Belmont Park winning his debut in September of 2018 and returning to take an optional-claiming race on June 27. Sent off as the even-money favorite in the Curlin, he broke alertly and took the lead before fading to finish third by a neck.

"He bounced out of the Curlin well," said Brown. "We only wanted to go onto this race if he trained well and he has. I'm hoping his performance last time was compromised by the wet track. Hopefully, if the conditions are dry, he can work out a better trip and we'll see his previous form."

Highest Honors will be ridden by Luis Saez. Hall of Fame rider Javier Castellano will be aboard Looking At Bikinis in the Travers. 

Also working for the Travers Saturday at Saratoga was Calumet Farm's Everfast, trained by Dale Romans. Everfast traveled five furlongs on the main track in 1:00.23.

Trainer Dallas Stewart said Chess Chief, owned by the Estate of James Coleman Jr., is under consideration for the Travers. Chess Chief last ran second in the Aug. 3 West Virginia Derby (G3) and a decision will be made following an Aug. 19 work at Churchill Downs.