Churchill Downs: East Avenue fends off 3 rivals in Matt Winn

Photo:

Churchill Downs / Renee Torbit / Coady Media

East Avenue led every step of the way against a small
field Sunday, turning back late challenges from Burnham Square and Coal
Battle to win by a half-length in the 28th running of the Grade 3, $387,000
Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs.

Trained by Brendan Walsh and ridden by Luis Sáez, East
Avenue bounced back from his eighth-place finish in Kentucky Derby 2025
by clocking 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:42.12. In a two-turn race for 3-year-olds, he scored for owner-breeder Godolphin,
who one day earlier won the Belmont Stakes at Saratoga with Kentucky Derby
winner Sovereignty.

Click here for Churchill Downs entries and results.

It was East Avenue’s second stakes win. During the fall he
captured the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.

Breaking fastest from the outside post, East Avenue led the
field of four 3-year-olds through quarter-mile fractions of 24.41, 47.66 and
1:11.38. Rebel (G2) winner Coal Battle tracked from second with Blue Grass (G1)
hero Burnham Square in third and stretch-running Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3)
winner Final Gambit last up the backstretch after breaking inward
from the gate.

East Avenue was unpressured on the backstretch, maintaining
a one- to 1 1/2-length advantage through the top of the homestretch. Coal
Battle ranged close to East Avenue’s right hip from the outside while Burnham
Square darted to the rail. Both rivals chased down the lane but could not catch
the East Avenue, who gamely turned back the competition.

“Our plan was to
go to the lead,” Sáez said. “He broke well and got in a good rhythm down the
backside. Turning for home he had to fight back against (Burnham Square and
Coal Battle). I was impressed how he held them off.”

East Avenue returned $4.94 and $3 as the 7-5 favorite.
Burnham Square, ridden at 5-2 by Brian Hernandez Jr., paid $3.36 and
finished three-quarters of a length in front of 6-1 Coal Battle under Corey
Lanerie. There was no show wagering. Final Gambit, fourth in the Kentucky Derby
and the 7-5 second betting choice, was another 3 1/2 lengths back in
fourth. Chunk of Gold, Gaming and Just a Fair Shake were
scratched.

The victory was worth $247,000 and improved East Avenue’s
record to 7: 3-1-0 with earnings of $901,395.

“I think the
distance today was right in his wheelhouse,” Walsh said. “He’s a gutsy horse
when he makes the lead like he did today. I was very impressed how he battled
back against Burnham Square, who came up to his inside, and Coal Battle on his
outside.”

This was the second Matt Winn triumph for Godolphin and
Walsh, who teamed to win the 2020 renewal with Maxfield.

East Avenue is a son of Medaglia d’Oro out of Ghostzapper
mare Dance Music and was bred in Kentucky.

The Matt Winn is named in honor of the early 20th-century
Churchill Downs president who served as the driving force in the development of
the racetrack and his beloved Kentucky Derby.