Trainer Mark Casse is 0-for-11 in the Kentucky Derby (G1). The Hall of Famer is one of racing’s most popular trainers and comes into this Derby with a deep closer in Silent Tactic. The bay colt ran in all four Derby preps at Oaklawn Park and finished second (Smarty Jones Stakes), first (Southwest Stakes), second (Rebel Stakes), and second (Arkansas Derby). He’s considered a longshot, but if the leaders fade in the stretch, watch out for Silent Tactic. (In 2009, 50-1 longshot Mine That Bird rallied from last – 19th – after three-quarters of a mile to win the Derby.)
Beware of Silent Tactic. When the field hits the stretch in the Kentucky Derby, count on this colt to make some noise with his typical closing rush to the finish line.
His running style says he just might be able to win at the Derby distance of 1 ¼ miles, longer than any of the Derby prep races.
It worked to perfection in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest Stakes (G3) for a 3 ¼-length win on Feb. 6, but he came up short in three other preps (all runner-up finishes) in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones to stablemate Strategic Risk on Jan. 3), in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel Stakes (G2) to Class President on March 1, and in the 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby (G1) to Renegade on March 28.
All four races were at Oaklawn Park, the Arkansas road to the Derby taken by quite a few Kentucky Derby winners, including Smarty Jones in 2004, American Pharoah in 2015, and Mystik Dan in 2024.
Before heading to Churchill Downs, Silent Tactic posted a 4-furlong work under regular rider Cristian Torres. He galloped out 5 furlongs in 1:02.80.
“Silent’s not so much the best workhorse. He likes to show up in the afternoons,’’ said Caden Arthur, trainer Mark Casse’s assistant who oversees the Hall of Famer’s Oaklawn division. “We like to see that.”
He may have just two wins in six starts, but Silent Tactic has been as consistent – if not the most consistent – as any 3-year-old.
He finished seventh on the Derby leaderboard with 100 points and should go off at very tempting odds. He closed at 32-1 in the Derby future wager.
His Equibase rating of 91 puts him in the second half of the field and has a top Equibase speed figure of 103 from his Southwest win.
A potential drawback is that the only Derby qualifier he’s faced has been Renegade, a four-length winner in the Arkansas Derby and likely favorite in the Run for the Roses. His other runner-up finishes came against Strategic Risk and Class President, neither in the Derby picture.
In his Southwest win, Silent Tactic faced 11 rivals, settled at the back of the pack, was sixth on the far outside in the stretch, and won going away at 1 1/16 miles. He just might be able to do the same by going 3/16 of a mile farther. Live longshot.
- Mark Casse, a dual Hall of Famer, is 0-for-11 in the Derby with no top 3 finishers. In 2019, he won the Preakness Stakes with War of Will and the Belmont Stakes with Sir Winston.
- Owner John C. Oxley won the 2001 Kentucky Derby with Monarchos, who ran the second fastest time – 1:59.97 -- in Derby history (behind Secretariat, 1:59.40).
- Cristian Torres will be riding in the Derby for the first time.
- Silent Tactic was purchased for $500,000 at the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training.
Richard Rosenblatt is an award-winning journalist and former Associated Press Horse Racing Editor. Currently, he serves as the news editor at US Racing, overseeing exclusive content from contributors worldwide.
