Grade 2, $750,000 Wood Memorial, 1 1/8 miles, Aqueduct, April 6, 2019 (100 Derby qualifying points for a win, 40 for second, 20 for third, 10 for fourth) Winner: Tacitus, by Tapit Trainer: Bill Mott Jockey: Jose Ortiz Owner: Juddmonte Farms Beyer Speed Figure: 97 TACITUS followed up his solid 3-year-old debut win in the Tampa Bay Derby with an even better performance in this race, in which he earned a career-best Beyer figure. This was a roughly run race, and he was not immune to the trouble, but he prevailed to put himself squarely in the Derby picture. Tacitus has enough positional speed to get a decent trip. I also liked that in this race, after getting bounced around early, he didn’t lose his poise, something that can’t be said of all offspring of Tapit. He looks like a major player four weeks hence. In this race, Tacitus was bumped hard in his hindquarters soon after leaving the gate, then took up and bumped with additional rivals when floated to the three path early on the clubhouse turn. He was angled back toward the rail a quarter-mile into the race, and settled into a good spot despite the early dust-ups. He raced on the rail inside and behind TAX down the backstretch while JOEVIA and NOT THAT BRADY set fast fractions in front of them, was gradually angled off the rail while going around the far turn and came into the stretch four paths wide, outside of Tax. He took the lead at the furlong pole and gradually edged away in the final yards, with his ears appearing to go up as though he was waiting on rivals. He may have even more to offer. :: DERBY WATCH: Top 20 Kentucky Derby contenders with comments from Jay Privman and Mike Watchmaker Tax, who finished second, had to angle off the rail early on the clubhouse turn to avoid clipping heels with Joevia and bumped Tacitus, then wound up in a perfect position, sitting in the clear in third behind two dueling leaders. He got first run on Tacitus heading into the far turn, went around the two fading leaders to come into the lane three wide, but couldn’t hold off the winner, though he was well clear of everyone else. Overall, he had an ideal trip. HAIKAL, who was third, largely avoided all the bumping in front of him and went into the first turn toward the back of the pack while between rivals. He remained well back down the backstretch, rallied in the two path on the far turn while splitting rivals, saved ground into the lane, then finished well while cutting between Not That Brady and MATH WIZARD in deep stretch. This wasn’t a bad effort at all, but he had a great pace setup and a very clean trip, yet was four lengths in arrears of Tacitus. Math Wizard, who was fourth, checked slightly soon after the start, then went into the first turn near the rear of the pack while in the three path, just outside of Haikal. He remained outside Haikal down the backstretch, moved earlier than Haikal nearing the far turn, split rivals three furlongs out and largely saved ground on the turn, was angled to the middle of the track after straightening into the lane, loomed a threat a furlong out but went evenly late. This was a big jump in class for him and he ran well. Not That Brady, who was fifth, broke half a step slowly and then was sent aggressively toward the lead, then angled over heading around the first turn to range up alongside Joevia. He raced head and head with Joevia through quick fractions (a second quarter-mile in 23.29 seconds), got the best of Joevia three furlongs out, was too weary to offer much resistance to Tacitus and Tax, and gradually tired. The pace cooked him. :: Shop for PPs, picks, DRF+ and more in our store! FINAL JEOPARDY, who was sixth, took up heading into the first turn and lost position, then was guided to the rail to save ground inside of Haikal. He gradually dropped back heading down the backstretch and trailed with a half-mile to go, started to pick off some back markers from the two path on the far turn, and though he split the field he never was a factor. It would be hard to blame his performance solely on his early trouble. Joevia, who crossed the wire seventh, angled over sharply from his outside stall not long after leaving the gate, compromising several rivals, then continued on to the lead while crossing all the way over to the rail in the initial furlong. He was hounded by Not That Brady until the far turn while setting a quick pace, began to weaken three furlongs out, and tired through the stretch. He was understandably disqualified to last of 11 for the early interference he caused, and jockey Nik Juarez was rightly suspended for the dangerous ride. HOFFA’S UNION, who finished eighth but was moved up to seventh, broke half a step slow, managed to avoid the bumping into the first turn, and settled into a ground-saving spot while midpack around the first turn. He raced in the clear while just behind Tax and Tacitus into the far turn, but had nothing to offer when asked for his best midway on the turn and retreated. GRUMPS LITTLE TOTS, who was ninth and then moved up to eighth, was taken a hold of early and trailed into the first turn while racing in the clear. He made a bit of progress to be even with Haikal three furlongs out, rallied in the three path on the far turn, came off the bend in the four path still with much to do, was late to change leads, had to check a furlong out, and went evenly thereafter. OUTSHINE, who was 10th and then moved to ninth, took up leaving the gate, angled over heading into the first turn, then had to alter course to the outside to avoid the commotion in front of him, placing him about five to six paths wide. He raced in the clear while midpack down the backstretch, was urged along aggressively three furlongs out while hugging the rail but had no response. OVERDELIVER, who finished last of 11 and then got moved up to 10th, had a nightmarish trip. He took up not long after the start when Joevia cut over too soon, then into the first turn was bumped by Tacitus – who had been floated out by Tax, who was avoiding Joevia – and appeared to clip heels while being floated to the four path. That was all in the opening furlong. After that, he raced midpack while outside Hoffa’s Union early on the backstretch, began to lose ground late on the backstretch, was taken to the four path three furlongs out and was allowed to coast home.