Classic Causeway still learning but Davis romp was impressive

OLDSMAR, Fla. – There’s perhaps a minor concern exiting the Sam F. Davis Stakes, but overall, the sky seems the limit for Classic Causeway as his 3-year-old season unfolds.

On the lead from the start Saturday in the Grade 3 Davis at Tampa Bay Downs, Classic Causeway was a dominant 3 3/4-length winner under Irad Ortiz Jr. in an effort that simultaneously validated the considerable potential the colt flashed at 2 while making him one of the early favorites for the May 7 Kentucky Derby.

“Blessed to have him, for sure,” trainer Brian Lynch said early Monday from his Palm Meadows winter base.

Classic Causeway earned an 88 Beyer Speed Figure by finishing the 1 1/16-mile distance in 1:42.80, less than two-fifths of a second off the stakes record. After putting away Little Vic and drawing clear, the chestnut son of Giant’s Causeway finished strongly when getting the final sixteenth in less than six seconds.

Still, attempting to go gate-to-wire in some of the bigger races down the Derby trail might not be the most desirable strategy, said Lynch. Becoming ensnared in what could become a ruinous pace scenario is best avoided if possible.

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“I do think he will sit in behind,” said Lynch. “He just broke so sharp Saturday that Irad just went on with him and obviously everything worked out great. It just might not happen that way every time – so between now and the next start, we’ll be working with him some more to make sure he continues to rate as kindly as he did this time.”

“His body language, the way his ears were twitching down the backside, gave me the feeling I had plenty of horse,” Ortiz said afterward. “He was traveling perfect, nice and easy.”

The outstanding performance certainly got the attention of fans betting into Pool 3 of the 2022 Kentucky Derby Future Wager. Before the Davis was run, Classic Causeway was around 40-1, but when the pool closed Sunday evening, he had been bet down to 13-1, second-lowest behind only Smile Happy (8-1) among 23 individually listed interests.

Classic Causeway opened his career in early September with a Saratoga maiden victory that resulted in a 90 Beyer. His two subsequent tries, both in major races when favored, were disappointing, albeit only mildly so. He was third in the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity and second in the Grade 2 Kentucky Jockey Club behind Smile Happy.

Classic Causeway earned 10 Derby qualifying points in the Davis and now leads the overall standings with 16. He’ll fall at least a couple pegs down the list this coming Saturday, when Smile Happy is among a field of 10 in the Risen Star (50-20-10-5) at Fair Grounds.

Lynch said Classic Causeway will make his next start in the $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby, a 50-20-10-5 qualifier. The annual Tampa showcase is set for March 12. The colt’s owners, Patrick O’Keefe of Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper, were not on hand Saturday but are planning to be here for the Tampa Derby, said Lynch.

Lynch, 57, has never had a Derby starter. The Australia native has trained on his own in the U.S. since the early 1990s, not including a brief stint as an assistant under the late Hall of Fame trainer Bobby Frankel in 2004-05 before going solo again.

“This is all very exciting,” said Lynch. “I feel very fortunate and humbled by it all.”