2022 Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Classic Causeway
Classic Causeway
Giant’s Causeway–Private World, by Thunder Gulch
Bred in Kentucky by Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper Family Living Trust
European Horse of the Year Giant’s Causeway, multiple times a leading sire in North America, accomplished much during his stud career, siring champions on multiple continents. However, one accomplishment he has yet to check off is siring the winner of an American classic race. The stallion, who died in 2018, gets one more shot this year, with a small final crop numbering three colts. Those include Classic Causeway, whose Kentucky Derby stock continues to rise after a victory in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby.
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Giant’s Causeway, by Storm Cat, has sired 10 champions worldwide, including 2019 Horse of the Year Bricks and Mortar. Bricks and Mortar won five Grade 1 races in his championship campaign, including three at 1 1/4 miles or longer. With long-winded runners such as this to his credit, Giant’s Causeway is generally regarded as a source of stamina. The average winning distance of his progeny is 8.37 furlongs, an outstanding figure as these numbers often skew downward due to a preponderance of sprint races in North America.
To date, Giant’s Causeway’s best progeny finish in an American Triple Crown race came when Destin finished second by a nose in the 2017 Belmont Stakes. Destin later won the Grade 2 Marathon Stakes at 1 3/4 miles. Giant’s Causeway also is the sire of Mr. Big News, third in the 2020 Kentucky Derby; and Creative Cause, a full brother to Destin, third in the 2012 Preakness Stakes.
Giant’s Causeway provides a balance to Classic Causeway’s dam, Private World, who won the Anoakia Stakes at six furlongs and the Moccasin Stakes at seven furlongs as a juvenile in California. The following spring, she was second in the California Oaks at 1 3/16 miles. She is the dam of five winners from eight starters. Three have won at a mile or beyond, including Classic Causeway and full brother Rockie Causeway.
Classic Causeway is the only graded stakes winner under his first four dams. His second dam, Rita Rucker, was a multiple stakes winner at Mountaineer, and his fourth dam, Miss Danalee, was a multiple minor stakes winner at Fair Grounds and Detroit.
– Nicole Russo