Following a quick breeze half a mile in: 47.45 words Classic Road at Palm Meadows Training Center on March 26, trainer Brian Lynch said the double winning foal is likely to start in the April 2 Florida Curlin Derby (G1) at Gulfstream Park.
If he runs in the 1/8 mile dirt track, his preparation for the May 7 Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (G1) at Churchill Downs, will include a schedule of three races at age 3, all in Florida. The Giant high riser colt previously won the Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby (G2) and Sam F. Davis Stakes this winter at at Tampa Bay Downs.
Lynch was initially inclined to run in the April 9 Toyota Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland before finally leaning towards the Florida Derby. The early spring races in Florida, he said, offer more consistent and predictable weather, and the Florida Derby will give the foal an extra week of recuperation before heading into the Kentucky Derby.
Running in the Florida Derby also means a shorter spin into that race.
“It’s coming back a little bit quicker than I’d really like, in three weeks, but it seems to be thriving here,” he said. “I think I’ll let this work out and it’s a nice job, and his recovery rate is very fast.”
He said Classic Causeway kindly assessed a workmate on his Saturday breeze before finishing well and galloping full of energy. Lynch added that he’s “going to sleep on it for a night” before fully committing to the pony in the Florida Derby.
According to the coach, Irad Ortiz Jr. There’s going to be a game at the Florida Derby.
“That’s another bonus,” Lynch said.
If the Classic Causeway runs as intended in the Florida Derby, Lynch said the foal will leave Florida on April 6, move to Churchill Downs, and train there in the month leading up to the Kentucky Derby.
The Classic Causeway is a cross for the owners of Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper. He is a winner of three of his five starts, with his only loss coming last fall when he finished second behind Happy smile in the Kentucky Jockey Club Stakes (G2) at Churchill Downs and trailed Rattle N Roll in Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.
Charge it , Pappacap , Simplify , Ship and White Abarrio is also pointed to the Florida Derby. Four of those five have practice on Saturday.
Charge It was half a mile in: 48.30 at Palm Beach Downs; Pappacap played half: 47 4/5 at Casse Training Center; The simplification was made possible by five extensions in: 59.91 at Gulfstream Park; and Shipsational worked on five spans in 1:02 at Tampa Bay Downs.
Several others could join the potential Florida Derby lineup before entries are made next week.
Simplified breezes March 26 at Gulfstream Park
