HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – Silent Tactic, who remains on course for the Kentucky Derby, and Counting Stars and Search Party, who are on deck for the Kentucky Oaks, all worked Sunday morning at Oaklawn and will ship Wednesday to Churchill Downs, according to trainer Mark Casse.
The horses each won points races for the 3-year-old classics during the current meet at Oaklawn. The drills on Sunday came on an overcast morning hovering around 70 degrees. The track was fast.
“I thought everybody looked good working,” Casse said.
Silent Tactic, who captured the Grade 3, $1 million Southwest in February, had his first work since running second in the Grade 1, $1.5 million Arkansas Derby on March 28. He breezed a half-mile in 49.40 seconds under Cristian Torres, who has the mount in the Kentucky Derby.
“Silent Tactic, he just kind of goes out there and goes around,” Casse said. “Cristian was on him, was very happy with him.”
Counting Stars won the Grade 2, $1 million Fantasy in her last start March 27. She worked in 48.20 seconds under Francisco Arrieta, who has the mount in the Kentucky Oaks.
Search Party, the runner-up in the Fantasy who won the Martha Washington in February, breezed in 48.60. Torres has the mount in the Kentucky Oaks.
“Counting Stars continues to hold her form,” Casse said. “I thought that Search Party maybe worked as good as she’s ever worked. Francisco was on Counting Stars and he said she [worked] as good as ever.”
Casse said the three horses would each have an additional breeze at Churchill Downs ahead of their races. The Kentucky Oaks is May 1 and the Kentucky Derby is May 2.
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