Photo:

Candice Chavez / Eclipse Sportswire

In his first published work since finishing ninth as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile at Del Mar on Nov. 1, Godolphin homebred East Avenue breezed a half-mile over a fast Fair Grounds main track in 49.2 seconds Friday morning.

Shortly after the renovation break at about 10:20 a.m. EST, the son of Medaglia d’Oro clipped off splits of 12.4, 24.8 and 37.4 seconds before completing his half-mile breeze in 49.2 seconds with Declan Cannon up. According to clocker Billy Pettingill, East Avenue galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.2 and continued on in 1:15.8.

“This was the first time I’ve seen him in person, and he really stands out on the track,” Petingill said. “The work was impressive. The time was fast, but what I really liked was how his momentum just carried him through the gallop out.”

After a dominant maiden-breaking sprint at Ellis Park on Aug. 24 for trainer Brendan Walsh, East Avenue stretched out to 1 1/16 miles four weeks later for the Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland. Off alertly, he sped to the front, shook off the class hike and won going away by 5 1/4 lengths.

The 1.80-1 favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) at Del Mar, East Avenue was severely hampered by a bad stumble at the break, crossing the line ninth of ten.

“Once he blew the start, we were dead in the water,” Walsh said. “We sprinted him first time out, and then sent him to the lead at Keeneland (Breeders’ Futurity win). In the Breeders’ Cup, he just outbroke himself. His head was going faster than his body. It was disappointing, but you don’t get a do-over. It’s horse racing. It’s sports. Sometimes things just happen and you move on.”

The connections regrouped and targeted the $500,000 Risen Star (G2) at Fair Grounds on Feb. 15, a race won last year by eventual Kentucky Derby runner-up and Breeders’ Cup Classic winner Sierra Leone. At this stage, all is going according to plan.

“Our goal is to get him there (the Risen Star) in great shape and leave some room for improvement,” Walsh said. “He’s naturally fast, but he’s also a very cool horse with a great mind.”

East Avenue closed at 15-1 in the second Kentucky Derby Future Wager pool through Churchill Downs. He was 22-1 at Caesars sportsbook in Las Vegas as of Sunday morning.

These seven horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked across the country Friday:

Admiral Dennis (Constitution) worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Fair Grounds on Friday morning. It was the 18th fastest of 66 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed fourth in the Gun Runner going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Dec. 21 for trainer Brad Cox.

Built (Hard Spun) worked four furlongs in 51.8 seconds at Fair Grounds on Friday morning. It was the 64th fastest of 66 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won the Gun Runner going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Fair Grounds on Dec. 21 for trainer Wayne Catalano.

Citizen Bull (Into Mischief), a two-time Grade 1 winner (2024 Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, 2024 American Pharoah), worked five furlongs in 59.2 seconds at Santa Anita on Friday morning. It was the fastest of 17 works at the distance. His previous work was six days ago going five furlongs at Santa Anita. In his last start he won the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for trainer Bob Baffert.

Dapper Moon (Malibu Moon) worked three furlongs in 37.4 seconds at Fair Grounds on Friday morning. It was the eighth fastest of 13 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he won an allowance race going six furlongs on the main track at Fair Grounds on Dec. 19 for trainer Dallas Stewart.

Dominant Spirit (Mohaymen) worked four furlongs in 49.6 seconds at Sam Houston on Friday morning. It was the 10th fastest of 48 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Sam Houston. In his last start he placed third in the Remington Springboard Mile going one mile on the main track at Remington Park on Dec. 13 for trainer Bret Calhoun.

East Avenue (Medaglia d’Oro), a Grade 1 winner (2024 Breeders’ Futurity), worked four furlongs in 49.2 seconds at Fair Grounds on Friday morning. It was the 21st fastest of 66 works at the distance. This was his first work since his last race. In his last start he placed ninth in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for trainer Brendan Walsh.

Poster (Munnings), a Grade 2 winner (2024 Remsen), worked five furlongs in 1:02.8 at Turfway Park on Friday morning. It was the 22nd fastest of 30 works at the distance. His previous work was seven days ago going four furlongs at Turfway Park. In his last start he won the Remsen (G2) going 1 1/8 miles on the main track at Aqueduct on Dec. 7 for trainer Eoin Harty.

These two horses in Kentucky Derby futures worked Thursday:

Chasing Liberty (Constitution) worked four furlongs in 50.0 seconds at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the 27th fastest of 43 works at the distance. His previous work was 10 days ago going four furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he won the Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance going one mile on the turf at Del Mar on Nov. 1 for trainer Rob Atras.

Handsome Pants (Daredevil) worked four furlongs in 49.0 seconds at Fair Grounds on Thursday morning. It was the 13th fastest of 43 works at the distance. His previous work was eight days ago going three furlongs at Fair Grounds. In his last start he placed eighth in the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) going 1 1/16 miles on the main track at Keeneland on Oct. 5 for trainer Kenny McPeek.