As well as Classic Causeway was training leading up to the Grade III, $250,000 Sam F. Davis Stakes, trainer Brian Lynch still had cause for concern after his colt was pressed through an opening quarter-mile of 22.66 seconds by longshot Little Vic.

“The fractions (including a half-mile of 46.67 seconds) had me a little bit worried,” Lynch said after Classic Causeway rolled to a 3 ¾-length victory from the late-running Shipsational, with Volcanic third and Strike Hard fourth in the 12-horse field.

Advertisement