Kentucky Derby: Why Classic Causeway owners opted to enter

A near-death experience contributed to an abrupt change in plan that has Classic Causeway running in the Kentucky Derby after a last-place finish in the Florida Derby (G1).

Clarke Cooper, 70, who bred and owns the chestnut son of Giant’s Causeway with Patrick O’Keefe, 80, told Horse Racing Nation that he has a long history of heart problems. Those include the most recent of five heart attacks on Nov. 9, 2016, that had doctors and nurses working frantically to resuscitate him after he stopped breathing.

“I was dead for six minutes,” Cooper said.

The family dog initially observed his distress and helped save him by alerting his wife. She was in another room, closely watching election results in the race for the presidency.

“I felt like an elephant was standing on my chest,” Cooper said. “It got worse and it got worse.” He was sweating profusely as his wife rushed him to the emergency room.

No wonder Cooper, when asked why he wanted to take a shot in the Kentucky Derby, retorted, “Why not?”

Although Classic Causeway ranks 11th on the Kentucky Derby leaderboard with 66 qualifying points, trainer Brian Lynch informed the Churchill Downs racing office that the horse would vacate its berth after a dismal Florida Derby performance.

The winner of the Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) and Tampa Bay Derby (G2) earlier this season led the Florida Derby field of 11 through an opening half-mile in 47.24 seconds before coming up empty and steadily retreating beneath Irad Ortiz Jr. It was the first time the 3-year-old failed to hit the board in six lifetime starts.

Lynch suggested to the owners that Classic Causeway might be better served by competing in the Pat Day Mile (G2), part of the Derby undercard. O’Keefe saw no upside in that.

“We could probably maybe win that,” O’Keefe said. “But if we were to go in there and win it by five (lengths), I’d have the rest of my life to look back and say, ‘Maybe I could have won the Derby.’ On the other side, if I lose, the horse is going to be devalued tremendously.”

The octogenarian said a thorough physical examination of the colt, including an endoscopic exam, did not shed any light on the Florida Derby clunker.

All of the connections were encouraged by Classic Causeway’s first two works at Churchill Downs. He drilled four furlongs in 48.80 seconds on April 16, ranking 21st of 74 horses at the distance. A week later, he went five furlongs in 1:00.80, 22nd of 70 that morning.

The thought of missing the Derby, a target that seemed well within reach through the early part of the season, began nagging at O’Keefe and Cooper.

“How often do you get this chance?” O’Keefe said. “The downside is we lose. And if we lose, no one expected us to win anyhow. He’s still a multiple graded-stakes winner and he’s got his whole career to run. He’ll always be a horse that ran in the Kentucky Derby.”

O’Keefe drew more encouragement from Classic Causeway’s tactical speed and the ability to attract veteran Julien Leparoux to ride. They should be on or close to the lead, allowing him to avoid the congestion that often plagues closers in the 20-horse field.

“I’m just happy the horse is healthy, and maybe we’ll have a great weekend,” O’Keefe said. “That’s really what it’s all about anyhow.”

He noted that massive upsets are part of Derby lore. At the same time, he acknowledged that Classic Causeway faces understandably long odds in his bid to carry his speed for a mile and a quarter.

“There’s got to be a little divine intervention on this if we’re going to win it,” O’Keefe said.