Tacitus, Frank's Rockette work fast for upcoming stakes

ELMONT, N.Y. – Trainer Bill Mott is expected to have horses in all five graded stakes next Saturday at Belmont Park, including Tacitus and Frank’s Rockette, who on Sunday put in a sharp half-mile workout over the Belmont main track in preparation for their engagements.

Tacitus and Frank’s Rockette went a half-mile together in 46.71 seconds over the main track, galloping out five furlongs in 59.07. The four-furlong moves were the fastest by .76 of a second on Sunday. Tacitus is pointing to the Grade 2, $200,000 Suburban, while Frank’s Rockette runs in the Grade 3, $100,000 Victory Ride Stakes for 3-year-old fillies.

“They were a little quicker than I wanted,” Mott said.

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Speaking of Tacitus, Mott added “I think when he was working a little better he was running a little better. The Derby he was working good over that track. It has a lot to do with the track, if it’s fast he seems to like it better.”

Tacitus is trying to snap a seven-race losing streak that began in the 2019 Kentucky Derby where he finished fourth, but was moved up to third with the disqualification of Maximum Security.

“You’d like to see him win pretty soon,” Mott said. “He hasn’t run poorly in any of them, just hasn’t been good enough.”

Tacitus has been breezing in blinkers, equipment he wore when second in the Travers last year and third in the Jockey Club Gold Cup. He did not wear blinkers when fifth in the $20 million Saudi Cup and fourth in the Grade 2 Oaklawn Handicap. He will wear blinkers in the Suburban, run at 1 1/4 miles.

Frank’s Rockette is coming off a 3 1/2-length victory in an allowance race at Churchill Downs in May. Last year, she finished second in the Grade 1 Spinaway and Grade 1 Frizette.

Prior to her allowance win, Frank’s Rockette finished second to Kimari in the Purple Martin Stakes at Oaklawn Park. Kimari came back to run second in the Grade 1 Commonwealth Cup at Royal Ascot.

John Velazquez will ride both Tacitus and Frank’s Rockette in their respective stakes.

Mott also plans to run Endorsed in the Grade 1 Runhappy Metropolitan Handicap, Channel Maker in the Grade 1 Manhattan, and Seismic Wave in the Grade 3 Poker.

Endorsed, second to Code of Honor in the Grade 3 Westchester, worked a half-mile Sunday in 49.56 over the training track. Channel Maker and Seismic Wave went a half-mile together in 51.00, also over the training track.