Classic Causeway

12) CLASSIC CAUSEWAY (c, Giant's Causeway–Private World, by Thunder Gulch) O/B-Kentucky West Racing LLC & Clarke M. Cooper Family Living Trust (KY). T-Brian A. Lynch. Lifetime Record: MGSW & GISP, 6-3-1-1, $521,100. Last Start: 11th GI Curlin Florida Derby. KY Derby Points: 66. Post 17, 30-1.

There's no getting around the fact that Classic Causeway's caving from first to last in the Florida Derby is an ugly past-performance line. And when you try and backfit that race against his two tepid-number wirings (88 and 86 Beyers) in two stakes at Tampa, it also doesn't help that the horses he beat in the GIII Sam F. Davis S. and the GII Lambholm South Tampa Bay Derby have since compiled a collective 0-for-14 record in their next starts.

But if you want to glean some positivity beyond those blah stats, consider that Classic Causeway's visuals in those victories were extremely eye-catching based on his ability to break like a rocket and still finish up in grace-under-pressure fashion. Back in January, I wrote that the “Giant's Causeway out of a Thunder Gulch mare breeding line that anchors this colt's pedigree is only going to play into Classic Causeway's favor the deeper he advances on the Triple Crown path.” That statement remains true today for this homebred for Kentucky West Racing and Clarke Cooper, who will likely try to spearhead the field from post 17.