John Oxley’s Silent Tactic (Tacitus-Magical Sign, by Gun Runner) roared late to capture the $1 million, Gr. III Southwest Stakes at Oaklawn Park, putting himself on the Kentucky Derby trail and leading the slate of stakes-winning OBS graduates for the week.

    Ridden by Cristian Torres and trained by dual Hall of Famer Mark Casse, Silent Tactic led a sweep of the top three places by OBS grads when he finished 3 ¼ lengths ahead of Solider N Diplomat with Buetane a head farther back in third. He collected 20 Kentucky Derby qualifying points and has 25 points overall. Silent Tactic, a son of Tacitus, also became the first graded stakes winner for his sire.

    “He wanted to go and I just waited a little bit longer,” Torres told Oaklawn Park publicity. “I knew when I got him clear he was going to fire for me. Good horse. Hopefully, he’s going to keep improving. The more distance the better, I think.”

    Silent Tactic was purchased by Justin Casse for $500,000 at the 2025 OBS April Sale from the Thorostock consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Santa Anita Park, El Potente (Temple City – Charmsil, by Silver Charm) won the Gr. 3, $100,000 Thunder Road Stakes for the second year in a row when rolling to a front-running victory.

    Trained by Dan Blacker, El Potente is owned by My Way Racing and was purchased by McMahon and Hill Bloodstock, agent, for $35,000 out of the Nice and Easy Thoroughbreds consignment at the 2021 OBS June Sale after breezing in :10 1/5.

    The Feb. 7 card at Santa Anita also saw Light Won Up (City of Light-Factorofwon, by The Factor) roll to a 2 ¾-length victory in the $100,000 Sweet Life Stakes.

    Trained by Doug O’Neill, the filly by City of Light bested fellow OBS grad Himika, who was making her turf debut. Light Won Up is owned by Purple Rein Racing and Mark D. Davis. She was purchased by her owners for $265,000 at last year’s OBS March Sale from the Top Line Sales consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

    At Tampa Bay Downs, Florida-bred stalwart Mystic Lake (Mo Town – Salty Soul, by Itsmyluckyday) broke on top and turned her speed up a notch after being headed briefly on the turn for home, powering to a 7 ½-length victory in the $125,000 Minaret Stakes.

    Now 12-for-22 lifetime, Mystic Lake increased her career bankroll to $1,537,517. She is owned by Miller Racing, BAG Racing Stables and Stefania Farms and trained by Saffie Joseph Jr. She is a two-time OBS graduate, sold by Summerfield (Francis & Barbara Vanlangendonck), Agent, at the 2022 October Yearling Sale and then purchased for $130,000 out of the Tom McCrocklin consignment at the 2023 March Sale after breezing in :20 4/5.

    At Turfway Park, BSF Equine Athlete’s Coco Connect (Connect-Miss Chanel, by Commissioner) notched her first career stakes victory when she defeated five rivals by a half-length in the $125,000 Valdale Stakes.

    Trained by John Ennis, Coco Connect was purchased by Jeremiah O'Dwyer, agent at the 2025 OBS March Sale for $150,000 from the Wildheart Thoroughbreds consignment after breezing in :21.

    At Oaklawn Park, heavily favored Roll On Big Joe (Prospective – Nina’s Gift, by Victory Gallop) carried his razor-sharp form into 2026, scoring a half-length victory over Tejano Twist in the $150,000 King Cotton Stakes.

    The King Cotton was the fifth career stakes victory and third consecutive for Roll On Big Joe, owned by Rancho Temescal, Rancho Temescal Thoroughbred Partners, White Fence and Richard Hale Jr. All five stakes victories have come in the last year, including the $150,000 Ring the Bell Dec. 13 at Oaklawn to conclude his 2025 campaign.

    Trained by Bob Hess Jr., Roll On Big Joe was purchased by Southern California-based owner Tim Cohen (Rancho Temescal) for $90,000 at the 2022 OBS June Sale from the Gayle Woods consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    At Santa Anita, Jim Daniell’s Yellow Card (Lost Treasure (IRE)-Paris Girl, by Pulpit) closed to win the $100,000 Clockers’ Corner Stakes.

    Trained by Michael McCarthy, Yellow Card earned his first stakes win. He was purchased by West Bloodstock at the 2023 OBS April Sale for $87,000 from the Little Farm Equine consignment after breezing in :10 flat.

    At Oaklawn Park, T. C. Stables and Hickory Stables’ Mackman (Union Rags-Silverpocketsfull, by Indian Charlie) earned his first stakes victory when he captured the $135,000 General MacArthur Overnight Stakes. Trained by Matt Shirer, Mackman was purchased by his owners for $160,000 at the 2022 OBS April Sale from the Mayberry Farm consignment after breezing in :10 1/5.

    OLDSMAR - As part of its centennial celebration, Tampa Bay Downs will host the 11th annual “Jockeys and Jeans” Fundraiser for the Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund on Friday and Saturday on the first floor of the Grandstand.

    Friday’s event from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. is billed as a “Once in a Lifetime” Autograph Meet & Greet event featuring such legendary riders as Steve Cauthen, Laffit Pincay Jr., Angel Cordero Jr., Pat Day, Chris McCarron, Jean Cruguet, Sandy Hawley, Jacinto Vasquez, Edgar Prado, Jorge Velasquez, Mike Manganello, Ramon Dominguez, Earlie Fires and others.

