The fields for the 14 races that comprise the Breeders’ Cup World Championships actually start to come back into focus in summer time and fall. This common function will provide a snapshot profile of one of many earlier weekend’s standout stars, normally a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Problem Sequence winner, and whether or not I’m shopping for or promoting their probabilities to win Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.
This week we take a better have a look at East Avenue, winner of the $594,063 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity Oct. 5 at Keeneland Race Course. The Medaglia d’Oro colt’s dominant, front-running 5 ¼-length win earned him an expenses-paid berth within the Nov. 1 FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Offered by TAA at Del Mar by way of the “Win and You’re In” Problem Sequence.
Accomplishments: East Avenue improved to 2-for-2 in his profession with a 5 ¼-length runaway victory within the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity. He used his excessive cruising pace to take command early within the race and open a transparent benefit, led by two lengths after three-quarters of a mile, and surged properly clear within the stretch beneath a hand trip from jockey Tyler Gaffalione. East Avenue coasted by means of a lot of the ultimate sixteenth of a mile, trying each bit a dominant winner.
The Medaglia d’Oro colt started his profession with an eight-length romp at Ellis Park utilizing comparable pacesetting ways in a three-quarter-mile race, and he confirmed indicators that he may deal with added distance with a closing quarter-mile in :24.12 in his debut.
The Breeders’ Futurity was a check of each class (his stakes debut) and distance in stretching out to 1 1/16 miles, and East Avenue proved as much as the problem.
“He ran nice, and it was good to see him get it executed,” coach Brendan Walsh stated. “There’s all the time a priority going from three-quarters of a mile to 2 turns, however he confirmed what sort of horse he’s.”
East Avenue accomplished his closing eighth of a mile in :12.95 within the Breeders’ Futurity, which was not as quick as his earlier race, however he additionally was by no means actually requested within the stretch. As soon as the race’s final result was determined, Gaffalione left some gas within the tank for the Breeders’ Cup in 4 weeks.
“I had loads of horse left,” the profitable jockey stated. “He’s fairly particular; I’m actually enthusiastic about him.”
Hopeful Stakes runner-up Ferocious was 5 ¼ lengths again in second but in addition 4 ¼ lengths away from third-place finisher Filoso, so East Avenue was 9 ½ lengths or extra forward of the opposite 9 2-year-olds within the race.
Along with punching his ticket to the FanDuel Juvenile, East Avenue earned 10 qualifying factors towards a possible starting-gate spot within the 2025 Kentucky Derby Offered by Woodford Reserve together with his win within the Breeders’ Futurity.
Velocity Figures: East Avenue improved his Equibase Velocity Determine from a 91 in his debut to a 99 for the Breeders’ Futurity. He likewise improved his Beyer Velocity Determine from an 86 to a 95, which is the very best determine so far earned by a 2-year-old in 2024 in a two-turn race.
The profitable Equibase Velocity Determine for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile has ranged from a 95 to a 116 over the past decade (2014-2023), with a mean of 105. The profitable Beyer Velocity Determine for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile over the past 10 years has ranged from 87 to 105 with a mean of 96.6. East Avenue is properly inside placing distance if he makes an incremental enchancment within the third race of his profession.
Trying Forward: A homebred of the highly effective Godolphin breeding-racing operation of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, East Avenue was bred to be a racehorse. He’s by high sire Medaglia d’Oro, whose greatest runners embrace 2009 Horse of the Yr Rachel Alexandra and champion Songbird. East Avenue’s dam (mom) is the Ghostzapper mare Dance Card, whose half-siblings (identical dam, completely different sire) embrace 2023 Horse of the Yr Cody’s Want and a number of graded stakes winner Endorsed.
So, while you pair the pure skill proven in two races with a powerhouse pedigree, East Avenue appears to be like like a possible star within the making.
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have a few excellent horses the final two years, particularly with [owner] Godolphin, and he appeared like he was proper up there. I used to be simply ready for affirmation,” Walsh stated. “I believe he’s a really particular horse.”
Can he take one other step ahead on 4 weeks relaxation in his third begin? The Breeders’ Cup Juvenile is a troublesome race and can present one other class check, however I don’t see why East Avenue can’t win on Nov. 1 at Del Mar. There are a number of different gifted 2-year-olds on track for the race, but when I used to be Godolphin, Walsh, and Gaffalione, I wouldn’t commerce locations with anybody.
