Breeders' Cup Classic longshot Tacitus breezes with Channel Maker; Mott plans to pre-enter six
ELMONT, N.Y. - After getting beat as the 3-5 favorite in the Woodward and Jockey Club Gold Cup - both Grade 1 stakes at 1 1/4 miles - Tacitus will head to the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic on Nov. 7 as most likely a double-digit priced longshot. Still, Bill Mott doesn’t see the point in leaving a healthy, sound horse who has finished in the top three in 10 career stakes in the barn.
“There’s no reason not to take him over there,” Mott said Saturday at Belmont Park. “If the setup works in his favor, he’s going to get a piece of it. He’s always subject to jump up and win one if things work out.”
Things did not work out in either the Woodward, where Tacitus finished second to Global Campaign, or the Jockey Club Gold Cup, where Tacitus was beaten by both Happy Saver and Mystic, Guide, both 3-year-olds who are not headed to the Classic.
Tacitus’ last big performance came on July 4 when he beat a modest field in the Grade 2 Suburban Stakes at Belmont Park by 8 1/4 lengths. Tacitus is a three-time stakes winner who has earned $2.94 million.
On Saturday, Tacitus returned to the worktab at Belmont Park, breezing a half-mile in 49.58 seconds in company with Channel Maker, who is pointing to the Breeders’ Cup Turf. Tacitus started about two lengths behind Channel Maker, joined up near the quarter pole and the two finished together in 23.38 seconds. He galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.56.
“They went very well,” Mott said.
Channel Maker, who is coming off Grade 1 victories in the Sword Dancer at Saratoga and Joe Hirsch Turf Classic at Belmont “looks dynamite,” Mott said.
Tacitus and Channel Maker are two of six horses Mott plans to pre-enter in the Breeders’ Cup by Monday’s deadline. Horologist, who won the Grade 2 Beldame, will be pre-entered in the Distaff as her connections have opted to pay a $100,000 supplemental fee. Frank’s Rockette, the Grade 2 Gallant Bloom, will be pre-entered for both the Sprint and Filly and Mare Sprint. She is expected to breeze at Belmont on Sunday.
Harvey’s Lil Goil, winner of the Grade 1 Queen Elizabeth II at Keeneland, will be pre-entered in the Filly and Mare Turf and Casa Creed, fourth in the Grade 1 Shadwell Turf Mile, will be pre-entered in the Mile.
On Friday, Horologist worked five furlongs in 1:00.61 over the Oklahoma training track at Saratoga.
Tacitus, Channel Maker, Frank’s Rockette, and Horologist are all scheduled to van from New York to Kentucky on Wednesday and will get one breeze at Keeneland next weekend. Mott said Harvey’s Lil Goil and Casa Creed could have their final breezes at Churchill Downs, where they are currently based, before vanning over to Keeneland.
Come Dancing set to hit the road
Come Dancing worked a half-mile in 48.90 seconds Saturday morning over Belmont Park’s training track, her final local breeze in preparation for her career finale in the Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint at Keeneland on Nov. 7.
Come Dancing, following a very fast workout last week, went her first quarter in 24.69 seconds and got her final quarter in 24.21 with her exercise rider barely moving a muscle on the Grade 1-winning mare.
“No reason to spice her up after that five-furlong breeze in [58.80 seconds] last week,” trainer Carlos Martin said. “I thought she looked smooth.”
Come Dancing, sixth in last year’s Breeders’ Cup Filly and Mare Sprint, is scheduled to leave on Tuesday for Kentucky where she will get to train, including a three-furlong blowout, in advance of the Breeders’ Cup.
“It’s not going to hurt to get over the track and be there early,” Martin said.
Come Dancing is 1 for 4 this year with the win coming in the Grade 2 Honorable Miss at Saratoga on Sept. 6.
* Dunbar Road, third behind Horologist and Point of Honor in the Grade 2 Beldame, worked five furlongs in 1:01.99 over the Belmont Park main track in preparation for the Breeders’ Cup Distaff. Dunbar Road went in splits of 13.27 seconds, 25.63, 37.70, and galloped out six furlongs in 1:14.99.
* Reinvestment Risk, second to Jackie’s Warrior in the Grade 1 Champagne, worked a half-mile in 48.43 seconds in company with Miles D in preparation for an expected start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
Reinvestment Risk, working inside of Miles D, got his last quarter in 23.43 seconds and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.70.