East Avenue ‘doubtful' for Allen Jerkens

SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – When East Avenue didn’t show up on the nominations for the Grade 1 Haskell on July 19 at Monmouth Park, it seemed possible that he would be turned back in distance for the Grade 1 H. Allen Jerkens, a seven-furlong race on Aug. 23 at Saratoga.

But trainer Brendan Walsh on Wednesday called the Jerkens “doubtful” and said there is no current plan for East Avenue, who won the Grade 3 Matt Winn on June 8 at Churchill Downs.

“We felt he needed a little bit of a backing off because he had a very busy spring,” Walsh said. “All plans on hold to be honest. We got a couple of works in him recently, we haven’t decided where we’re going to go next, but I doubt we’re going to go to the Allen Jerkens.”

Walsh said the Grade 1 Pennsylvania Derby on Sept. 20 at Parx Racing is possible with a prep in between. From a timing perspective, the $300,000 Ellis Park Derby going one mile Aug. 10 could be that prep. Parx has the $200,000 Smarty Jones at 1 1/16 miles on Aug. 19.

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