Derby works: Silent Tactic drills ahead of Arkansas Derby

Silent Tactic completed major preparations for the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby with a maintenance workout over a fast track Thursday morning at Oaklawn.

Under two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres, Silent Tactic breezed during the special 10-minute workers-only period immediately after the surface renovation break, going five furlongs in 1:01.6. It was Silent Tactic's first published work since finishing second, beaten a nose, in the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 1.

"He's had an easier week galloping, so we're just trying to take it easy," said assistant trainer Caden Arthur, who oversees dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse's Oaklawn division. "He's feeling really good going into this race, so we're excited. Hopefully, we can get on the better end of the photo this time or something. But that's part of horse racing."

Silent Tactic will be the sole horse to compete in all four of Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby qualifying races after finishing second behind stablemate Strategic Risk in the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3, winning the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 6 and finishing second in the Rebel. All three races were at 1 1/16 miles.

"He looked phenomenal today, so we're very happy with it," Arthur said. "He won't work again before the race. That was it."

Entries will be accepted and post positions drawn following Saturday's first race for the Arkansas Derby. The 1 1/8-mile Arkansas Derby, Oaklawn's fourth and final Kentucky Derby qualifying race, is March 28.

Other Arkansas Derby probables, according to the Oaklawn racing department Thursday morning, are Blackout Time for trainer Kenny McPeek, Exosome (Kelsey Danner), Litmus Test (Bob Baffert), Renegade (Todd Pletcher) and Taptastic (Steve Asmussen). Additional horses are under consideration for the Arkansas Derby, according to the Oaklawn racing department.

The Arkansas Derby will award 200 total points to its top five finishers (100-50-25-15-10) toward starting eligibility for the Kentucky Derby.

Silent Tactic (50 points) ranks No. 4 on the official Kentucky Derby leaderboard released by Churchill Downs. Litmus Test (34) is No. 13, Renegade (25) is No. 14 and Blackout Time (15) is No. 29. The 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby is limited to 20 starters.

Baffert and Pletcher have each won the Arkansas Derby a record five times. Asmussen is a four-time Arkansas Derby winner.

Silent Tactic was one of four Kentucky Derby 2026 hopefuls who drilled Thursday. 

Exosome (Candy Ride) worked four furlongs in 49.4 seconds at Churchill Training on Thursday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 16 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Churchill Training. In his last start he won an allowance race going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on Feb. 28 for trainer Kelsey Danner.

Napoleon Solo (Liam's Map), a Grade 1 winner (2025 Champagne), worked five furlongs in 59.6 seconds at Palm Meadows on Thursday morning. It was the faster of two works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going five furlongs at Palm Meadows. In his last start he placed fifth in the Fountain of Youth (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Gulfstream Park on Feb. 28 for trainer Chad Summers.

Proletariat (Raging Bull) worked three furlongs in 37.4 seconds at Santa Anita on Thursday morning. It was the third fastest of four works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed third in the Zuma Beach (G3) going one mile on the turf at Santa Anita on Oct. 5 for trainer Jeff Mullins.

Silent Tactic (Tacitus), a Grade 3 winner (2026 Southwest), worked five furlongs in 1:01.6 at Oaklawn on Thursday morning. It was the seventh fastest of 11 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed second in the Rebel (G2) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Oaklawn on March 1 for trainer Mark Casse.