Silent Tactic makes noise in Southwest; Search Party captures Martha Washington

Feb 06, 2026 Kellie Reilly/Brisnet.com

Silent Tactic wins the Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Dual Hall of Fame trainer Mark Casse and jockey Cristian Torres teamed up to win both scoring races at Oaklawn Park on Friday.

John C. Oxley’s Silent Tactic closed with a rush to take the $1 million Southwest (G3), boosting his profile on the Road to the Kentucky Derby.

In the companion race on the Road to the Kentucky Oaks, the $300,000 Martha Washington S., Tracy Farmer’s homebred Search Party battled to a hard-fought decision in her stakes debut.

The two stablemates have a close pedigree connection. Search Party is by Hall of Famer Gun Runner, and Silent Tactic is out of a mare by Gun Runner.

Southwest (G3)

Although Silent Tactic was overlooked at odds of 12-1, the Southwest promised to set up well for his closing style. The previous prep at Oaklawn, the Jan. 3 Smarty Jones S., did not play to his strengths because the early pace was too slow. Yet despite the race shape that disadvantaged him, he still rallied for second to stablemate Strategic Risk.

With much more pace on tap in the Southwest, Silent Tactic would have a greater chance of catching the leaders. The question was whether they would tire enough, and if he could get there in time in the 1 1/16-mile affair.

D’code, the 2.30-1 favorite, was stretching out from his spectacular debut in a six-furlong sprint. Hoping to carry his speed around two turns, D’code went straight to the front. But Bob Baffert’s shipper Buetane prompted him through fractions of :23.52, :47.52, and 1:12.81, and the pressure ultimately took its toll.

Silent Tactic bided his time at the rear of the field, trailed only by the distanced Reclamation. Under confident handling by Torres, Silent Tactic did not make his move until straightening for home, when he angled out for clear sailing.

By that point, Soldier N Diplomat was accosting Buetane and D’code, only for all of them to be overwhelmed by Silent Tactic. Bursting clear in a few strides, Silent Tactic rapidly opened up by 3 1/4 lengths in a final time of 1:44.85.

This stakes breakthrough was worth 20 points toward the Kentucky Derby (G1), and Silent Tactic now sits atop the leaderboard with a total of 25.

SILENT TACTIC with a last to first win in the G3 Southwest and picks up 20 points towards the @kentuckyderby! 🔇🌹@markecasse trains the son of Tacitus and @cristiantorr64 was aboard!

At 12/1, the colt paid $26 to win. 💰

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/wbw8JL3i9L

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 6, 2026

Soldier N Diplomat headed Buetane for second. Adding 10 points to his ledger, Soldier N Diplomat has 13 points in all.

Buetane held onto third (six points) by a nose from Rancho Santa Fe, who picked up four points in fourth (for a total of five points). Circle Tap finished fifth (two points), followed by Liberty National, Sleepingonfreedom, D’code, Spirit of Royal, Strategic Risk, and Baytown Dreamer. Reclamation was pulled up on the backstretch but walked off the track.

Baffert’s Litmus Test, who would have been the favorite, was ruled out early in the week. Bricklin was also scratched.

Silent Tactic returned $26, and his resume reads 4-2-2-0, $594,422. The bay started out on the synthetic Tapeta at Woodbine, where he won at first asking and placed in the Grey (G3) before joining Oaklawn’s Road to the Derby.

Casse noted that Silent Tactic had moved forward since the Smarty Jones, his first experience running on the traditional dirt surface.

“The last race, the Smarty Jones, it was his first start ever on the dirt, and he only had one easy breeze,” the horseman said. “It’s interesting.

“When I talked to Mr. Oxley (his owner) last week, he said: ‘What do you think?’ I said: ‘Honestly, I think Silent Tactic is training better than Strategic Risk. So, we’ll see.’

“We’re watching the race, and I could see Strategic Risk was struggling, so then I started looking for Silent Tactic, and I could see he was coming. He came strong.”

A $500,000 OBS April two-year-old purchase, Silent Tactic is from the first crop of the blueblood Tapit stallion Tacitus, who was on the Triple Crown trail himself. Tacitus placed in the 2019 Kentucky Derby and Belmont (G1), among other major races, and he retired with more than $2 million in earnings.

Silent Tactic was bred by Don Alberto Corp. in Kentucky. He is the first foal from the young Gun Runner mare Magical Sign, from the immediate family of outstanding sire Malibu Moon.

Martha Washington S.

Search Party (no. 3) wins the Martha Washington Stakes at Oaklawn Park. (Photo by Coady Media)

Casse sent out the 3-5 favorite in the Martha Washington, Counting Stars, but it was his other filly, the 4.10-1 Search Party, who stepped up to bank 20 points toward the Oaks.

Search Party was tucked just behind the early pace on the inside. Up front, 19-1 shot Knickleandime led the way through fractions of :23.10, :47.83, and 1:13.31, but she faced a barrage of challengers turning for home.

The surprising twist was that the hot favorite Counting Stars was nowhere on the scene. Although she had been well placed in a stalking spot, Counting Stars dropped back quickly as the field rounded the far turn. Jockey Francisco Arrieta took care of her and eased her home.

Meanwhile, stablemate Search Party was full of run but in need of room. Knickleandime and Maximum Offer were blocking the path ahead, and Search Party was hemmed in by the advancing Hit Parade on the outside.

At the top of the stretch, Search Party muscled her way out of the pocket and began to rally. Just when she gained on Knickleandime and Maximum Offer, Newtown Pike was also closing wider out, and it turned into a four-filly scramble late.

Search Party found the wire first, holding off Newtown Pike by a neck. The winner negotiated 1 1/16 miles in 1:45.56 and paid $10.20.

Newtown Pike outperformed her 27-1 odds with her near-miss second, worth 10 Oaks points. Knickleandime likewise exceeded market expectations by hanging on stubbornly in third (six points). Maximum Offer succumbed to fourth (four points) in the final strides.

Hit Parade weakened to fifth (two points, for a total of 12). Next came Spitfire, Grace Is Free, and Counting Stars, who was fine back at the barn, according to a report from Meg Burgess.

20 Kentucky Oaks points goes to SEARCH PARTY in the Martha Washington at Oaklawn Park! 🎉🌸

The 3YO filly had a ground saving trip before fighting her way to the front under @cristiantorr64 for trainer @markecasse!

🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/NfZBwgyT3M

— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) February 6, 2026

Search Party has now bankrolled $276,211 from her 6-2-1-2 line. It took her five starts to score her maiden win, but as her record indicates, she was placing consistently.

The Kentucky-bred is out of the stakes-placed Devious Charm, a mare by leading sire Into Mischief. Search Party is a direct female-line descendant of Canadian Hall of Famer Northernette, who was a full sister to English/Irish champion and noted sire Storm Bird.