3/19/26 Barn Notes
Thursday, March 19, 2026
Silent Tactic completed major preparations for the 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. Silent Tactic went five furlongs in 1:01.60. 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 only 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 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 $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1). 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). A handful of other 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, respectively) 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 ¼-mile race 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.
Saffie’s Stakes Plans
Florida-based trainer Saffie Joseph Jr. plans to be active in Oaklawn’s stakes program the next month.
Joseph already has entrants in two stakes races Saturday – Skippylongstocking in the $500,000 Essex Handicap (G3) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles and Sugar Fish in the $135,000 Lapatourel Overnight Stakes for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles.
Joseph said Wednesday afternoon that he still plans to run Arkansas-bred star Haulin Ice in the six-furlong $250,000 Matron for older females March 27 and White Abarrio in the $1.25 million Oaklawn Handicap (G2) for older horses at 1 1/8 miles April 18.
Additionally, Joseph said Neoequos is pointing for the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) for older horses March 28 and Claret Beret is targeting the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles April 11. Joseph said Dazzling Move is possible for the Apple Blossom.
Haulin Ice won the 2025 Matron and became the first accredited Arkansas-bred in history to surpass $1 million in career earnings with a runaway victory against state-breds in the $150,000 Downthedustyroad Breeders’ Stakes Feb. 20.
White Abarrio is one of the most accomplished horses in training with 10 career victories, including the 2023 Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1), and earnings of $7,713,920. White Abarrio, in his last start, finished second behind Skippylongstocking in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) Jan. 24 at Gulfstream Park.
“He’s doing well and is on schedule for the Oaklawn Handicap,” Joseph said. “He had a breeze last weekend. We’re pleased with where he’s at. Excited to bring him there. He’s never been to Oaklawn and it’s going to be nice to bring him there for the first time.”
Skippylongstocking won the 2024 Oaklawn Handicap (G2). White Abarrio won the 2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1).
Finish Lines
Counting Stars (:48.00) and Search Party (:48.40) both recorded half-mile workouts Thursday morning in advance of the $1 million Fantasy Stakes (G2) for 3-year-old fillies at 1 1/16 miles March 27. Counting Stars’ time was the fastest of 39 works published at the distance. Dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse trains both horses. … Tejano Twist and stablemate Wendelssohn are pointing for the six-furlong $500,000 Count Fleet Sprint Handicap (G3) for older horses April 11, trainer Chris Hartman said Thursday morning. Tejano Twist and Wendelssohn finished first and fourth, respectively, in last Saturday’s $250,000 Whitmore Stakes (G3). … Trainer Genaro Garcia, who has a division of horses at Oaklawn, has 996 career North American victories, according to Equibase, racing’s official data gathering organization.
