Margaux Starting & Training Grad CLASSIC CAUSEWAY cruised to a 2 1/2 L victory in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby, going 1 1/16 miles at Tampa Bay Downs on March 12.
Off as the even-money favorite, he shot to the lead and never looked back, completing the contest in 1:44.90 and earning 50 points towards qualifying for the Kentucky Derby.
With 66 points in total, he is now ranked #1 on the Derby leaderboard. He is aiming for one final start in the G1 Toyota Bluegrass S. at Keeneland on April 9.
Trained by Brian Lynch for owners/breeders Kentucky West Racing LLC and Clarke M. Cooper, the 3 YO son of GIANT’S CAUSEWAY is one of just three foals from the legendary stallion’s final crop. After breaking his maiden by 6 1/2 lengths in Saratoga as a 2 YO, CLASSIC CAUSEWAY finished 3rd in the G1 Claiborne’s Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland before closing out his juvenile campaign as the runner-up in the G2 Kentucky Jockey Club S. at Churchill. He made his 3 YO debut in the G3 Sam F. Davis at Tampa Bay, making light work of his competition to win by 3 3/4 lengths. With his victory in the G2 Tampa Bay Derby, he now has a bankroll tallying $511,100.
His dam PRIVATE WORLD is a resident at Margaux Farm, and is excitedly awaiting the arrival of her JUSTIFY foal in May. His 2 YO 1/2 sister by LOOKIN AT LUCKY is in the Starting & Training program on the farm, and his yearling 1/2 brother by JUSTIFY will follow the same program this fall.