    Tickets are available for the “Once in a Lifetime” event for $40 apiece on the “Jockeys and Jeans” website at www.jockeysandjeans.com.

    On Saturday, active jockeys will be available for autograph signing from noon-2 p.m. on the first floor of the grandstand. A donation to the PDJF is requested.

    The Permanently Disabled Jockeys Fund is a 501 (c) (3) public charity that provides financial assistance to approximately 60 former jockeys who have suffered catastrophic on-track injuries, predominantly paralysis and/or brain injuries.

    Festival Preview Day was filled with memorable performances. Victories Saturday by 3-year-old colt Renegade in the $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes and Zany in the $125,000 Suncoast Stakes highlighted an outstanding day of racing.

    Renegade, who collared longshot leader Wayne’s Law in the stretch and rolled on to victory under jockey Irad Ortiz Jr., is likely to make his next start on March 28 in the Arkansas Derby, according to both trainer Todd Pletcher and co-owner Mike Repole of Repole Stable. Renegade’s breeders and co-owners, Robert and Lawana Low, are Springfield, Mo., residents known as passionate Oaklawn Park supporters.

    Pletcher told racing journalist Lynne Snierson they will keep their options open, but ruled out a return to Oldsmar for the Gr. III, $400,000 ESMARK Tampa Bay Derby on March 7.

    A crowd of 5,261 turned out for the festivities in cool, sunny weather. Total all-sources wagering handle was $11,484,564.
Somewhat overlooked amid four exciting stakes races were strong undercard performances by a pair of 3-year-old maidens.

    In the sixth race, first-time starter Emerging Market, a son of Candy Ride out of an Empire Maker mare, rallied stoutly through the stretch to catch the favorite, fellow first-time starter Powershift, by three-quarters of a length. Flavien Prat was aboard the winner for owner Klaravich Stables and trainer Chad Brown.

    Emerging Market’s time of 1:39.11 for the mile-and-40-yard distance was .97 seconds off Golden Juan’s track record. Powershift finished 13 ½  lengths ahead of third-place finisher Make My Day.

    Three races later, another first-time starter, Kokomotion, rallied from dead-last early to post a resounding 8 ¼-length victory from Ati Girl in a mile-and-sixteenth turf event for maiden 3-year-old fillies. Jevian Toledo was aboard for the romp in the sunshine. Kokomotion is a daughter of Quality Road owned by Icon Racing Stable and trained by Whit Beckman.

    Turf Sprint Showcase Day is Saturday. Rezasrolex, a 5-year-old Florida-bred gelding who is riding a nine-race winning streak, is a probable entrant for Saturday’s $100,000, 5-furlong Turf Dash Stakes for older horses sprinting 5 furlongs on the Oldsmar turf course.

    Rezasrolex won his Tampa Bay Downs debut on Jan. 11 on the grass under jockey Edgard Zayas, scoring in :55.65 seconds for 5 furlongs. He is owned by his breeder Scott Herbertson and trained by Joseph Orseno.

    Last season’s Turf Dash winner, trainer Gerald Bennett’s 5-year-old gelding Rouki, is also among the probable starters.

    The other stakes race on the card is the $100,000, 5-furlong Lightning City Stakes for older fillies and mares on the grass. Trainer Victor Barboza Jr.’s 5-year-old mare and 2025 winner Great Venezuela is expected to return to defend.

    Rouki sprang a 20-1 upset last year in the Turf Dash for Bennett and owner Tropic Lightning Racing. He has five victories from 14 lifetime starts. Samy Camacho was aboard for the triumph. Great Venezuela, who is owned by Orlyana Farm, won the 2025 Lightning City under Leonel Reyes as the 2-1 favorite. Great Venezuela is 9-for-16 lifetime with four seconds.

    In the Turf Dash, Bennett may also start Team Equistaff’s 4-year-old gelding Aegon Targaryen. Other Turf Dash probables include multiple stakes-winner Coppola, from the barn of Dale Romans, and 5-year-old gelding and career millionaire and six-time stakes-winner My Boy Prince, a multiple Gr. I-placed Ontario-bred trained by Mark Casse.

    Two horses from the Casse barn are under consideration for the Lightning City: 5-year-old Creed’s Gold, who won the Gr. III Hendrie at Woodbine last July in her most recent start, and 4-year-old filly Abientot, a Gr. II winner. Expected to make her Oldsmar turf course debut is 6-year-old Love Appeals, a multiple stakes-winner trained by Miguel Clement.

    Around the oval. Daniel Centeno rode three winners today. He captured the first race on 6-year-old Florida-bred ridgling Copazo for owner GOP Racing Stable and trainer Gerard Ochoa, then added the sixth race with Blue Fashion, a 5-year-old mare owned by Amaty Racing Stables and trained by Jose A. Gallegos. Blue Fashion was claimed for $8,000 by trainer Gregg Sacco for new owner Elliot Mavorah.

    Centeno wasn’t done yet, winning the eighth aboard first-time starter Hulkamania, a 3-year-old colt owned by Hoolie Racing Stable, Blue Mist Racing and Icon Racing Stable and trained by Whit Beckman.

    All patrons attending the Wednesday, Feb. 18 racing program marking the 100th anniversary of the first race in track history will receive a season Grandstand pass for the 2026-27 meet.