Silent Tactic Looks To Rebound In Oklahoma Derby

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Silent Tactic (Tacitus), eased in the GI Travers S. at Saratoga Aug. 29, will look to get back on track for Mark Casse in Sunday evening's GIII Oklahoma Derby at Remington Park.Scratched from the GI Kentucky Derby with a foot bruise, the John Oxley and Victoriam Farm colorbearer ran a very solid third off the bench in the GII Jim Dandy S. at the Spa Aug. 1. He was previously second-best in the GI Arkansas Derby at Oaklawn Mar. 28. Silent Tactic is the 5-2 program favorite in the field of 10.Zihnal (Quality Road), scratched out of last Saturday's GI Pennsylvania Derby in favor of this spot, figures to go off as the second choice following a breakthrough, 6 1/4-length victory in the GIII West Virginia Derby Aug. 9.The field also includes narrow GII Louisiana Derby runner-up Pavlovian (Pavel), Iowa Derby winner J J Grey (Street Boss) and Albany S. winner Tricky Business (Vekoma).Super Corredora Returns In Zenyatta, Imagination Tries to Defend Sprint Championship TitleSuper Corredora (Gun Runner) was on an stratospheric trajectory last season, graduating by 8 1/4 lengths last October before besting 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' Explora (Blame) in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies at Del Mar. That season-ending victory was enough to earn her a divisional title and it appeared that the world was her oyster in 2026.Despite the lofty aspirations the $400,000 Keeneland September yearling purchase returned with a distant fourth behind Meaning in Santa Anita's one-mile Las Virgenes in February before finishing an even more forgettable sixth–beaten 40 lengths–in her latest start in the Mar. 8 GIII Santa Ysabel over 8 1/2 furlongs.Getting a new pilot, Joel Rosario, for her first start back, the John Sadler-trained filly will attempt to record her first victory in almost a year in Sunday's GII Zenyatta Stakes, a 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Distaff at Keeneland on Halloween.The millionaire is owned by Spartan Equine Racing, West Point Thoroughbreds, Robert C. Gardiner and Michael W. Olszewski.Rabeeba (Curlin) enters the Zenyatta a perfect three-for-three for owner Michael Lund Petersen and trainer Bob Baffert. After breaking her maiden sprinting at Los Alamitos in June and then winning a one-mile allowance at Del Mar a month later, Rabeeba stepped up in the GIII Torrey Pines Stakes going one mile at Del Mar on Aug. 30 and rolled to a two-length victory as the favorite.Ridden by Juan Hernandez, who was also aboard in her latest start, the $750,000 Keeneland September yearling will get blinkers off for this step up to 8 1/2 furlongs.This season's nine-furlong GII Santa Margarita Stakes winner Om N Joy (Om) was a close-up second in the Aug. 1 Clement L. Hirsch Stakes at Del Mar over 1 1/16 miles but was overmatched by runaway winner Knightsbridge (Nyquist) while enduring a problematic trip in the 10-furlong GI Pacific Classic on Aug. 22. Kent Desormeaux returns in this cutback.Also looking to book his ticket to the World Championships earlier on Sunday's card, Imagination (Into Mischief) will try to defend his title in the GII Santa Anita Sprint Championship, a 'Win and You're In' for the GI Breeders' Cup Sprint.Runner-up on Breeders' Cup day last season, the $1.05-million Keeneland September yearling purchase emerged triumphant in the Feb. 14 G2 Riyadh Dirt Sprint in Saudi Arabia over six furlongs. Fourth in both the seven-furlong GI Churchill Downs on May 2 and the 6 1/2-panel GIII True North Stakes at Saratoga June 6, the striking dark bay was ninth going a mile in Churchill's GIII Hanshin Stakes on June 28.Listenupshance (Shancelot) has proven consistent, hitting the board in all five starts this season. Runner-up in the GIII San Carlos in March, the gelding finished third in his next two, including the True North. Let go at almost 6-1 in his latest start, he nosed out favored Maximum Bourbon (Maximum Security) in the GI Bing Crosby at Del Mar on July 25.Emisael Jaramillo, aboard Listenupshance for the Bing Crosby returns to the saddle, while Umberto Rispoli will ride Maximum Bourbon for the first time in Sunday's six-furlong contest.–CBossTDNThe post Silent Tactic Looks To Rebound In Oklahoma Derby appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.