Silent Tactic

Strategic Risk (Noble Bird) rolled into town from Florida, and not only topped the exacta in the Smarty Jones Stakes for his connections, but also took home Kentucky Derby points in the process. Dominating a maiden field at first asking June 7 at Gulfstream Park against fellow Florida-breds, he missed the board in back to back graded starts at Saratoga, but bounced back to run third Oct. 18 in the Florida Sired Affirmed Stakes. Building on that effort, and at his first trip at 1 1/16-miles over the main track...

The Big Con (GB) (c, 2, Dark Angel {Ire}--Nakuti {Ire}, by Mastercraftsman {Ire}), a 'TDN Rising Star, presented by Hagyard' on the merit of his only previous start and 8 1/2-length win at Presque Isle Downs Sept. 17, showed why he earned the moniker with a bang-up victory in Sunday's GIII Grey Stakes for 2-year-olds at Woodbine. Despite the 4-5 confidence the public placed in him, the gray must have had his connections holding their collective breaths more than once during the running. He broke nicely from the one hole...

1st-Woodbine, C$76,593, Msw, 10-10, 2yo, 1 1/16m (AWT), 1:47.62, ft, 2 lengths. SILENT TACTIC (c, 2, Tacitus--Magical Sign, by Gun Runner) survived an inquiry to become the fifth winner for his freshman sire (by Tapit) Friday. Breaking from the rail, the 9-2 shot spotted the field a step and stayed inside as a group stacked up on the lead into the clubhouse turn. Sitting a length back in third through fractions of :23.67 and :50.15, the OBS April grad had to be tipped out for a clear path to come...