Grade 2, $350,000 Tampa Bay Derby, 1 1/16 miles, Tampa Bay Downs, March 12, 2022 (50 Derby qualifying points for first, 20 for second, 10 for third, 5 for fourth) Winner: Classic Causeway, by Giant’s Causeway Trainer: Brian Lynch Jockey: Irad Ortiz Jr. Owner: Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper Beyer Speed Figure: 84 CLASSIC CAUSEWAY followed up his victory in last month’s Sam Davis (https://www.drf.com/news/road-2022-kentucky-derby-sam-f-davis-stakes-analysis) with an easy victory here, earning enough points to guarantee him a spot in the May 7 Kentucky Derby. Students of pace and final time have lots on which to chew regarding this race. Unlike the Sam Davis, in which Classic Causeway was forced into quick early fractions (22.66 seconds for the quarter, :46.67 for the half), he found less pace pressure here (:23.67, :48.17). He thus had an easier time of it, albeit over a track that was likely slightly slower owing to the rainstorm that pelted the area overnight, leaving it officially rated as “good.” After the Sam Davis, I opined that I thought his performance was better than it looked, both owing to the pace pressure Classic Causeway faced, and my thinking the figure for the race, 88, might be light owing to how it related to those who chased him (see link to Davis in first paragraph for a detailed explanation). :: KENTUCKY DERBY 2022: Point standings, prep schedule, news, and more But the figure here, even softer, looks rock solid when compared to the two other two-turn dirt races on the card. Scalding won the Challenger, like the Tampa Bay Derby at 1 1/16 miles, in 1:43.53 - 1.37 seconds faster than Classic Causeway in the Tampa Bay Derby. In race 5, a maiden race at a mile and 70 yards, the mile split was 1:37.86. The mile split in the Challenger was 1:37.53. The mile split in the Tampa Bay Derby was 1:38.40. So, this race unquestionably was the slowest of the three dirt route races on the card. The slow pace can explain away some of the final time, but not all. An 84 won’t get it done in two months. I believe Classic Causeway is better than that, but he’ll have to prove it next month in the Blue Grass, when he’ll face a far stronger field. In this race, Classic Causeway again broke sharply and had two lengths on his rivals in the first 100 yards. He went along at a moderate clip around the first turn and into the backstretch, his ears forward, waiting for competition. He continued to go along comfortably, even when pressure was applied by rivals both to his inside and outside heading to the far turn, He drifted out slightly coming off the final bend, then powered home through the lane without even being threatened. His sharp breaks afford him clean trips every time, and he goes along like a horse who will be able to sit and stalk if someone else is intent on the lead. GRANTHAM, who finished second, used his rail draw and contending speed to save ground around the first turn while just behind and inside of Classic Causeway. He had to be shoved along going to the far turn to hold his position while innermost of a four-way battle for second, couldn’t go with Classic Causeway, but steadily kept to his task through the lane to fend off all others. This was his best race yet. He’s a grinding type who won’t find distance to be a bother. SHIPSATIONAL, who was third, was hustled away from the gate but still wound up caught four paths wide entering the first turn. He had no opportunity to drop in down the backstretch and went into the far turn widest of a four-way battle for second behind Classic Causeway. He advanced into second midway on the turn, was under energetic handling from that point to the wire, and plugged away to just miss second, the ground loss certainly costing him the place. Being based in New York, the Wood Memorial would seem a likely next spot for him. GOLDEN GLIDER, who was fourth, raced mid-pack while saving ground around the first turn, was outrun a bit heading to the far turn, was switched out to the three path to commence his rally, angled out farther after coming into the lane, and was making slow but steady progress late. He’s a cut below at the moment. TRADEMARK, who was fifth, broke a bit slowly while brushing with HAPPY BOY ROCKET leaving the gate. He advanced quickly into a stalking position right on the heels of Classic Causeway around the first turn, and had to tap on the brakes midway around that turn. He had to sit in that spot down the backstretch, went into the far turn in the two path among four battling for second, came off the bend between Grantham and Shipsational, and was out-finished by those two plus Golden Glider while weakening in the closing yards. SPIN WHEEL, who was sixth, had no early speed and trailed early while racing in the clear in the two path. He remained well back the rest of the way, raced in the two path on the far turn, and never really got involved, though the pace did him no favors. BELGRADE, who was seventh, raced mid-pack while in the three path around the first turn, was tipped out to launch a rally about four to five paths wide on the far turn, began to weaken before reaching the top of the lane, was late to change leads, and faltered. :: Get Daily Racing Form Past Performances – the exclusive home of Beyer Speed Figures GIANT GAME, who was eighth, broke alertly and ended up in a sweet spot around the first turn, just behind and outside of Classic Causeway. He went into the far turn in the three path among a four-way battle for second, began to weaken just inside the three-furlong pole, came off the bridle before the quarter pole, and chucked it. He had a breathing problem after his prior race, the Holy Bull, and had surgery to correct it, but this was another clunker, his second straight since finishing third in a Breeders’ Cup Juvenile that has proven to be a negative key race. Happy Boy Rocket, who was ninth, brushed with Trademark leaving the gate, saved ground around the first turn while in front of only Spin Wheel, then made some progress mid-race while taken to the middle of the track. He found himself fanned to the five or six path into the far turn, was widest of all coming off the bend, and failed to kick it in. MAJOR GENERAL, who finished last of 10, stumbled leaving the gate, then was three wide into the first turn while in front of only two rivals. He was under an energetic ride at least six furlongs out when Happy Boy Rocket advanced inside of him, tailed off to last before reaching the far turn while still being asked to pick it up, and never showed any interest whatsoever.