Takeaways from 2022 Tampa Bay Derby

Mar 16, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

The second of two qualifiers at Tampa Bay Downs, the
$400,000 Tampa Bay Derby (G3) awarded 85 points (50-20-10-5 scale) toward a
berth in the Kentucky Derby on May 7.

Back-to-back
convincing wins

Classic Causeway sprinted clear at the break and rolled
unopposed the rest of the way, recording his second consecutive romping stakes
victory at Tampa Bay Downs. Irad Ortiz Jr. sat chilly on the chestnut colt most
of the way, rousing his mount only in the latter stages.

A 3 3/4-length scorer in the Feb. 12 Sam D. Davis (G3) in
his previous outing, Classic Causeway faced pressure before drawing off in his
seasonal opener, but the son of Giant’s Causeway had things much easier in the
Tampa Bay Derby.

Classic Causeway has improved upon his first two stakes appearances
last fall, finishing third in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland and
second in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) at Churchill Downs, but the quality of
his competition at Tampa has been questionable.

The Brian Lynch-trained colt will face more proven rivals,
and make his first attempt at 1 1 1/8 miles, in the April 7 Blue Grass (G2) at
Keeneland, a major qualifier in the Road to the Kentucky Derby series.

Classic Causeway moved to the fore of the Kentucky Derby
leaderboard by winning the Tampa Bay Derby, increasing his point total to 66.

Street Sense (2007) was the last Tampa Bay Derby winner to
wear the Roses.

Low number

His class and form puts him prominently in the mix of
Kentucky Derby contenders, but Classic Causeway registered a disappointing 90
Brisnet Speed rating for his Tampa Bay Derby win. That pales in comparison to his
main opponents.

Granted, he controlled a moderate pace and never appeared to
be seriously asked, but after traveling three-quarters in 1:13.18, Classic
Causeway was certainly eligible finish faster, requiring nearly 32 seconds for
the final three-sixteenths of a mile. He earned only a 90 Late Pace number.

By comparison, Always Dreaming received an 84 Speed rating for
his penultimate start before capturing the 2017 Kentucky Derby, but he netted a
112 Late Pace figure after dictating a glacial early tempo.

The Blue Grass will be key from a Speed rating perspective.

Also-rans

Grantham, who was
exiting a fourth in the Withers (G3), exceeded expectations at 37-1, stalking in
second before gamely outfinishing Shipsational
by a neck. Davis runner-up Shipsational didn’t receive the proper setup for
closing kick, but the New York-bred colt delivered a respectable effort for
third.

Major General,
the 4-1 second choice in his first start since winning the Iroquois (G3) last
September for Todd Pletcher, stumbled out of the gate and never fired, coming
under a ride while last on the backstretch and trailing throughout.