Now sits atop Kentucky Derby leaderboard
Classic Causeway vaulted to the top of the Kentucky Derby leaderboard on Saturday when going gate-to-wire in the Grade 2, $400,000 Tampa Bay Derby at Tampa Bay Downs.
Sent off the 4-5 favorite in a 10-horse field, Classic Causeway broke like a shot under Irad Ortiz Jr. and commenced to usher the field through fractions of 23.67, 48.17 and 1:13.18 for six furlongs as a wall of four horses chased directly behind.
While on the second turn, Classic Causeway was briefly challenged by third-choice Shipsational, but he put away that rival at the top of the stretch and cruised under the wire for an authoritative victory.
Trained by Brian Lynch, Classic Causeway completed 1 1/16 miles on a good track in 1:44.9. He collected another 50 Derby qualifying points to give him 66 in total, which leads all 3-year-olds.
Following Classic Causeway across the wire were Grantham (20 points), Shipsational (10) and Golden Glider (5). Classic Causeway returned $3.60.
On Feb. 12 at Tampa, Classic Causeway earned a similar front-running victory in the Sam F. Davis by 3 3/4 lengths over Shipsational. He also earned Derby points last year when second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) and third in the Breeders' Futurity (G1).
By Giant's Causeway out of the Thunder Gulch mare Private World, Classic Causeway is a homebred for Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper.
