Lynch: Classic Causeway's Tampa Derby better than figure indicates

OLDSMAR, Fla. – Brian Lynch was in his usual good mood Monday morning, and why wouldn’t he be? The trainer had heard all the talk about Classic Causeway not being fast enough, even after the colt’s victory on Saturday in the Tampa Bay Derby, and decided to wave it off.

“I’ve never done this,” Lynch said about having a serious Kentucky Derby prospect so late in the game, “and I’m going to keep enjoying it.”

Lynch, 57, was back at his Atlantic Coast base at the Palm Meadows training center, as was Classic Causeway, the speedy chestnut whose front-running triumph in the Tampa Bay Derby earned only an 84 Beyer Speed Figure. It will take a much higher Beyer Figure for a horse to factor into the Kentucky Derby mix, of course, but Lynch is taking all the criticism and conjecture with a grain of salt.

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“In my eyes, he ran like a 110 Beyer,” said Lynch. “There are a lot of other things to consider when you’re talking about speed figures being the end-all and be-all.”

Just as they did in winning the Sam F. Davis here Feb. 12, Classic Causeway and jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. were dominant from the opening bell in the Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Derby. Classic Causeway broke like a shot, relaxed nicely on the lead under Ortiz’s command, then drew off easily when asked in the upper stretch to prevail by 2 1/2 lengths.

Classic Causeway earned higher Beyers in two of his four prior starts – he got a 90 on debut last September and an 88 in the Davis. Lynch is far less concerned about raw times and how they’re interpreted as opposed to how Classic Causeway continues to show signs of real progress.

“One of the difficult things with horses is to keep that ‘want to’ in them when you’re not forcing them as much to do it,” he said. “He seems to have plenty of ‘want to.’ This colt is very good at what he does and looks comfortable doing it.”

Lynch said Classic Causeway will ship to Keeneland a week or so before the April 9 Blue Grass Stakes, the likely final Derby prep for the colt. Classic Causeway leads the overall qualifying-points standings for the May 7 Derby with 66.

Meanwhile, trainer Mike Maker said the Blue Grass is a possible next start for Grantham (20 points), who at 37-1 blew up the exotic wagers in the Tampa Derby when up for second in a four-way scramble behind Classic Causeway.

Shipsational (14 points), third as the 9-2 third choice, could go next in the April 2 Florida Derby at Gulfstream Park or the April 9 Wood Memorial at Aqueduct, said trainer Eddie Barker.

Major General, the 4-1 second choice, finished last by 25 lengths after stumbling badly at the break in his first race in nearly six months. Elliott Walden, president of co-owner WinStar Farm, said the colt emerged in good shape.