Silent Tactic has been scratched from the Preakness Stakes (G1) as of the morning of May 11, as first reported by Daily Racing Form and confirmed by BloodHorse.
Trainer Mark Casse told BloodHorse he hoped to be making progress to heal Silent Tactic's bruised foot that caused John Oxley's son of Tacitus to be scratched from the Kentucky Derby (G1). The colt had been wearing a protective shoe with a full pad that covered the entire bottom of the foot, but he cannot race with it, so Casse knew it would have to be removed.
"Knowing we were going to have to take it off, we took it off and he actually galloped quite nice this morning," Casse said. "You would never know there is anything wrong with him. It is just when he jogs. He is still not 100%. Mr. Oxley and I talked yesterday and agreed that if we were not 100%, we'll pass."
Silent Tactic is expected to be sent to Casse's New York division where he will have renowned farrier Ian McKinlay assess the foot and see if there is anything else that can be done. The colt wears a regular glue-on shoe instead of one secured by nails because of the frequency a racehorse may have to have the shoes changed.
"It takes them a good month to grow some foot when you're using nails for a shoe," Casse said. "With horses changing shoes as much as they do, you don't have the extra foot. So this just helps them."
Casse said he and veteran owner/breeder Oxley are both accustomed to these late decisions that have to be made prior to major races.
Oxley's Sky Mesa was the 3-1 morning-line favorite in the 2002 Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1) and the colt had to be scratched the morning of the race because of an ankle injury. Also, the day before the 2017 Belmont Stakes (G1), Oxley's Classic Empire had to be scratched due to a foot abscess.
"We are both disappointed, but there are a lot of big races down the road," Casse said. "Rather than us deciding when he's going to run, we'll let him let us when he's ready to run. We are not worried about what's next.
"I mean, he's barely off. He might have even passed the pre-race vet inspection, but Mr. Oxley and I have been each doing this about 50 years. If I am not happy running a horse, it doesn't matter what someone else thinks."
