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 characteristic will provide a snapshot profile of one of many earlier weekend’s standout stars, often a Breeders’ Cup “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection winner, and whether or not I’m shopping for or promoting their possibilities to win Nov. 1-2 at Del Mar.
This week we take a more in-depth 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 through the “Win and You’re In” Problem Collection.
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 effectively clear within the stretch below a hand trip from jockey Tyler Gaffalione. East Avenue coasted by way of a lot of the ultimate sixteenth of a mile, wanting each bit a dominant winner.
The Medaglia d’Oro colt started his profession with an eight-length romp at Ellis Park utilizing related pacesetting ways in a three-quarter-mile race, and he confirmed indicators that he may deal with added distance with a ultimate 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 performed,” coach Brendan Walsh stated. “There may be at all times 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 ultimate 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 gasoline 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 along with his win within the Breeders’ Futurity.
Pace Figures: East Avenue improved his Equibase Pace Determine from a 91 in his debut to a 99 for the Breeders’ Futurity. He likewise improved his Beyer Pace Determine from an 86 to a 95, which is the perfect determine to this point earned by a 2-year-old in 2024 in a two-turn race.
The profitable Equibase Pace 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 Pace 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 effectively 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 embody 2009 Horse of the 12 months Rachel Alexandra and champion Songbird. East Avenue’s dam (mom) is the Ghostzapper mare Dance Card, whose half-siblings (similar dam, completely different sire) embody 2023 Horse of the 12 months Cody’s Want and a number of graded stakes winner Endorsed.
So, whenever you pair the pure means proven in two races with a powerhouse pedigree, East Avenue seems like a possible star within the making.
“I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have a few superb 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 feel 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 heading in the right direction for the race, but when I used to be Godolphin, Walsh, and Gaffalione, I wouldn’t commerce locations with anybody.
