Silent Tactic scratched from Kentucky Derby, Great White now in field

LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Kentucky Derby field rarely stays the same from the time horses are entered to starting time a week later, and Wednesday morning brought the first scratch.

Churchill Downs announced that Silent Tactic, which had a 20-1 record on the morning line, had been withdrawn from Saturday’s race. Trainer Mark Casse told the Daily Racing Form that the colt had a bruised foot, adding that he hoped Silent Tactic could run in the Preakness Stakes on May 16 at Laurel Park.

The scratch moves Great White from the also-eligible list into the field of 20. Great White, a son of Violence, won the John Battaglia Memorial Stakes in February on the synthetic surface at Turfway Park, but in his only career start on dirt two months later he was a distant fifth in the Blue Grass at Keeneland.

Great White will be ridden by Alex Achard for trainer John Ennis. This will be Achard’s first Derby mount; Ennis was represented two years ago by Epic Ride, who finished 13th.

Aside from the two undefeated horses in the Derby, Silent Tactic was one of only two entrants to finish first or second in all of his races (Potente is the other). He won twice, including the Southwest at Oaklawn Park.

Silent Tactic had to leave position #13. With his withdrawal, each horse from 14 to 20 will advance one position.