Kentucky Derby 2026: Silent Tactic scratches; Great White draws in
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Silent Tactic, winner of the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes and runner-up to Renegade in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, will scratch from the Kentucky Derby due to a bruised foot, trainer Mark Casse said Wednesday.
Silent Tactic’s defection moves Great White into the body of the Kentucky Derby.
Casse said the issue is with Silent Tactic’s left front foot.
“It’s a bruise that he’s dealt with for a long time,” Casse said. “Just not 100 percent happy with it. It’s very slight, but you can’t run in the Derby and not be 100 percent. So we’re going to work on it and hope to try to make the Preakness.”
Silent Tactic, a son of Tacitus owned by John Oxley, had a record of 2-4-0 from six starts. He ran in four Kentucky Derby points-scoring stakes races at Oaklawn, finishing second in the Smarty Jones, winning the Grade 3 Southwest, and finishing second to Class President in the Grade 2 Rebel and second to Renegade in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby.
Silent Tactic was drawn in post 13, so horses from posts 14-20 will move down one post.
Great White, first on the also-eligible list and cross-entered in Saturday’s Grade 2 Pat Day Mile, will run in the Kentucky Derby, trainer John Ennis said.
“He has been doing great since he shipped here,” Ennis said. “Very happy to get in, let’s see what we can do.”
Great White, who won the John Battaglia Stakes at Turfway Park in February, finished fifth in the Blue Grass after setting the pace.
“Didn’t want to be on the lead in the Blue Grass, and we won’t be on the lead this time,” Ennis said.
Alex Achard will ride Great White.
Three horses remain on the also-eligible list. In order, they are Ocelli, Robusta, and Coronda de Oro. They would need additional scratches before 9 a.m. Friday to get into the Derby.
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