Silent Tactic draws post 4 for return in Jim Dandy
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SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – It is clear that trainer Mark Casse has the top 3-year-old filly in the country in Counting Stars. Now, one of his top 3-year-old colts from earlier in the year is ready to return to the races to see what kind of impact he can have in the division the second half of the year.
Silent Tactic, who in February won the Grade 3 Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, and who was scratched from the Kentucky Derby due to a foot bruise, was one of five 3-year-olds entered Sunday for Saturday’s Grade 2, $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga. The Jim Dandy, run at 1 1/8 miles, is the local prep for the Grade 1, $1.25 million Travers on Aug. 29. Four of the last five Jim Dandy winners came back to win the Travers.
Silent Tactic drew post 4 in a Jim Dandy field that, from the rail out, includes Grade 3 Ohio Derby winner Chip Honcho, maiden Asked and Answered, Grade 1 Arkansas Derby winner Renegade, and, after Silent Tactic, the Grade 1 Florida Derby winner Commandment.
After winning the Southwest, Silent Tactic was beaten a nose by Class President in the Grade 2 Rebel. He then was beaten four lengths by Renegade in the Arkansas Derby. According to Casse, he was dealing with a foot issue in the weeks leading up to the race.
The foot wasn’t right enough for Silent Tactic to run in the Kentucky Derby – he was scratched a few days after entering – or the remainder of the Triple Crown series.
Silent Tactic has been in Saratoga for two months and has worked seven times over the main track, including a half-mile move in 48.46 seconds on July 19.
“I thought his breeze the other day was as good as he’s breezed,” said Casse, who has named Luis Saez to ride. “He’s not much of a workhorse, but he actually wanted to do something the other day, which is not him. We’re going to need some pace, but I feel like I’ve gotten a lot of work into him. He should be ready.”
Pace figures to be lacking in the Jim Dandy. Chip Honcho has some speed, though his victory in the Ohio Derby came from a stalking position. Commandment, second in the Belmont Stakes, is getting blinkers for the first time but he has not previously shown speed. Renegade’s best race came in the Kentucky Derby, when he rallied from the back of the pack. Asked and Answered, who is 0 for 6, was last early in his last two starts, one on turf, one on dirt.
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