Fresh off a dominating sprint win at Ellis Park in his career debut in August, Godolphin’s Kentucky homebred East Avenue made every pole a winning one in the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland on Saturday, Oct. 5. East Avenue’s front-running win in the Futurity, a “Win and You’re In” for the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1), earned the son of Medaglia d’Oro a berth in the BC Juvenile at Del Mar.
Ridden by Tyler Gaffalione, East Avenue set the pace along the inside early in the 1 1/16-mile fixture. He built a clear margin under his own power around the far turn and widened his advantage through the lane. In an emphatic effort, East Avenue crossed the wire 5 ¼ lengths in front of runner-up Ferocious. He covered the distance in 1:43.17 for trainer Brendan Walsh.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of very good horses the last two years, especially with (owner) Godolphin, and he seemed like he was right up there,” Walsh said. “I just waiting for confirmation. I think he’s a very special horse.”
Gaffalione concurred with Walsh, saying, “I had plenty of horse left. He’s pretty special. I’m really excited about him.”
East Avenue is produced from the Ghostzapper mare Dance Music, a half-sister to Godolphin’s 2023 Horse of the Year and Darley stallion Cody’s Wish. East Avenue is now undefeated in two lifetime starts and is expected to be among the favorites in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar.