Kentucky Derby 2022: Classic Causeway is back in the race
After saying as recently as Sunday he had no plans to send Classic Causeway into Kentucky Derby 2022, trainer Brian Lynch has changed his tune.
Lynch confirmed Monday that the two-time graded-stakes winner who finished last in the Florida Derby (G1) will take his place with jockey Julien Leparoux in the starting gate May 7. The Churchill Downs media office first reported the development Monday.
“I shouldn’t be the one that holds him back,” Lynch told Horse Racing Nation from his Churchill Downs barn Monday afternoon. “We’ve got to roll the dice.”
In response Circa Sports in Nevada reopened Classic Causeway at 40-1 in its Kentucky Derby futures.
The first hint of Lynch’s change of heart came Saturday, when Classic Causeway trained in the exclusive, 15-minute window reserved for Derby and Kentucky Oaks qualifiers. On Sunday, Lynch said he was merely taking advantage of better training conditions to which he felt the Giant’s Causeway colt was entitled after earning the points necessary to opt into the Derby.
Lynch had ruled Classic Causeway out a week after a listless effort April 2 in the Florida Derby. He said owners Patrick O’Keefe and Clarke Cooper changed his mind.
“I looked for every excuse not to run him in there after he threw craps at the Gulfstream race,” Lynch said. “I’ve got two old boys between them with 160 years of living. Their dream has been to run in the Kentucky Derby. I argued and tried to make a case for not running. After watching him work the other day and seeing how he had come out of it, I guess the horse deserves a chance to run.”
Lynch insisted there was nothing wrong with Classic Causeway, hoping the poor performance in the Florida Derby was an exception to the rule for a colt who had won the Sam F. Davis (G3) and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) this winter.
“I can make no excuses,” he said. “I’ve had plenty of horses at Gulfstream that just didn’t like the track. If I just put a line through that race, and I look at his résumé, I think he deserves a shot.”
With a best Beyer Speed Figure of 90 coming from his debut victory last September at Saratoga, Classic Causeway may be expected to figure in the early pace of the Derby. His two victories at Tampa Bay Downs came in gate-to-wire fashion.
With Classic Causeway back in, Pioneer of Medina fell to No. 21 in Derby qualifying and is back out of the race. He could draw back in if trainer Chad Brown decides against sending Early Voting to the Derby or if there is another defection.