Silent Tactic Fires Late In Southwest Showdown At Oaklawn, Sire Tacitus Nets First Graded

[Wandering Eyes]

Waiting for the right opportunity to power home, Silent Tactic (Tacitus–Magical Sign, by Gun Runner) made a statement down the lane in the GIII Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn on Friday and not only banked 20 Derby points on the road to Churchill, but also handed his sire Tactius (by Tapit) his first higher level winner.

The 2-year-old colt, who was the runner-up in the Smarty Jones Stakes last month, went off as a 12-1 shot here.

At the rear of the field into the first turn and through the backstretch, Silent Tactic had some work to do as 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', & favorite D'code (Speightstown) was trying to fend off fellow 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard', Buetane (Tiz the Law) and Soldier N Diplomat (Army Mule) for most of the race.

With the attention on the leaders as the field spun into the stretch, Silent Tactic geared up down the center of the course and proved best inside the final sixteenth. Soldier N Diplomat was the runner-up.

Lifetime Record: 4-2-2-0. Sales History: FTKOCT '24 $60,000; OBSAPR '25 $500,000.

O-John C. Oxley; B-Don Alberto Corporation; T-Mark E. Casse.

SILENT TACTIC indeed Tremendous last-to-first effort to win Friday's GIII Southwest Stakes at @OaklawnRacing, collecting 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. pic.twitter.com/bBITtmVwQ5

— TDN (@theTDN) February 6, 2026

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