Classic Causeway will probably kick off season in Holy Bull
HALLANDALE BEACH, Fla. – Trainer Brian Lynch is eyeing the Feb. 5 Holy Bull at Gulfstream Park for his Kentucky Derby hopeful Classic Causeway, who breezed five furlongs in 1:01.60 early Wednesday at the Palm Meadows training center. It was the third work for the Giant’s Causeway colt since he was second as the 7-5 favorite behind Smile Happy in the Nov. 27 Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs.
“There are other races we could go for, but right now the Holy Bull is on the radar for him,” said Lynch. “This latest work was really good and has us where we want to be.”
Classic Causeway earned a 90 Beyer Speed Figure in winning on debut in early September at Saratoga, then was third as the favorite in the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland prior to the KJC.
◗ High Oak will make his 3-year-old debut on the Holy Bull undercard in the seven-furlong Swale, according to co-owner Lee Einsidler. High Oak was a 10-1 winner of the 6 1/2-furlong Saratoga Special before running fourth in his most recent start, the Sept. 6 Hopeful at Saratoga. The Gormley colt has been on a steady work pattern at Payson Park for trainer Bill Mott.
◗ The Saturday co-features at Gulfstream Park are the $75,000 Sunshine Turf and $75,000 Sunshine Filly and Mare Turf, twin turf routes for Florida-breds. A huge card is set for the following Saturday (Jan. 29) with the $3 million Pegasus World Cup and six other graded races.