McPeek will target Saratoga Derby with Classic Causeway

Trainer Ken McPeek has garnered plenty of knowledge and experience since starting his first runner in 1985. He’s known for his fearlessness when taking a gamble with his horses, such as when he sent out Sarava to a shocking 70-1 victory in the 2002 Belmont Stakes in the dark bay’s first try against graded company and, more recently, scored a Preakness Stakes victory with upset filly Swiss Skydiver in 2020.

His long shot Golden Ticket won the 2012 Travers in a dead heat with Alpha at odds of 33-1, and Harvey Wallbanger took the 2019 Holy Bull (G2) as a 29-1 stunner.

McPeek came ready to upset another top-level event when he entered multiple graded stakes-winner Classic Causeway in Saturday’s 10-furlong, Grade 1, $1 million Belmont Derby Invitational along with 5-1 chance Tiz the Bomb, who finished ninth.

It appeared on paper to be a tall order for Classic Causeway, who is owned by Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper. The colt arrived off two weeks of rest to make his turf debut in a Grade 1 and at his fifth racetrack this year.

While McPeek was fully confident in the son of Giant’s Causeway’s ability over grass, the public was not, sending him to post at odds of 26-1 in a field loaded with established turf quality among 11 rivals, including five European shippers.

There was a question of whether Classic Causeway’s dirt speed would transfer to turf, but he answered with a front-running score under Julien Leparoux to confirm what McPeek said was “just instinct” about his talents over turf.

“I always thought the pace of turf races would suit him because he gets a chance to relax and breathe a little bit,” said McPeek. “For me, it wasn’t a big surprise because he was doing so well and we took a couple test drives with him over the turf at the Saratoga training track and was confident he would like it. We’re certainly thrilled with the win. It feels good.”

Along with some good showings in the morning over the grass, McPeek said Classic Causeway appeared physically like a horse who would appreciate turf.

“Having been around the horse for a couple months now and knowing his mindset and his foot – he has a big turf foot on him – you’ve got to take chances like that to learn something,” said McPeek. “I was fortunate that the ownership gave me carte blanche on him. They said, ‘Do what you think is right.’ I said, ‘If it was my horse, I’d try him on the grass.’ This could be a world-traveler on the turf and the sky’s the limit with him. A mile and a half he might even be better.”

Classic Causeway flashed his talents earlier this year with a pair of graded wins at Tampa Bay Downs for former trainer Brian Lynch, taking the Sam F. Davis (G3) in March ahead of 2 1/2-length score in the Tampa Bay Derby (G2). The two victories earned him enough points to enter the starting gate for the Grade 1 Kentucky Derby on May 7, where he finished 11th in his first start for McPeek.

He returned with a pace-pressing third in the Ohio Derby (G3) on June 25 at Thistledown just two weeks before his Belmont Derby triumph.

“Good horses run on anything, and this is a warrior this horse,” said McPeek. “He’s tough and loves to run. He’s a little one-dimensional in the fact that he wants to go early, but if you give him a chance to relax a little bit, he’s going to fight you off.”

Classic Causeway has added to his late sire’s sublime legacy, providing Giant’s Causeway with another Grade 1 winner as one of three foals from his final crop born in 2019. McPeek said Giant’s Causeway’s greatness cannot be overstated.

“A fantastic stallion. I happened to be around him when he was racing and I knew that he was a good turf and dirt horse,” McPeek said. “He had natural speed, and his legacy is solid.”

Classic Causeway will now look to build upon his first turf success with a start in the $1 million Saratoga Derby Invitational (G1) on Aug. 6, the middle leg of the Turf Triple series that concludes with the $1 million Jockey Club Derby (G3) at the Belmont fall meet.

“Saratoga Derby is a no-brainer next stop. He’s heading back to Saratoga tonight or tomorrow and we’ll give him some works up there. I’m sure they’ll respect him a little more this time around,” said McPeek, with a laugh.