Tacitus returns to take on Knicks Go in Lukas Classic
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Tacitus was intended to make his comeback in the Jockey Club Gold Cup, but what’s a few weeks to a 5-year-old horse who has already knocked out more than $3.7 million?
Withheld from the Jockey Club Gold Cup on Sept. 4 at Saratoga because of what his connections termed a “minor issue,” Tacitus will make his first start since the Saudi Cup on Feb. 20 when facing heavily favored Knicks Go in the Grade 3, $400,000 Lukas Classic on Saturday at Churchill Downs.
Riley Mott, assistant to and son of Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott, said Tacitus “has had a strong series of works” since his training was interrupted at Saratoga in late August and that the Juddmonte homebred arrived Tuesday at Churchill from Saratoga in good order.
“It’ll be no easy task taking on Knicks Go, but he ran really well at Churchill before, so hopefully he’ll make a good showing,” the younger Mott said.
Indeed, the only prior start at Churchill for Tacitus was the 2019 Kentucky Derby. After finishing fourth at 5-1 odds, he was placed third via the disqualification of Maximum Security in a decision that gave the Derby victory to “the other Mott,” Country House, a 65-1 shot who never raced again.
In the nearly 2 1/2 years since that controversial Derby, Tacitus has established himself as a standout performer, regularly earning triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures while keeping elite company. Still, his assignment Saturday in the 1 1/8-mile Lukas is a difficult one, as the speedy Knicks Go figures to leave Tacitus and his four other rivals behind in the opening strides.
Knicks Go, trained by Brad Cox, will break from post 2 with Joel Rosario back aboard, right alongside Tacitus (post 3, Jose Lezcano), in the ninth running of the Lukas (race 8), which anchors an 11-race card that starts at 12:45 p.m. Eastern. The secondary feature is the Grade 3, $300,000 Ack Ack (race 10), a one-turn mile that drew a field of 11 headed by Rushie.