In his first published work since finishing ninth as the favorite in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile (G1), Godolphin homebred East Avenue breezed a half-mile at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots Jan. 3.
The newly turned 3-year-old son of Medaglia d'Oro clipped off splits of :12 2/5, :24 4/5, and :37 2/5 before completing his half-mile breeze in :49 1/5 with jockey Declan Cannon up.
Last year, East Avenue dominated in his first two starts, becoming a grade 1 winner second time out when speeding to a gate-to-wire 5 1/4-length victory in the Breeders' Futurity (G1) at Keeneland. In the Breeders' Cup, the colt was extremely unlucky at the start, stumbling badly to his knees at the break.
"Once he blew the start, we were dead in the water," Walsh said. "... 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 will now target the Feb. 15 $500,000 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds with East Avenue, a race won last year by eventual Kentucky Derby (G1) runner-up and Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) winner Sierra Leone.
"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."
