On to Rebel for Southwest Winner Silent Tactic

[Wandering Eyes]

John Oxley's Silent Tactic (Tacitus) will likely make his next start in the Mar. 1 GII Rebel Stakes at Oaklawn Park following his upset victory in the GIII Southwest Stakes Friday in Arkansas, trainer Mark Casse confirmed.

The Southwest was Casse's third consecutive victory in a Kentucky Derby qualifying race at Oaklawn, following last season's GI Arkansas Derby with Sandman (Tapit) and the Jan. 3 Smarty Jones Stakes with Strategic Risk (Noble Bird). Silent Tactic closed to finish second in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones.

“The thing, too, it wasn't like when Sandman won the Arkansas Derby,” Casse said. “There was a pace meltdown. There wasn't a pace meltdown [Friday]. I think the impressive thing about Silent Tactic is he ran down an average pace.”

Casse said he also plans to run Strategic Risk in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel. A sparkling 4 1/2-length winner of the Smarty Jones, Strategic Risk spun his wheels late in the Southwest and finished 10th, beaten 10 1/2 lengths.

Casse said Strategic Risk's performance may have been impacted by a winter storm late last month that delayed the Southwest six days and closed the track for training for nine days.

“I really don't know what happened with him,” Casse said. “If you're watching, he looks like he's struggling. Maybe that little time off bothered him more than the others. I'm going to run back in the Rebel as long as he's fine.”

Casse reported Eclipse champion Nitrogen (Medaglia d'Oro) came out of her victory in the GIII Bayakoa Stakes Saturday in fine shape and is on target for the Mar. 7 GII Azeri Stakes.

“I almost think yesterday was the best race she's ever run,” Casse said Sunday morning. “When I flew out here, I was 50-50 whether we were going to run her or not. When we came out, I'd always said we were going to run in the Azeri. I told the Greens she's doing so well that if everything goes right, we'll run in the Bayakoa. Well, nothing went right there.”

After arriving Jan. 11 from Florida, Nitrogen posted a five-furlong bullet work (1:00) Jan. 17. But a winter storm subsequently closed the track for training for nine days (Jan. 24-Feb. 1).

“We got the one good work in her and then we sat in the barn for 10 days,” Casse said. “I struggled with that, big time, because you've got a champion. She's my girl and I don't want to do anything to tarnish her record. So, I did a lot of talking to myself. But when I saw her and I saw her fitness, I was good.”

Casse said he also plans to start multiple Grade I winner La Cara (Street Sense) in the Azeri.

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