Classic Causeway heads 13 in Sam F. Davis; Nest returns in Suncoast

Feb 09, 2022 James Scully/TwinSpires.com

Runner-up to unbeaten Smile Happy in the Kentucky Jockey
Club (G2), Classic Causeway will
open his three-year-old season in Saturday’s $250,000 Sam F. Davis S. (G3) at
Tampa Bay Downs. The Road to the Derby series qualifier awards 17 points to the
top four finishers (10-4-2-1 scale), and an overflow field of 13, including one
also-eligible, is set for the 1 1/16-mile race.

Along with the Davis, Tampa Bay will offer the $150,000
Suncoast S. at a mile and 40 yards, and Demoiselle (G2) heroine Nest tops eight fillies in the Kentucky
Oaks qualifier.

Trained by Brian Lynch, Classic Causeway impressively broke
his maiden by open lengths when making his debut at Saratoga in early
September. He followed with a third as the favorite in the Breeders’ Futurity
(G1) at Keeneland, and the Giant’s Causeway colt finished second by 3 1/4 lengths
as the 7-5 choice in the Kentucky Jockey Club at Churchill Downs in late
November.

Classic Causeway, one of four individual entrants from Pool
3 of this weekend’s Kentucky Derby Future Wager in the Davis, was flattered
when Kentucky Jockey Club third-placer White Abarrio came back to capture the
Holy Bull (G3) at Gulfstream last Saturday, and Irad Ortiz Jr. will be in for
the mount.

Other contestants from Pool 3 are Grey (G3) winner God of Love, Springboard Mile S. victor
Make It Big, and Kentucky Jockey
Club fifth Howling Time, a
convincing winner of the Street Sense S. two back.

Rafael Hernandez will be in to ride for God of Love, who
will make his first start outside of Woodbine for Mark Casse. Jose Ortiz
retains the assignment on Make It Big, who has won all three starts as favorite
for Saffie Joseph Jr. Joe Talamo will guide Howling Time for Dale Romans.

Other runners of interest include Strike Hard and Mr Rum
Runner, second and third in the Mucho Macho Man; multiple New York-bred
stakes winner Shipsational; Trademark, unraced since a convincing
allowance tally at Churchill Downs; Kitten
Mischief, who exits a second in a Gulfstream allowance; and last-out maiden
scorers Unpredictable Bay and Volcanic.

In the Suncoast, Nest
figures to go favored for Todd Pletcher. The daughter of Curlin will cut back
in distance after rallying to win the 1 1/8-mile Demoiselle at Aqueduct in
early December, and Irad Ortiz Jr. has the return call.

Alittleloveduck
will switch surfaces following an upset of the Jan. 1 Ginger Brew S. on
Gulfstream’s turf, and Peaceful Surprise
will jump to stakes competition after a nice debut win at Tampa for Christophe
Clement.