Classic Causeway takes them all the way in the Tampa Bay Derby
Classic Causeway vaulted to the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard on Saturday when going gate-to-wire in the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.
Sent off the 4-5 favorite in a 10-horse field, Classic Causeway broke like a shot under Irad Ortiz Jr. and ushered the field through fractions of 23.67, 48.17 and 1:13.18 for six furlongs as a wall of four horses chased directly behind.
On the second turn, Classic Causeway was briefly challenged by third choice Shipsational, but he put away that rival at the top of the stretch and cruised under the wire for an authoritative victory.
Trained by Brian Lynch, Classic Causeway completed 1 1/16 miles on a good track in 1:44.9. He collected another 50 Derby qualifying points to give him 66 in total, which leads all 3-year-olds.
“It’s pretty exciting stuff,” Lynch said. “He’s just come into his own right now and just to watch him, he seems like a happy horse that enjoys his job. He’s very, very good right now.”
Following Classic Causeway across the wire were Grantham (20 points), Shipsational (10) and Golden Glider (5). Classic Causeway returned $3.60.
On Feb. 12 at Tampa, Classic Causeway earned a similar front-running victory in the Sam F. Davis by 3 3/4 lengths over Shipsational. He also earned Derby points last year when second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1).
“He gave me the same performance again as the (Sam F. Davis)," Ortiz said. "He broke good, he gave me good position and I just went from there. He was traveling perfect all the way to the 3/8-mile pole. When I asked him, he was there. Getting close to the wire, he was looking around a little bit, but I felt I had a lot more horse."
By Giant's Causeway out of the Thunder Gulch mare Private World, Classic Causeway is a homebred for Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper.
Lynch said Classic Causeway could make one more start before the Kentucky Derby in the $1 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland.