Fan-Favorite Tacitus Looks For Redemption in Saudi Cup
Tacitus has long been a fan favorite in the sport of horse racing. His grey coat was eye-catching, his performances in races like the Wood Memorial Stakes (G2) were promising, and his pedigree foreshadowed glory. If he is to win the $20 million Saudi Cup, Tacitus will undoubtedly rise to even higher esteem in the sport.
Early Life (2016 - 2017)
Many horses are born to dams who never raced or ran just a few times before becoming a broodmare, but not Tacitus. His dam Close Hatches was an incredible racehorse, known for winning five Grade 1 races in her career. Those Grade 1 victories included races like the Personal Ensign, Mother Goose, and Ogden Phipps Stakes. She even finished second in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) and the 2014 Acorn Stakes (G1). Close Hatches was so good in 2014 that she was given the Eclipse Award for Champion Older Mare.
[Video: Watch Close Hatches (#1), dam of Tacitus, beat Princess of Sylmar and Beholder in the Ogden Phipps Stakes]
Once retired, she was bred to the iconic stallion Tapit. Tapit was no slouch on the racetrack, but really made a name for himself in the breeding shed as the sire of 25 G1 winners. The pairing of Close Hatches and Tapit produced Tacitus, who was born on February 21, 2016.
Like his dam Close Hatches, Tacitus was bred by the royal Juddmonte Farms. Juddmonte sent the young colt to the same trainer as his dam, Bill Mott.
Two Year Old Season & Kentucky Derby Preps (2018 - 2019)
The world had high hopes for Tacitus from the very beginning of his career. He debuted with Jose Ortiz in the irons on October 4, 2018 at Belmont Park. He finished fourth, but rebounded the following month to break his maiden at Aqueduct.