Godolphin Homebred East Avenue Claims Matt Winn Stakes in Wire-to-Wire Victory
East Avenue returned to the winner’s circle Sunday with a determined wire-to-wire victory in the Grade III Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs. The Godolphin homebred, sent off as the 7-5 favorite in the four-horse field, secured the early lead and never relinquished it despite late challenges.
The TDN Rising Star set fractions of :24.41 for the quarter and :47.66 for the half while tracked by Coal Battle and Burnham Square. As the field turned for home, East Avenue maintained a length advantage while his three rivals lined up across the track behind him.
Final Gambit’s expected rally never materialized, leaving Coal Battle pressing from the outside and Burnham Square challenging along the rail. East Avenue showed tremendous determination, holding off both challengers to win by a half-length.
“Our plan was to go to the lead,” said winning rider Luis Saez. “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.”
Trainer Brendan Walsh praised his colt’s performance. “I think the distance today was right in his wheelhouse. 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.”
East Avenue’s victory marks a significant comeback after a disappointing eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby on May 3. The son of Medaglia d’Oro burst onto the scene with an eight-length debut victory at Ellis Park last August, earning his TDN Rising Star designation.
His dominant victory in the Grade I Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland on October 5 established him as a championship contender before he stumbled at the start of the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile, finishing well behind Citizen Bull. His sophomore campaign began with a disappointing effort in the Grade II Risen Star Stakes on February 15.
East Avenue worked his way back into Kentucky Derby consideration with a narrow second-place finish — just a nose behind Burnham Square — in the Grade I Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 8.
The colt is out of the unraced Dance Music, a daughter of Ghostzapper and out of Grade I winner Dance Card. Dance Music is a half-sister to Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish and multiple graded stakes winner Endorsed. She has a 2-year-old colt by Hard Spun and a yearling filly by Authentic, and was bred back to Not This Time last spring.
East Avenue completed the 1 1/16 miles in 1:42.12 over a fast track, earning $247,000 for the victory. His career record now stands at three wins and one second from seven starts with earnings of $901,395.
Burnham Square finished second for owner-breeder Whitham Thoroughbreds and trainer Ian Wilkes, while Coal Battle took third for Norman Stables and trainer Lonnie Briley.
East Avenue ($4.94) and jockey @luissaezpty take them all the way around at 7-5 in the G3 Matt Winn Stakes @ChurchillDowns.
Trainer: @brenpwalsh
Owner & Breeder: @godolphin🎥 TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/RB3JWIpNkR
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires)
East Avenue ($4.94) and jockey June 8, 2025
