Silent Tactic received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 88, a career-high, after his 3 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16 mile Southwest, a $1 million event that was Oaklawn’s second of four Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying races.
Under two-time Oaklawn champion Cristian Torres, Silent Tactic passed nine horses in the final three-sixteenths of a mile to win. The Southwest was Casse’s third straight victory in a Kentucky Derby qualifying race at Oaklawn, following last season’s $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) with Sandman and the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes on Jan. 3 with Strategic risk . Silent Tactic closed out and finished second in the 1 1/16 mile Smarty Jones.
“The thing wasn’t like when Sandman won the Arkansas Derby either,” Casse said. “There was a pace meltdown. There was no pace meltdown (Friday). I think what’s impressive about Silent Tactic is that he ran an average pace.”
Casse said he also plans to take strategic risks in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel. Strategic Risk was a sparkling 4 1/2 length winner from the Smarty Jones, but he spun his wheels late in the south-west to finish 10th, beaten by 10 1/2 lengths.
Casse said Strategic Risk’s performance may have been affected by a winter storm late last month, which delayed the Southwest for six days and closed the track for training for nine days (Jan. 24-Feb. 1).
“I really don’t know what happened to him,” Casse said. “If you look, he looks like he’s struggling. Perhaps he was more affected by that short time off than the others. I’ll go back in the Rebel as long as he’s doing well.’
Casse said Top level who broke his first sprint in Friday’s fifth race, is eligible for the Rebel. Top Level, one of four winners on the card for Casse, made his second career start after finishing seventh in a 1 1/16-mile race Dec. 26 at Gulfstream Park.
“Possibly, but most likely not,” Casse said, referring to the rebel. “Top Level was as impressive as anything.”
The Rebel is Oaklawn’s third Kentucky Derby qualifying race and will offer a total of 105 points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to the top five finishers to qualify for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Blackout time second in the Breeders’ Futurity Stakes (G1) Oct. 4 at Keenelandalso focuses on the rebel, co-owner Lance Gasaway said on February 7.
Oaklawn’s Kentucky Derby qualifying series concludes with the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles on March 28.
Next step for nitrogen
As he traveled from his Florida base to Oaklawn several days ago, Casse said he debated whether to become champion Nitrogen of the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles on Feb. 7.
Casse decided to run and was rewarded when Nitrogen, under regular rider Jose Ortiz, took an easy 2 3/4-length victory in the Bayakoa, marking her four-year-old debut for breeder/owners Jon and Leonard Green (DJ Stable).
“I almost think yesterday was the best race she ever ran,” Casse said Sunday morning. “When I flew here, I was 50-50 whether we were going to run her or not. When we came out, I always said we were going to run in Azeri. I told the Greens that she is doing so well that if everything goes well, we will run in the Bayakoa. Well, nothing has gone right there.”
After arriving from Florida on January 11, Nitrogen posted a 5 furlong (1:00 hour) shot training on January 17. But a winter storm then closed the track for nine days for training.
“We found the only good work in her, and then we sat in the barn for 10 days,” Casse said. “I struggled a lot with that, because you have a champion. She’s my girl and I don’t want to do anything to lower her record. So I talked to myself a lot. But when I saw her, and I saw her condition, I was good.”
Nitrogen made her first start since a second-place finish in the Breeders’ Cup Distaff (G1) on November 1 at Sea. She won a Sovereign Award as Canada’s champion 2-year-old filly and an Eclipse Award as North America’s champion 3-year-old filly.
Casse said Nitrogen will make her next start in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) on March 7. The Azeri are the last major local preparation for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) on April 11. Both races are 1 1/16 miles.
Casse said he also plans to start multiple Grade 1 winners The face in Azerbaijani.
This press release has been edited for content and style by BloodHorse Staff.
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