04/29/26 10:18:00
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04/29 10:17 CDT Silent Tactic is out of the Kentucky Derby because of a foot
injury, trainer says
Silent Tactic is out of the Kentucky Derby because of a foot injury, trainer
says
By STEPHEN WHYNO
AP Sports Writer
LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) --- Silent Tactic is out of the Kentucky Derby because of
a foot injury, trainer Mark Casse said Wednesday, the first change to the field
of 20 horses for the first leg of the Triple Crown.
Silent Tactic opened at odds of 13-1 on the morning line. His exit means Great
White is in.
"You can't run in the Kentucky Derby and not be 100%," Casse said at his barn
at Churchill Downs. "It's very, very slight. It's very slight, so that's the
good news. The timing's poor, but it's not a big deal and that's the most
important thing."
Casse compared the horse's ailment to a fingernail separation, which is painful
and enough to lead to him and owner John Oxley to make the decision to scratch
Silent Tactic more than 72 hours before the race.
"It wasn't a tough decision," Casse said. "It's not tough because we're always
going to try to do what we feel is best for the horse, Mr. Oxley and our entire
group."
The most difficult part for Casse is this means jockey Cristian Torres will
have to wait to ride in the Kentucky Derby for the first time. Casse said the
call to skip the Derby was made early to allow preparations to begin to run
Silent Tactic in the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on May 16.
"Today we start preparing for the Preakness," Casse said. "And the quicker we
made the decision --- we could've held on for another day or two --- but then
it would slow down our chances of getting to the Preakness."
The timing is beneficial for those around Great White, who was first on the
also-entered list and was initially set as a 50-1 long shot.
"We're just delighted to have confirmation that we did get in and we draw in so
early," trainer John Ennis told The Associated Press. "It's only Wednesday, so
everybody's thrilled and over the moon."
The big, and still growing, gray colt is coming off a fifth-place finish in the
Blue Grass Stakes on April 4.
"He didn't need to be on the lead," Ennis said. "We kind of thought he'd run
big in the Blue Grass, and he kind of disappointed. He was flat the week prior,
of the Blue Grass. He was kind of quiet himself and lacking in energy."
It has been an uncertain week for Ennis and his stable, not knowing if Great
White would get to the starting gate on Saturday.
"It can be tough mentally in your mind to straighten things out and get things
squared away," Ennis said. "It's not easy when you're kind of sitting on the
fence like that."
Jockey Alex Achard will make his Kentucky Derby debut aboard Great White, who
by all accounts is doing well.
"The horse is fit and healthy and strong," Ennis said. "Yes, he has to improve,
but it's the Kentucky Derby and if you're not in, you can't win."
___
AP horse racing: https://apnews.com/hub/horse-racing
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