SILENT TACTIC, ARKANSAS DERBY RUNNER-UP, FOR TRAINER MARK CASSE MADE 5-2 MORNING LINE FAVORITE FOR G3 $400,000 OKLAHOMA DERBY
For Immediate Release
Saturday, September 19, 2026
A solid field of 10 horses will contest this year’s Grade 3 $400,000 Oklahoma Derby on Sunday, Sept. 27, with Silent Tactic, the Arkansas Derby runner-up as the 5-2 morning line favorite.
Silent Tactic had a promising spring on the Kentucky Derby trail, winning the Grade 3 $1 million Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park in Hot Springs, Ark., for Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse, and then finishing second in the Grade 2 $1 million Rebel Stakes and the Grade 1 $1.5 million Arkansas Derby. Remington Park oddsmaker Jerry Shottenkirk has made this 3-year-old Kentucky-bred colt by Tacitus, out of the Gun Runner mare Magical Sign, the 5-2 favorite for the Oklahoma Derby. Silent Tactic, owned by John C. Oxley of Tulsa, Okla., and Victoriam Farm, will break from the 2-hole under jockey Cristian Torres. Victoriam Farm purchased 50 percent interest in Silent Tactic for $1.5 million in the Fasig-Tipton Digital Flash Sale on Aug. 14, prior to the Travers that was run on Aug. 29. He was originally bought for $60,000 from the Fasig-Tipton Kentucky Fall Yearling Sale in 2024 and then was pinhooked back into the Ocala Breeders’ Spring Sale of 2-year-olds-in-training in April 2025, where he was bought for $500,000. Silent Tactic was bred by the Don Alberto Corporation.
Silent Tactic, despite his strong showing on the Triple Crown trail in Arkansas, did not race in the Kentucky Derby due to a bruised foot issue, according to sources. He was laid off from March 28 to Aug. 1 with the minor injury. After running second in the Arkansas Derby to Renegade, who finished second in the Kentucky Derby, Silent Tactic did not show up again until he raced in the Grade 2 $500,000 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga in upstate New York on Aug. 1. Silent Tactic ran third that day, beaten 2-1/2 lengths back of the winner, Renegade. He subsequently tried the Grade 1 $1.25 million Travers Stakes at Saratoga and was eased in that race. It will be Torres first time back aboard Silent Tactic, since closing strongly to get second in the Arkansas Derby. Luis Saez rode him in New York. Silent Tactic’s overall record is eight starts, two wins, four seconds and one third for a bankroll of $1,119,422.
Zihnal, a 3-year-old Kentucky-bred gelding by Quality Road, out of the Ghostzapper mare Theodora B, is listed as the 7-2 second favorite in the line for trainer Jonathan Thomas and owner Augustin Stables. He comes into the Oklahoma Derby off a 6-1/4 length victory in the Grade 3 $400,000 West Virginia Derby at Mountaineer. That was the first time Thomas had put blinkers on the gelding and the first time he had used Hall of Fame rider Johnny Velazquez in the saddle. Zihnal responded to both with his best career race at 3-1 odds. That was his last race, run on Aug. 9 at 1-1/8 miles. The Oklahoma Derby is run at that same distance on the main track. Zihnal was bred by George Strawbridge, Jr. His career running line is two wins from five starts for $286,241in earnings. He has never been sold at auction. Zihnal will break from the 4-hole under Velazquez.
The third choice at 5-1 on the morning line is J J Grey, the winner of the $250,000 Iowa Derby at Prairie Meadows in Altoona, Iowa, on July 11 by 1-3/4 lengths at 1-1/16 miles. Since that win, J J Grey finished well back in sixth in the West Virginia Derby. Jockey Emmanuel Esquivel was in the irons for the Iowa Derby victory and was named on him for the Oklahoma Derby. They will break from the 3-hole for multiple graded stakes-winning trainer Ken McPeek. McPeek’s lifetime record is 14,996 starters, 2,255 wins; 2,017 seconds and 2,001 thirds for horses’ earnings of more than $150 million. McPeek has trained such prominent horses as 2024 Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan, 2024 Horse of the Year Thorpedo Anna, 2020 Preakness Stakes winner Swiss Skydiver, a filly, and 2002 Belmont Stakes winner Sarava at 70-1 odds. J J Grey’s record is five wins from 11 starts for a bankroll of $349,788. J J Grey is owned by Shamrock Stables (Rob Hutcherson), MJM Racing and Magdalena Racing. He was bred by Dermot Carty. J J Grey, a gray/roan colt by Street Boss, out of the Fairbanks mare Norquay, was purchased from the Keeneland November Breeding Stock Sale of 2023 for $24,000.
Here’s a look at the 2026 Oklahoma Derby from the rail out (with post position, horse, jockey, trainer and odds):
1) The Hell We Did, Ramon Vazquez, Todd Fincher, 10-1
2) Silent Tactic, Cristian Torres, Mark Casse, 5-2
3) J J Grey, Emmanuel Esquivel, Ken McPeek, 5-1
4) Zihnal, Johnny Velasquez, Jonathan Thomas, 7-2
5) Pavlovian, David Cabrera, Doug O’Neill, 8-1
6) Fuzzbuster, Mario Gutierrez, Victoria Oliver, 12-1
7) Chad Allan, Geovanni Franco, Robert Young, 30-1
8) Crupper, Matt Garcia, Donnie Von Hemel, 15-1
9) Tricky Business, Paco Lopez, George Weaver, 6-1
10) Vintage Cowboy, Erik Asmussen, Steve Asmussen, 10-1
Oklahoma Derby Day begins with a 3 p.m. first post-time and includes a total of more than $1.3 million in stakes purses. The live racing schedule for next week is Thursday-Sunday. First post time on Thursday, Friday and Saturday is 6:30 p.m.
Remington Park has provided more than $426 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. The 2026 Oklahoma Derby is set for Sunday, Sept. 27 at Remington Park. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.
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