John Oxley's Silent Tactic (Tacitus) will not be entered for Saturday's second leg of the Triple Crown, the GI Preakness S., Daily Racing Form reported Monday morning.
The bay colt, never worse than second in his six career starts to date, upset the GIII Southwest Stakes at 12-1 in early February and filled the runner-up spot in the GII Rebel Stakes and GI Arkansas Derby to cement a berth in the field for the GI Kentucky Derby.
A 20-1 chance on the morning line for the 'Run for the Roses', Silent Tactic was scratched with what was deemed a minor foot issue and was rerouted to the Preakness. Trainer Mark Casse deferred a final decision on the colt's big-race status until Monday morning, and DRF's Dave Grening tweeted Monday morning that the conditioner was 'not 100% satisfied' with the foot.
Irad Ortiz, Jr., who rode Renegade (Into Mischief) to a narrow runner-up effort in the Derby, was tabbed to partner with Silent Tactic, but will now get a leg up on the dual Grade I-placed Talkin (Good Magic) from trainer Danny Gargan.
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