Kentucky Derby trail: Draw, jockeys for 13 horses in Risen Star
Photo:
Tim Sudduth / Eclipse Sportswire
East Avenue will have his first chance as a 3-year-old next
Saturday to show he is more like the horse who won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1)
than the one who lost at the start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.
The Godolphin homebred colt by Medaglia d’Oro is likely to
be both the morning-line and post-time favorite in the field of 13 3-year-olds entered
for the 53rd running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Risen Star Stakes.
Click here for Fair Grounds entries and results.
The 1 1/8-mile finale on the 14-race card will be the first
virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifier for Kentucky Derby 2025.
Trained by Brendan Walsh, East Avenue impressed in his first try at two turns. That was when he led at every call on the way to a 5 1/4-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 5 at Keeneland.
East Avenue took his 2-for-2 record to Del Mar the following month and was the 9-5 favorite for the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Carrying jockey Tyler Gaffalione from post 9 in the field of 10, he stumbled badly and never recovered, finishing ninth to eventual Eclipse Award winner Citizen Bull.
Gaffalione keeps the ride on East Avenue, who drew post 4.
Built, the Gun Runner victor who was second last month in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, got post 9 for the Risen Star.
Jonathan’s Way, winner of the Iroquois (G3), the first Derby points prep, comes back from his runner-up finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) to go from post 2.
Vassimo, who is 2-for-2 for trainer Todd Pletcher, graduates to stakes company and starts form post 3.
Coming back from a third-place result in the Gun Runner, Render Judgment races from post 10 for reigning Kentucky Derby-winning trainer Kenny McPeek.
The long range forecast indicates afternoon and evening thunderstorms are a 51% possibility for next Saturday in New Orleans. The Weather Channel predicted a high of 78 degrees.
| Post | Silks | Horse / Sire | Rating | Trainer / Jockey | Last start / Next start | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
|
American Promise Justify |
5.59 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 2 |
|
Jonathan’s Way Vekoma |
6.74 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 3 |
|
Vassimo Nyquist |
5.87 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 4 |
|
East Avenue Medaglia d’Oro |
7.34 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 5 |
|
Chunk of Gold Preservationist |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 6 |
|
Seattle Road Quality Road |
5.84 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 7 |
|
Septarian Protonico |
5.45 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 8 |
|
Giocoso Not This Time |
6.19 | Keith Desormeaux | Entered | |
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 9 |
|
Built Hard Spun |
6.57 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 10 |
|
Render Judgment Blame |
6.17 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 11 |
|
Jolly Samurai First Samurai |
5.95 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 12 |
|
Vamos Carlitos Catholic Boy |
0.00 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
| 13 |
|
Magnitude Not This Time |
6.20 | Entered | ||
|
Last race Next race |
||||||
T
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