Sam Davis third Classic Car Wash will return in Tampa Bay Derby

While Mark Casse will be represented Saturday by Determinedly in the Risen Star at Fair Grounds, the Hall of Fame trainer has updates on the two 3-year-olds he ran last Saturday in the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs.

Classic Car Wash “was a pretty good third” behind Litigate and Groveland in the Sam Davis, which likely will get him a return trip to Oldsmar, Fla., for the Tampa Bay Derby on March 11, Casse said.

Classic Car Wash earned a 72 Beyer Speed Figure when rallying from seventh on a wet track that tended to favor inside speed in earlier Saturday races. The Noble Bird gelding was coming off back-to-back wins against considerably lighter company at Gulfstream Park.

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“I thought speed was carrying pretty good, so we went against the grain,” Casse said. “All in all, he gave us a nice effort.”

Groveland, a Godolphin homebred trained by Eoin Harty, also is under consideration for the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby. Todd Pletcher has yet to announce where Litigate will race next, as the Centennial Farms colt is one of his half dozen or so serious prospects for the Kentucky Derby on May 6.

Meanwhile, Champions Dream is off the Derby trail after emerging from the Davis with a very sore left front foot, Casse said. Champions Dream, winner of the Grade 3 Nashua in November for Rosedown Racing, was eased down the stretch as the 6-1 third choice.

“He grabbed himself pretty hard and he’s still off,” Casse said. “Fortunately, all X-rays were clean. He came back with scrapes on all four legs. I’m sure it happened into the first turn. It’s a day-to-day thing where we’re just taking it easy with him for now.”

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