Tales from the Crib: Tacitus

Close Hatches had also earned the right to visit an elite stallion in Tapit. Aside from his obvious appeal as a sire, the Tapit mating also offered inbreeding to both Seattle Slew and Unbridled. That’s because Tapit is bred on that cross, while Close Hatches’ sire, First Defence, features the reverse cross of Unbridled over Seattle Slew.

On February 21, 2016, Close Hatches delivered her first foal, a gray like his sire. Baby Tacitus naturally inspired high hopes. Close Hatches was bred back to Malibu Moon (sire of 2013 Derby hero Orb), resulting in a filly now named Atheer. But Close Hatches returned to Tapit when Tacitus was a yearling in 2017, and produced a full brother to the Derby hopeful last season. Her new foal, a Curlin colt, has the same birthday as Tacitus.

When the time was ready for Tacitus to graduate to the racetrack, he joined Mott. That trainer continuity is visible elsewhere in his Juddmonte pedigree. Fabre had Rising Tornado, Silver Star and her brother Xaar in France, and in the United States, the late Hall of Famer Bobby Frankel was responsible for First Defence, Honest Lady, and her half-brother Empire Maker. (Remember that Prince Khalid paid tribute to the great horseman by naming a future phenom after him – Frankel, who would retire as an unbeaten world champion.)

Considering that Close Hatches didn’t debut until she was three, Tacitus did well to break his maiden at two. The prestigious Saratoga meeting came a bit too soon, but he did post a trio of works at the “Spa” in July before continuing to limber up at Belmont Park in the fall. After a fourth in his October 4 premiere, Tacitus stayed on determinedly to prevail next out at Aqueduct November 10, and returned triumphant in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2).

His Juddmonte buddy, and stablemate, Hidden Scroll also burst onto the Derby radar this winter. Most recently a tough-trip fourth as the Fountain of Youth (G2) favorite, Hidden Scroll will get another chance to earn his ticket to the Run for the Roses.

If both of Juddmonte’s highly rated youngsters make it to the starting gate for Derby 145, it would be a fitting continuation of their intertwining tales.

Tacitus head shot from Tampa Bay Downs (c) SV Photography