Silent Tactic leaves Travers fright behind to return to victory lane in the Oklahoma Derby
The son of Tacitus, bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp., returned to his best form to hold off Zihnal by a neck in the Oklahoma Derby (G3-1,800 m, US$ 400,000) at Remington Park. He had been eased in his previous outing in the Travers Stakes (G1) after a campaign conditioned by a foot bruise in the spring
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (Special for Turf Diario).— Silent Tactic had gone in just a few months from developing into one of the key contenders on the road to the Kentucky Derby (G1) to causing deep concern when he was pulled up in the Travers Stakes (G1). On Sunday, he finally found redemption following an inconsistent campaign, rediscovering his true form to capture the Oklahoma Derby (G3-1,800 m, US$ 400,000) at Remington Park.
The result also held significant South American ties: Silent Tactic was bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corp., the international operation of Chile’s traditional Haras Don Alberto.
Sent off as the narrow favorite over Zihnal (Quality Road), the son of Tacitus was made to work all the way to the wire to seal the win. Barely a neck separated the pair at the finish line after the runner-up launched a furious late rally on the outside.
The winner stopped the clock in 1m50s31, with another 4 lengths back to The Hell We Did (Authentic), who finished third in the eight-runner field.
The race also demanded plenty of patience from jockey José Ortiz. Silent Tactic raced second-to-last during the opening stages while Tricky Business (Vekoma) set the pace under pressure from Vintage Cowboy (Essential Quality). The latter managed to grab a slim lead passing 1,200 meters, just as Ortiz began bringing the favorite closer three-wide.
Approaching the final turn, Silent Tactic was squarely in contention. Ortiz opted to cut inside, finding daylight along the rail as they neared the quarter pole. Vintage Cowboy was beginning to feel the exertion, and the Mark Cassetrainee surged past him entering the stretch.
While it appeared he might put the race away quickly, Zihnal still had his say. The second choice closed powerfully four-wide, steadily eating into the leader's advantage. Silent Tactic had to dig deep to hold his ground, showing immense determination to preserve the decisive neck margin and return to the winner's circle.
A Challenging Campaign
The Oklahoma Derby meant far more than just another stakes triumph for Silent Tactic. His early-season form had placed him among the top prospects on the Oaklawn Park classic trail. There, he captured the Southwest Stakes (G3) before finishing second in both the Rebel Stakes (G2) and the Arkansas Derby (G1).
Everything seemed on track for the Kentucky Derby (G1), but a foot bruise completely derailed those plans. The setback ruled him out of Churchill Downs and kept him off the track from March 28 until August 1.
His comeback came straight in the Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) at Saratoga, where he turned in a commendable third-place effort following a layoff of over four months.
That performance prompted his connections to take a shot in the Travers Stakes (G1), but the excursion ended prematurely: Silent Tactic was pulled up and failed to finish.
Returning just a month later and coming away victorious carried special meaning. With the Oklahoma Derby, Casse's pupil brought his career record to 3 wins, 4 seconds, and a third from 9 starts, demonstrating remarkable consistency setting aside the Travers mishap.
The $240,000 winner's purse boosted his total bankroll to $1,359,422.
The Don Alberto Stamp
There is another element that renders his career particularly interesting from this side of the continent. Silent Tacticwas bred by Don Alberto Corp., the North American branch of Don Alberto, and stems from a compelling pedigree.
He is by Tacitus, the multiple graded stakes winner out of the family of the outstanding Close Hatches (First Defense), and is out of Magical Sign, a daughter of Gun Runner.
Owned in partnership by John C. Oxley and Victoriam Farm, Silent Tactic delivered at Remington Park precisely what he needed after an interrupted season.
His talent had never truly been in doubt. A winner of the Southwest and G1-placed in the spring, injuries and that frightening moment in the Travers had repeatedly thrown obstacles in his path. The Oklahoma Derby allowed him to put his campaign back on course, while providing Don Alberto with another major graded stakes winner bred under its banner in the United States.
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