Hall of Fame trainer Bill Mott has started eight horses in the Kentucky Derby, with the best finish a seventh with Hofburg last year. This year he has a pair of hopefuls, Country House and Tacitus. The latter is more highly regarded of the duo looking to be adorned with roses on the first Saturday of May. Here’s a look at the Tacitus odds for the Run for the Roses.
Tacitus ended up atop the Road to the Kentucky Derby points standings with 150. He won his two preps this year.
The son of Tapit made his three-year-old debut in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2), which was off a four-month layoff. His maiden breaker came in November at Aqueduct in his second career outing.
Sent off at 9-1 in a field of 11 in the Tampa Bay Derby, the colt made a good late rally to pull off the upset and earn 50 Kentucky Derby points, enough to qualify for the Run for the Roses in one shot. His price on the early Kentucky Derby odds a few weeks after his victory dropped to +2500.
Next up was his final prep for the first Saturday of May. Here, he was sent off as the 5-2 betting choice in the Wood Memorial (G2) at Aqueduct.
The colt was bumped hard coming out of the gate, was clipped from behind while a bit rank, came with a four-wide bid around the far turn to take over the lead and went on to a 1.25 length victory over runner-up Tax.
The Wood Memorial has produced 20 Kentucky Derby winners. However, they have produced none since Funny Cide in 2003.
Last year’s Wood winner was the Todd Pletcher-trained Vino Rosso. He came back to run ninth in the Kentucky Derby and fourth in the Belmont Stakes.
Tacitus Odds: Taking Recent Kentucky Derby Action
Tacitus is coming in a bit under the radar. But he has been taking recent action in early Kentucky Derby wagering, with Tacitus odds dropping to +1000, the fifth choice in the betting.
While Mott has not won the Kentucky Derby, he has won 10 Breeders’ Cup races, and the Belmont Stakes (G1) with Drosselmeyer in 2010.
Tacitus has the pedigree to handle the 1.25 mile distance. He is by top sire Tapit out of the multiple Grade 1 winning mare Close Hatches. She won $2.7 million in her career and was trained by Mott.
She won five Grade 1 races and was the runner up in the 2013 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1).
Despite Mott’s and the Wood Memorials’ record in the Run for the Roses, this colt should be given a good look on the first Saturday of May.
He has the right running style to sit mid-pack and make his move as they turn for home. He is also battle-tested after overcoming some trouble in the Wood. Therefore, he is likely going to be a decent price.