Tacitus could point to Woodward

ELMONT, N.Y. – Tacitus did enough in winning Saturday’s Grade 2 Suburban by 8 3/4 lengths to convince trainer Bill Mott that he deserves to be pointed to the $7 million Breeders’ Cup Classic in November at Keeneland.

Now, Mott just needs to plot a path to get there.

In Saratoga, the Grade 1, $750,000 Whitney is run at 1 1/8 miles on Aug. 1, while the Grade 1, $500,000 Woodward is run at 1 1/4 miles on Sept. 5. The added distance of the Woodward makes that race more intriguing to Mott.

“I think the distance is an important factor for this horse, particularly with what we saw yesterday,” said Mott, who thought that 1:59.51 was “a pretty good time.”

Tacitus ended a seven-race losing streak in the Suburban. Equipped with blinkers, he seemed more focused and polished his race off more professional than he was doing last year.

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The blinkers, Mott said, “seemed to make him level off a little more and stay in the bridle a little more.”

Tacitus earned a 100 Beyer Speed Figure for the Suburban, his third career Grade 2 stakes win to go with the Tampa Bay Derby and Wood Memorial.

Also Saturday, Mott won the Grade 3 Victory Ride for 3-year-old fillies with Frank’s Rockette, who will now be pointed to the Grade 1 Test at seven furlongs on Aug. 8 at Saratoga.

“We’ll try it, why not give her a shot in there,” Mott said. “She’s Grade 1-placed twice, and if she doesn’t win but at least hits the board we could say at least we tried.”

Frank’s Rockette did show some grit, fending off Reagan’s Edge, to win by a head.