East Avenue. (Jenny Doyle/Past The Wire)
Darren Rogers/Churchill Downs
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – East Avenue led every step of the way and turned back late challenges from Burnham Square and Coal Battle to win Sunday’s 28th running of the $387,000 Matt Winn Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs by a half-length.
East Avenue bounced back from his eighth-place finish in the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve (GI) by clocking 1 1/16 miles over a fast track in 1:42.12 under Luis Saez for trainer Brendan Walsh and owner/breeder Godolphin, who one day earlier won the Belmont Stakes (GI) at Saratoga with Kentucky Derby winner Sovereignty.
The victory was East Avenue’s second stakes win. Last fall, he captured the $600,000 Breeders’ Futurity (GI) at Keeneland.
East Avenue broke fastest from the outside post and led the field of four 3-year-olds through quarter mile fractions of :24.41, :47.66 and 1:11.38 as Rebel (GII) winner Coal Battle tracked from second with Blue Grass (GI) hero Burnham Square in third and stretch-running Jeff Ruby Steaks (GIII) winner Final Gambit last down the backstretch after breaking inward at the start.
East Avenue was unpressured down the backstretch and maintained a length to 1 ½-length advantage through the top of the stretch. Coal Battle ranged up to East Avenue’s right hip from the outside while Burnham Square darted to the rail. Both rivals chased East Avenue down the lane but could not catch the eventual winner who gamely turned back the competition.
“Our plan was to go to the lead,” Saez 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 by Brian Hernandez Jr., returned $3.36 at 5-2 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 ½ 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 3-1-0 with earnings of $901,395 in seven starts.
“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 the Ghostzapper mare Dance Music and was bred in Kentucky.
The Matt Winn is named in honor of the famed Churchill Downs president that served as the driving force in the development of the Downs and his beloved Kentucky Derby.
Matt Winn Quotes
Brian Hernandez Jr. (jockey, Burnham Square, runner-up): “Going into the first turn I was forced to go back a little further than I planned. Going to the quarter-pole, I was had to stay toward the inside with Coal Battle to our outside.”
Lonnie Briley (trainer, Coal Battle, third): “What a gutsy horse. I can’t say enough about him how he tries every time. We’ll live to fight another day.”
