Watch: Classic Causeway new Kentucky Derby favourite after Tampa Bay success

Classic Causeway booked his place in the Kentucky Derby and surged to favouritism for the Churchill Downs spectacular with an impressive front-running success in the Grade 2 Tampa Bay Derby on Saturday evening.

The Brian Lynch-trained three-year-old broke well from the stalls under Irad Ortiz and was not for catching as he stormed to a two and a half-length success, despite hanging in the closing stages, to guarantee himself a starting place in the 'run for the roses' on May 7.

Classic Causeway's Tampa Bay Derby success meant he picked up 50 points in the Road to the Kentucky Derby qualifying process – which saw him move past Epicenter to the top of the standings with 66 points – and became the 9-1 market leader for the first leg of the American Triple Crown with bet365.

Ortiz told Bloodhorse.com: "Getting close to the wire, he was looking around a little bit, but I felt I had a lot more horse.

"He's acting like he can carry his speed more. These last couple of races he's been acting after the wire like he still has more left. I don't want to jinx it, but I think there is something more there."

Classic Causeway, who is from the final crop of top-class performer Giant's Causeway, scored at Tampa Bay earlier in the season in the Grade 3 Sam F. Davis Stakes and will bid to become just the second winner of the Tampa Bay Derby to follow up in the Kentucky version.

Street Sense completed the historic double in 2007, while Super Saver finished third in the Tampa Bay Derby in 2010 before going on to record a famous success at Churchill Downs.

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