East Avenue made his Stakes debut a winning one with a dominating, wire-to-wire victory in the G1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on Saturday, 5 October.
The victory earned the son of Medaglia d’Oro an automatic, fees-paid berth in the upcoming G1 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar, in addition to 10 points on the 2025 Road to the Kentucky Derby. East Avenue is now undefeated in two starts.
Both Godolphin and trainer Brendan Walsh captured this race in 2019 with multiple G1 winner and current Darley stallion, Maxfield (Street Sense).
Ridden for the first time by jockey Tyler Gaffalione, East Avenue broke alertly and went straight to the lead, clearing the field as they headed into the clubhouse turn. Ferocious, who was favored off his runner-up finish in the G1 Hopeful, was keyed up and raced a bit greenly behind East Avenue while in second and created trouble for himself by bouncing around off the inside rail.
East Avenue continued to cruise on the front end, increasing his lead through the far turn and into the homestretch, eventually crossing the wire a five-and-a-quarter length victor. He then survived an objection from the connections of second-place finisher, Ferocious, for interference on the first turn. No change was made by the stewards and the results stood.
East Avenue was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin. He is out of the unraced Dance Music (Ghostzapper), a half-sister to Horse of the Year and current Darley stallion, Cody’s Wish. East Avenue's second dam Dance Card won the G1 Gazelle Stakes and was third behind two-time champion Groupie Doll in the following year's G1 Breeders' Cup Filly & Mare Sprint.
East Avenue is Medaglia d'Oro's fifth Graded/Group Stakes winner of the season, joining Grand Sonata, winner of the G2 Kentucky Turf Cup, Delahaye (G3 Old Forester Mint Julep S.), Ticker Tape Home (G3 Seaway S.) and Kallos (G2 Rubiton S. in Australia).
