Photograph: Justin Manning/Eclipse Sportswire
strategic threat He tracked pacesetter Scarship in an sincere opening and pulled away in a straight line to win Saturday’s $250,000. smarty jones stakes 4 1/2 lengths at Oaklawn Park.
Javier Castellano helped coach Mark Casse and proprietor John Oxley to victory within the 1 1/16-mile race, with Kentucky Derby (G1) qualifying factors awarded to the highest 5 horses at 10-5-3-2-1. Kass additionally saddled Oxley’s runner-up Silent Tactical, giving the 2 Corridor of Fame conditioners their fourth stakes win within the first 12 days of the Oaklawn meet.
“I had a communication with Javier this morning,” Kass stated. “I checked out every little thing and instructed him, ‘I don’t assume they will beat him.’ We went in fairly assured.”
Casse stated the strategic threat might be on the $1 million Southwest Stakes (G3) at Oak Garden on Jan. 31.
Coach Ricky Courville made his blinker debut for Scarship, who was alert and established his tempo by crossing the primary 400 meters in 24.48 seconds. Strategic Danger (5-2) ran the half-mile in 49.72 seconds to take second place.
Scar Ship continued to guide three-quarters of a mile in 1:14.99 as Strategic Danger remained inside vary. The stallion No Boulevard took command as he approached the straight, main the mile in 1 minute 39.04 seconds and ending the race in 1 minute 45.06 seconds on the quick house discipline.
Silent Tactic (14-1), ridden by Kass by Julian Torres, bounced again from sixth place to complete second, three-quarters of a size behind third. The runner-up within the Grey Stakes (G3) made his grime debut after competing solely on Woodbine’s artificial floor.
“I watched the replay and the horse that had a giant race was Silent Tactic, who triggered hassle a few occasions within the again,” Kass stated. “He packed it in nicely. He ran nicely. It was his first grime race, so I believe he’ll transfer ahead as nicely.”
Silent Tactic returned $11.20 and $7.40. Baytown Dreamer (84-1), ridden by Obed Bocachka and educated by Paul McEntee, got here shut from mid-pack to 3rd place and paid $17.00 and $18.40 for Shaw. Sleepingonfreedom (9-2) completed in fourth place.
Beforehand undefeated Rancho Santa Fe completed in fifth place, adopted by Scar Ship, Universe and Oscar’s Hope. Boca Seashore Membership was harm.
Oxley’s homebred horse, Strategic Danger, is a three-year-old son of Noble Fowl, out of Afleet Alex’s mare Methods. The win improved his document to six:3-0-1 and boosted his earnings to $392,300.
