Silent Tactic Works Toward Kentucky Derby

Arkansas Derby runner-up Silent Tactic worked an easy half-mile over a fast track Sunday morning for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, the colt’s final Oaklawn breeze before departing for Churchill Downs to continue preparations for the May 2 Kentucky Derby.

Silent Tactic worked immediately following the surface renovation break under regular rider Cristian Torres. Silent Tactic, following an opening quarter-mile in :24.80, covered the distance in :49.40 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.80 and 6 furlongs in 1:17.60.

“Today, he just had a little easier work,” said assistant trainer Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse’s Oaklawn division. “Next work will be a little more serious going into the Derby and that will be about nine, 10 days out. Silent’s not so much the best work horse. He likes to show up in the afternoons. We like to see that.”

Arthur said shipping plans are fluid for Silent Tactic, but he could leave Wednesday with Counting Stars and Search Party, Casse’s scheduled Kentucky Oaks starters.

Silent Tactic has secured a spot in the Kentucky Derby with 100 qualifying points to rank seventh on the official leaderboard released by Churchill Downs. The field is limited to 20 starters.

Silent Tactic was the only horse to go through Oaklawn’s four-race Kentucky Derby prep series, finishing second in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3, winning the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 6 and finishing second in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 1 and the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) March 28.

Arkansas Derby winner Renegade collected 125 points and ranks third on Kentucky Derby leaderboard. The only other Oaklawn-raced horse with enough points to qualify for the 1 ¼-mile Kentucky Derby, at the moment, is Rebel winner Class President. However, Class President was recently withdrawn from Kentucky Derby consideration because of reported bone bruising.

Next-race plans are pending for Arkansas Derby third-place finisher Taptastic, Hall of Fame trainer Steve Asmussen said Friday morning. Taptastic won his one-mile career debut March 8 at Oaklawn before being wheeled back in 20 days for the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby.

“Came out of the race good,” Asmussen said. “Shipped him to Kentucky and undecided on what will be next for him. Obviously, we’re very pleased with the two races he’s put in. There’s a lot of year left, so we’ll take our time.”

Counting Stars, Search Party Work Toward Kentucky Oaks

Oaklawn stakes winners Counting Stars and Search Party both recorded half-mile workouts over a fast track Sunday morning for dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse in advance of scheduled starts in the Kentucky Oaks May 1 at Churchill Downs.

Search Party worked just after the track opened under exercise rider Autumn Lavertu. Search Party was timed in :48.60 and galloping out five furlongs in 1:01.80 and six furlongs in 1:16.40. Counting Stars, under regular rider Francisco Arrieta, was clocked in :48.20. Counting Stars galloped out five furlongs in 1:01 and six furlongs in 1:15.20. She worked immediately after the surface renovation break.

“The girls, I thought, looked real good,” said assistant trainer Caden Arthur, who oversees Casse’s Oaklawn division. “Looks like they’re ready to go.”

Arthur said Counting Stars and Search Party are scheduled to ship Wednesday to Churchill Downs and will have their final works there for the Kentucky Oaks around April 22. The 1 1/8-mile Kentucky Oaks is the country’s biggest race for 3-year-old fillies.

Counting Stars (100 points) and Search Party (67.5) rank fifth and 12, respectively, on the Kentucky Oaks leaderboard. The race is limited to 14 starters. Explora (95) is the only other Oaklawn-raced horse, at the moment, with enough points to qualify for the Kentucky Oaks. She ranks eighth.

Search Party and Counting Stars were the only horses to go through Oaklawn’s three-race Kentucky Oaks series. Search Party won the $300,000 Martha Washington Stakes Feb. 6. Counting Stars won the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) March 27. Explora won the second leg, the $750,000 Honeybee Stakes (G3) March 1, for Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert. Explora missed the Fantasy because of a fever and is training up to the Kentucky Oaks.

source: Oaklawn Park