East Avenue has first work since debacle in Breeders' Cup Juvenile

After his sprint debut in August at Ellis Park and his second start, the Grade 1 Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, it became apparent that the Godolphin homebred colt East Avenue possessed elite talent. That was obvious from the outside. From the inside, those that worked daily with the colt collected ample evidence suggesting East Avenue was a horse who breathed different air.

Then East Avenue fell on his nose leaving the starting gate as the heavy favorite to win the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

He never recovered, checking in ninth, beaten more than 13 lengths, laying a thick veneer of disappointment over the recollection of his eight-length debut victory and his 5 1/4-length tour de force in the Breeders’ Futurity.

Thus, East Avenue has unfinished business as a 3-year-old, and on Friday at Fair Grounds, the colt got down to the more serious business of training toward his 2025 debut when he turned in his first breeze since the BC Juvenile. Official clockers timed East Avenue going a half-mile in 49.40 seconds. Trainer Brendan Walsh said East Avenue galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.40.

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Friday’s work came after several weeks of steady training at Fair Grounds. Walsh said East Avenue got a brief respite from daily racetrack exercise after his last start.

“We only backed off a little after the Breeders’ Cup. Since then, we’ve just been ticking over with him. He’s been back here [at Fair Grounds] about six weeks just galloping away,” Walsh said.

Obviously, East Avenue won’t start in the Lecomte Stakes on Jan. 18 at Fair Grounds, but if all goes according to plan, the colt likely makes his 3-year-old debut Feb. 15 in the Risen Star.

“We’ll nominate to everything, but if it all lines up right, that’s the likely scenario,” Walsh said.

The scenario at Del Mar turned into a fiasco. Redemption time approaches.

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