Silent Tactic unleashed a furious stretch run to win Friday’s $1 million Southwest S. (G3) by a 3 ¼-lengths, becoming the first black-type winner for Taylor Made Farm’s multiple graded stakes winner Tacitus.

Owned by John Oxley and trained by Mark Casse, Silent Tactic was content to sit near the rear of the field for the first six furlongs of the 1 1/16-mile race for 3-year-olds. Still in tenth with all manner of traffic in front of him at the top of the stretch, Silent Tactic launched a five-wide bid and flew past the field with huge strides to win going away in 1:44.85 on the fast track. With the impressive victory, Silent Tactic earned 20 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard, bringing his overall total to 25, putting him atop the current standings.

After the race trainer Mark Casse said, “The last race, the Smarty Jones (Jan. 3, finished second to stablemate Strategic Risk), it was his first start ever on the dirt and only had one easy breeze. It’s interesting. When I talked to [owner] Mr. [John] Oxley 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.’”

Bred in Kentucky by Don Alberto Corporation, Silent Tactic sold for $500,000 at the OBS Spring 2-year-old sale. The first foal out of Magical Sign, Silent Tactic’s extended female family includes Don Alberto homebred & MGSP Moraz, MSW Compelled, GSW Worth Repeating and GSW Temple City.

Winner of both the Wood Memorial S. (G2) and Tampa Bay Derby (G2), Tacitus would go on to place second in the Belmont S. (G1) and third in the Kentucky Derby (G1). At four, he won the Suburban (G2) and placed in the Woodward H. (G1) and Jockey Club Gold Cup (G1). He retired to Taylor Made in late 2021 after finishing his career $4,267,350 in career earnings.

Tacitus is standing the 2026 season for $5,000 S&N.