John C. Oxley and Tactician’s Victory Farm, shot in the Travers (G1) at Saratoga last season, returned to the winner’s circle Sunday with a strong run from Zihnal in the $400,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park.
A slight 3-2 win over Zihnal, Tactic Tactic won by a neck while covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.31.
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Runner-up Zihnal finished four lengths to the good of Hell We Did in the third field of eight.
Silent Tactics settled down early next morning with Stealth Business time pressured by Vintage Cowboy, who had taken a slim lead by six furlongs. Ortiz moved the Tacitus colt into contention three wide heading into the far turn, then angled inside to collect in the closing near the pole of the fourth. Wanting to race, Silent Tactic sent the Cowboys boring in the first turn, then everyone had to support Zihnal, who ordered four wide on the road and aimed for the leader who finally survived.
Silent Tactic has had a promising spring in classics at Oaklawn Park, winning the African (G3) and second in both the Rebel (G2) and Arkansas Derby (G1). He crashed the Kentucky Derby (G1) with a sprained foot and ran from March 28 to Aug. 1. with a minor injury sidelined. In the third month of Aug. 1 Jim Dandy (G2) returned to Saratoga and continued to the Travers on September 29, but did not finish.
Overall, Silent Tactic has a 3-4-1 record in nine career starts for head coach Casse. The $240,000 Oklahoma Derby winner boosted his lifetime bankroll to $1,359,422.
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Bred in Kentucky, by Don Alberto Corp., Tactic Tactic ($5) is the flagship product of the Magic Gun Runner.
This story was first published by Paulick Report on September 28 2026, when it first appeared in Theis News section Add the Paulck Report as Preferred Source by clicking here.