East Avenue - Kentucky Derby Context

After flopping as the favorite in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) and Risen Star (G2), East Avenue turned things around with a nose second in the Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, nearly wiring the major qualifier to book his Kentucky Derby ticket. The athletic bay colt showed an affinity for Keeneland last fall, winning the Breeders’ Futurity (G1), and he’s taken it to rivals from the start in three commendable lifetime performances. East Avenue failed to respond when asked to settle behind rivals previously, suggesting he will display high speed from the break in a projected speed-laden Kentucky Derby.

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OWNER: Sheikh Mohammed Al Maktoum’s Godolphin will seek their first Kentucky Derby win, and the international operation also has top contender Sovereignty, who figures to benefit from a hot pace being a confirmed closer in the 20-horse field. They represent Godolphin’s first starters since Essential Quality was elevated to third via disqualification in 2021, the best result from 13 previous starts. Godolphin has swept the Eclipse Award for leading owner the last four years, winning eight times overall.

TRAINER: East Avenue will be the second Kentucky Derby starter for Brendan Walsh, who finished ninth with Plus Que Parfait in 2019. A native of Ireland, Walsh came to the United States to be an assistant for Eddie Kenneally in 2007, and the 53-year-old opened his own stable in 2012. Walsh won the 2023 Kentucky Oaks (G1) with champion three-year-old filly Pretty Mischievous.

JOCKEY: Manny Franco made the first of five previous Kentucky Derby starts in 2015, his best finish coming aboard runner-up Tiz the Law in 2020. A 30-year-old native of Puerto Rico, Franco won the Belmont aboard Tiz the Law, and he’s been ranked in the top 10 among North American jockeys in wins and earnings the last two years. Franco, who earned his 14th NYRA riding title during the recent Aqueduct winter meet, will pick up the mount on East Avenue in the Kentucky Derby.

BREEDER: East Avenue was bred in Kentucky by Godolphin, whose best result from three previous starts as a breeder came via 2021 third-placer Essential Quality.

SIRE: Medaglia d’Oro is best known as the sire of Hall of Famer and 2009 Horse of the Year Rachel Alexandra, who counted the Preakness (G1) and Kentucky Oaks among her 11 stakes wins. By El Prado, Medaglia d’Oro won the 2002 Travers (G1) and finished second in the Belmont. 

DAM: East Avenue is the first starter out of the unraced Ghostzapper mare Dance Music, a half-sister to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish. By Awesome Again, Hall of Famer Ghostzapper was named Horse of the Year in 2004 and won his final six starts, recording Grade 1 wins at 6 1/2 furlongs, a mile, 1 1/8 miles, and 1 1/4 miles. And he continued to show versatility as a stallion, producing Dubai World Cup (G1) winner Mystic Guide, champion female sprinters Goodnight Olive and Judy the Beauty, and champion older turf mare Moira, one of his three Queen’s Plate winners. Ghostzapper has made his mark upon the Triple Crown as broodmare sire, counting 2018 Triple Crown winner and Hall of Famer Justify among his notable runners, and Rodriguez counts leading sire Tapit as his second maternal broodmare sire and Belmont winner Editor’s Note as his third.

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