East Avenue is getting serious preparing for his 3-year-old debut and continues to look like a serious contender for classic races this spring. Having posted a pair of easy solo half-mile workouts separated by just six days earlier in January, his first two drills since a bad stumble out of the gate led to a ninth-place finish as the 9-5 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, East Avenue on Friday morning at Fair Grounds worked five furlongs in 59.40, the fastest of 24 works at the distance. East Avenue will have his first start of the year Feb. 15 in the $500,000 Risen Star at Fair Grounds. Clearly, he has advanced quickly through his paces since shipping to New Orleans in December. “We still got three works before the Risen Star. We’re well on target,” said Brendan Walsh, who trains East Avenue, a Godolphin homebred by Medaglia d’Oro. “I kind of knew coming in he wasn’t going to need that much work. He’s a grand horse in the morning. He stays handy and always looks like he’s fit.” Jockey Declan Cannon worked East Avenue, who broke off, going easily and well in hand, a few lengths behind two workmates meant to serve as targets rather than real competition for East Avenue. Cannon let East Avenue creep closer around the turn, wheeled him out in upper stretch, and East Avenue easily blew past his company. Cannon, going into the clubhouse turn, encouraged East Avenue to put forth a strong gallop-out, which he did. Trainer Brendan Walsh said East Avenue went out six furlongs in 1:13. “Declan told me if he didn’t know what was on the clock, he felt like they weren’t going fast enough,” Walsh said. East Avenue went to the front and won his debut, an Ellis Park sprint, by eight lengths. He led the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity on a strong pace and galloped to a 5 1/4-length score that made him the BC Juvenile favorite. Friday, he had no issue waiting behind horses and picking up when asked. “He’s got a fantastic attitude. He does anything you ask. He’s a good student,” Walsh said. And a very, very talented colt. Admiral Dennis meets easier Admiral Dennis finished fourth, beaten more than 16 lengths, as the 4-5 favorite in the Gun Runner Stakes on Dec. 21 at Fair Grounds. That won’t stop bettors from heavily backing him again in the featured seventh race Monday, a first-level dirt route allowance restricted to 3-year-olds and open to $100,000 claimers. Admiral Dennis did stumble significantly at the start of the Gun Runner, and after making a mild wide bid around the far turn while chasing a slow pace, he flattened out and finished a distant fourth. On Jan. 12, he breezed in company with Lecomte runner Disco Time and was badly outworked, though trainer Brad Cox said many of his workers that morning, Admiral Dennis among them, struggled over a deep, laboring surface. Admiral Dennis benefits Monday from what appears to be relatively soft competition. While Admiral Dennis earned an 83 Beyer Speed Figure in his second-start maiden route win at Churchill Downs, just one of six others in Monday’s race has a Beyer in the 70s. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.