Casse Pointing Silent Tactic Toward Rebel Stakes

Silent Tactic will be pointed to the $1 million Rebel Stakes (G2) March 1 at Oaklawn Park following his victory in the Southwest Stakes (G3) Feb. 6, Mark Casse, the colt's dual Hall of Fame trainer, said Feb. 8. Silent Tactic received a preliminary Beyer Speed Figure of 88, a career high, following his 3 1/4-length victory in the 1 1/16-mile Southwest, a $1 million event that was Oaklawn's second of four Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying races. Under two-time Oaklawn riding champion Cristian Torres, Silent Tactic passed nine horses in the final three-sixteenths of a mile to win going away. The Southwest was Casse's third consecutive victory in a Kentucky Derby qualifying race at Oaklawn, following last season's $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) with Sandman and the $250,000 Smarty Jones Stakes Jan. 3 with Strategic Risk. Silent Tactic closed to finish second in the 1 1/16-mile Smarty Jones. "The thing, too, it wasn't like when Sandman won the Arkansas Derby," Casse said. "There was a pace meltdown. There wasn't a pace meltdown (Friday). I think the impressive thing about Silent Tactic is he ran down an average pace." Casse said he also plans to run Strategic Risk in the 1 1/16-mile Rebel. Strategic Risk was a sparkling 4 1/2-length winner of the Smarty Jones, but he spun his wheels late in the Southwest and finished 10th, beaten 10 1/2 lengths. Casse said Strategic Risk's performance may have been impacted by a winter storm late last month that delayed the Southwest six days and closed the track for training for nine days (Jan. 24-Feb. 1). "I really don't know what happened with him," Casse said. "If you're watching, he looks like he's struggling. Maybe that little time off maybe bothered him more than the others. I'm going to run back in the Rebel as long as he's fine." Casse said Top Level, who broke his maiden sprinting in Friday's fifth race, will be considered for the Rebel. One of four winners on the card for Casse, Top Level was making his second career start after finishing seventh in a 1 1/16-mile turf race Dec. 26 at Gulfstream Park. "Possibly, but more than likely not," Casse said, referring to the Rebel. "Top Level was as impressive as anything." The Rebel is Oaklawn's third Kentucky Derby qualifying race and will offer 105 total points (50-25-15-10-5, respectively) to its top five finishers toward starting eligibility for the first leg of the Triple Crown. Blackout Time, runner-up in the Breeders' Futurity Stakes (G1) Oct. 4 at Keeneland, is also targeting the Rebel, co-owner Lance Gasaway said Feb. 7. Oaklawn's Kentucky Derby qualifying series concludes with the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1) at 1 1/8 miles March 28. Next Up For Nitrogen Traveling several days ago from his Florida base to Oaklawn, Casse said he debated whether to scratch champion Nitrogen from the $250,000 Bayakoa Stakes (G3) for older fillies and mares at 1 1/16 miles Feb. 7. Casse decided to run and was rewarded when Nitrogen, under regular rider Jose Ortiz, delivered an easy 2 3/4-length victory in the Bayakoa, which marked her 4-year-old debut for breeder/owners Jon and Leonard Green (D. J. Stable). "I almost think yesterday was the best race she's ever run," Casse said Sunday morning. "When I flew out here, I was 50-50 whether we were going to run her or not. When we came out, I'd always said we were going to run in the Azeri. I told the Greens she's doing so well that if everything goes right, we'll run in the Bayakoa. Well, nothing went right there." After arriving Jan. 11 from Florida, Nitrogen posted a 5-furlong bullet workout (1:00) Jan. 17. But a winter storm subsequently closed the track for training for nine days. "We got the one good work in her, and then we sat in the barn for 10 days," Casse said. "I struggled with that, big time, because you've got a champion. She's my girl, and I don't want to do anything to tarnish her record. So, I did a lot of talking to myself. But when I saw her, and I saw her fitness, I was good." Nitrogen was making her first start since a runner-up finish in the Breeders' Cup Distaff (G1) Nov. 1 at Del Mar. She won a Sovereign Award as Canada's champion 2-year-old filly and an Eclipse Award as North America's champion 3-year-old filly. Casse said Nitrogen will make her next start in the $400,000 Azeri Stakes (G2) March 7. The Azeri is the final major local prep for the $1.25 million Apple Blossom Handicap (G1) April 11. Both races are 1 1/16 miles. Casse said he also plans to start multiple grade 1 winner La Cara in the Azeri.