Jose Lezcano replaces Jose Ortiz on Tacitus in Saudi Cup

Jockey Jose Lezcano got the call to ride Juddmonte Farms’ Tacitus in the Feb. 29 Saudi Cup at King Abdulaziz Racetrack, trainer Bill Mott said Feb. 23. Mott was left seeking a replacement rider a week out from the $20 million race after Jose Ortiz, the regular rider of Tacitus, was injured in a post parade accident at Gulfstream Park.

“As of right now, it’s Jose Lezcano. We’ve been through the list, and, of course, we’ve had our jockey arrangements for the last five months; that changed at the last minute,” Mott said. “Lezcano was able to do it. For this particular day, everybody’s made their arrangements already—most people have. (Lezcano) even had arrangements made at Aqueduct, but I think he’s able to get out of them.”