Classic Causeway On Course for Tampa Bay Derby
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Photo: Spencer Tulis/SV Photography
Classic Causeway wins the Sam F. Davis Stakes at Tampa Bay Downs
Kentucky West Racing and Clarke M. Cooper's Classic Causeway breezed 5 furlongs in :59.95 at Palm Meadows Training Center March 5 in a final tune-up for the March 12 $400,000 Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) at Tampa Bay Downs.
The Giant's Causeway colt is expected to be favored in the Tampa Bay Derby off his impressive victory in the Feb. 12 Sam F. Davis Stakes (G3) at Tampa.
"We've been fortunate to not miss a beat with him," trainer Brian Lynch said the morning of March 6. "He has had two strong workouts (since the Sam F. Davis), and he is on schedule to go back to a track he really liked. We're looking forward to getting back over there."
Classic Causeway is expected to face at least 10 rivals, including Sam F. Davis runner-up Shipsational in the 1 1/16-mile Tampa Bay Derby. The top four finishers will receive 50, 20, 10, and 5 points toward qualifying for the Run for the Roses May 7 at Churchill Downs.
"He came out of the (Sam F. Davis) very well, he's carrying good weight and he has great energy, so we're counting our blessings," Lynch said. "He seemed to really like the racetrack, so we thought the smart thing was to take him back over there and have a crack at the Tampa Bay Derby."