Silent Tactic Withdrawn From Preakness; Projected Field at 13
The projected field for the 2026 Preakness Stakes took another significant hit Monday morning when Silent Tactic was officially withdrawn from consideration, trimming the likely lineup for Saturday’s second jewel of the Triple Crown to 13 runners.
Trainer Mark Casse made the decision after observing the colt during training hours, concluding that Silent Tactic still was not moving comfortably enough to justify pressing on toward Laurel Park. The son of Oaklawn’s Grade 3 Southwest Stakes winner had been attempting to rebound from the bruised left front foot that forced him out of the Kentucky Derby just days before the Run for the Roses.
Casse indicated the colt trained well in certain aspects, but lingering discomfort while jogging convinced the barn to take the conservative route. Connections had removed the protective full pad from the horse’s shoeing in hopes the issue had sufficiently improved, though the colt apparently failed to show the level of soundness the stable wanted to see before committing to a demanding Grade 1 assignment.
The defection dramatically reshapes a Preakness picture that already had undergone several major changes over the last week. Kentucky Derby winner Golden Tempo previously was taken out of consideration in favor of a freshening toward the Belmont Stakes, while Bob Baffert opted to reroute Pat Day Mile hero Crude Velocity away from Baltimore as well.
Silent Tactic figured to be one of the major players in this year’s renewal after compiling a productive winter campaign at Oaklawn Park. The colt captured the Southwest Stakes earlier in the season and later finished runner-up behind Renegade in the Grade 1 Arkansas Derby, efforts that stamped him as a legitimate Triple Crown-caliber runner.
With several marquee names exiting the race, the complexion of the Preakness now appears considerably more open than it did immediately following the Derby. Among the expected headliners are Ocelli, who finished third at Churchill Downs, along with Chip Honcho, the Steve Asmussen trainee who bypassed Louisville specifically with the Preakness in mind. Asmussen has expressed confidence that the colt enters Saturday’s race in an ideal spot following additional recovery time after the Louisiana Derby.
The anticipated lineup also includes Grade 1 Champagne Stakes winner Napoleon Solo and Gotham Stakes victor Iron Honor, two of the few graded-stakes winners still pointing toward the race after the recent wave of defections.
Meanwhile, Great White — scratched at the gate prior to the Kentucky Derby after an incident behind the starting gate — reportedly remains on course for the Preakness following encouraging recent training.
What once appeared likely to be a deep and proven Preakness field has evolved into a far more fluid and unpredictable affair, something veteran horseplayers know can create both wagering chaos and opportunity. With the post-position draw looming, trainers still in the race suddenly find themselves looking at a far different landscape than the one they anticipated only a week ago.
