Silent Tactic will not contest the Preakness Stakes at Laurel Park on Saturday after trainer Mark Casse withdrew the Tacitus colt on Monday morning. The decision follows persistent hoof sensitivity that also forced his scratching from the Kentucky Derby.

The John Oxley-owned runner had compiled an unblemished record of placings across six starts, including a win in the Southwest Stakes and runner-up efforts in both the Rebel Stakes and Arkansas Derby. Casse confirmed the withdrawal was health-driven.

"I am not one hundred percent satisfied," he told Daily Racing Form, indicating the same area of concern that kept Silent Tactic out of Churchill Downs had not fully resolved.

The scratch triggered an immediate change in riding arrangements. Irad Ortiz Jr, who had been committed to Silent Tactic after guiding Renegade to second in the Derby, will instead partner Talkin for trainer Danny Gargan. The Good Magic colt brings two Grade 1 placings and most recently finished third in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland on 4 April.

Gargan described his charge as "perfect" following a field-best work at Keeneland on Friday. Talkin is scheduled to ship to Laurel on Tuesday.

Crude Velocity Heads Depleted Field

Silent Tactic's absence continues a pattern of high-profile defections from this year's Preakness. With Derby winner Golden Tempo also bypassing Laurel Park, Saturday's field is shaping as one of the more open editions in recent memory.

Crude Velocity enters as the form horse after extending his unbeaten record to three-from-three in the Pat Day Mile at Churchill Downs on 2 May. The Beau Liam colt holds a 1-1-1 record and will carry the familiar silks of the Bob Baffert barn, which is chasing a record-extending ninth Preakness success. Baffert's first win in the race came with Silver Charm in 1997, his most recent with National Treasure in 2023.

Florent Geroux retains the mount as he seeks a first Preakness victory.

Derby Participants Return

Two horses from the Kentucky Derby will take another crack at the three-year-old division. Ocelli, third at Churchill Downs after leading at the sixteenth pole, galloped routinely on Sunday before heading to Laurel. The Connect colt carries a 0-1-4 record into the race and is attempting something not achieved in 138 years—winning the Preakness as a maiden. Tyler Gaffalione rides for trainer Whit Beckman.

Robusta finished fourteenth in the Derby from the outside post 18 and is scheduled to arrive at Laurel on Tuesday night from Keeneland. The Accelerate colt holds a 1-1-0 record from six starts and will be ridden by Rafael Bejarano for trainer Doug O'Neill and Calumet Farm.

Blinkers Off for Iron Honor

Chad Brown is making significant changes to Iron Honor following the Nyquist colt's disappointing seventh as favourite in the Wood Memorial on 4 April at Aqueduct. The blinkers come off and Flavien Prat takes over in the saddle for the first time. Iron Honor, who holds a 2-0-0 record from three starts, sharpened up with a half-mile breeze in 48 seconds flat at Belmont Park on Saturday—the tenth fastest of nearly 200 workers on the day.

Brown is chasing a third Preakness win after victories with Cloud Computing in 2017 and Early Voting in 2022.

Local Hope for Russell Stable

Taj Mahal represents the home team for trainer Brittany Russell. The undefeated Nyquist colt won the Federico Tesio at Laurel Park on 18 April and carries a 3-0-0 record into his biggest test. After a bullet work on Saturday, Russell scrapped his scheduled walk day and sent him straight back to the main track Sunday morning. Sheldon Russell takes the mount.

Lexington Pair Cross Over

The Lexington Stakes at Keeneland on 11 April provides two runners. The Hell We Did, runner-up in that Grade 3 contest, completed his final work at Laurel on Saturday despite two interruptions from a riderless horse on the track. The Authentic colt was credited with five furlongs in 1:01.4 and holds a 2-2-0 record from four starts. Trainer Todd Fincher has yet to confirm a rider.

Third-placed Corona de Oro will attempt to give 54-year-old John Velazquez the distinction of becoming the oldest jockey to win the race. The Bolt d'Oro colt worked five furlongs sharply on Friday before a light jog on Sunday and heads to Laurel early Tuesday for trainer Dallas Stewart. "He's full of life, ready to go," Stewart said. Corona de Oro carries a 1-1-2 record from five starts.

Blue Grass Representation

Great White and Napoleon Solo both finished fifth in separate Grade 1 assignments in early April. Great White, who ran that position in the Blue Grass at Keeneland, remains under consideration for trainer John Ennis after jogging lightly in Lexington. "He came into the barn squealing and bucking—fresh as can be," Ennis noted. The Volatile colt holds a 2-0-0 record and will be ridden by Alex Achard if connections proceed. Ennis planned to consult with co-owner Three Chimneys Farm before making a final call.

Napoleon Solo led the Wood Memorial into the stretch before fading to fifth after a bruised heel disrupted his Derby preparation. The Liam's Map colt arrived at Laurel on Sunday afternoon with trainer Chad Summers optimistic about the change in venue. Paco Lopez takes the mount. His record stands at 2-0-0 from four starts.

Asmussen Brings Kentucky Derby-Winning Rider

Chip Honcho completed his preparations with a half-mile breeze in 50.2 seconds at Churchill Downs on Sunday morning before vanning to Laurel on Monday. The Connect colt reunites with Kentucky Derby-winning jockey José Ortiz, who was aboard for his maiden victory. Steve Asmussen's runner carries a 2-2-0 record but finished fifth in the Louisiana Derby at Fair Grounds on 21 March.

Longshots Complete the Field

Bull by the Horns worked a sharp half-mile at Gulfstream on Saturday before shipping to Laurel on Sunday afternoon. The Essential Quality colt won the Rushaway Stakes at Turfway Park on 21 March and brings a 2-0-2 record for trainer Saffie Joseph Jr, who is seeking his first Preakness success.

Pretty Boy Miah arrives having won his last two starts since adding blinkers, most recently taking a starter optional claiming race at Aqueduct on 25 April. The Beau Liam colt carries a 2-1-0 record for trainer Jeremiah Englehart with Ricardo Santana Jr confirmed to ride.

Crupper earned his place through victory in the Bathhouse Row Stakes at Oaklawn Park on 18 April. The Candy Ride colt jogged at Churchill's training centre on Sunday morning before a scheduled Tuesday van to Laurel with Junior Alvarado retaining the mount. His record stands at 2-0-3 from six starts for trainer Donnie Von Hemel.

With the marquee names absent, Saturday's Preakness offers genuine opportunity for a breakthrough performance in the second leg of the Triple Crown.