East Avenue

We're inside the 16-week mark for the May 3 GI Kentucky Derby. That's roughly 168,000 minutes until post time, but who's counting? The initial Top 12 rankings are largely based on 2-year-old form, but a speculative element is baked into the equation with an eye toward projecting how these still-developing contenders will blossom over the winter and early spring.   1) FIRST RESORT (c, Uncle Mo--Fair Maiden, by Street Boss) O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Eoin G. Harty. Lifetime Record GSW, 4-2-1-0, $338,671. Last start: WON Nov. 30 GII Kentucky Jockey Club S....

Grade I winner 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) returned to the worktab Jan. 3 in his first published move since finishing ninth in the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile last November. The well-beaten favorite in the championship race, the son of Medaglia d'Oro went onto the track shortly after a renovation break for a half-mile breeze in :49.20 with Declan Cannon in the irons. The sectionals were reported as :12 2/5, :24 4/5, and :37 2/5 and he galloped out five furlongs in 1:02 1/5, according to clocker Billy...

It's been 17 years now that we've been treated to 2-year-olds by Medaglia d'Oro. From his first GII Golden Rod Stakes winner in his first crop--Rachel Alexandra, a filly who went on to beat the boys more than once and was eventually named Horse of the Year--to his latest this past weekend in perfect four-for-four Good Cheer, the Darley mainstay and ageless wonder continues to amaze and delight. "It's so gratifying for him in the autumn of his career to be hitting these heights," said Darley's Darren Fox. "He's been...

With the Kentucky Derby still 23 weeks away, the pari-mutuel field of "All Other Colts and Geldings from the 2022 Foal Crop" closed as the 9-5 favorite in Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager and recent debut winner Barnes (Into Mischief), from the barn of six-time Derby winner Bob Baffert, was the 13-1 second choice. Other horses who attracted interest from bettors include: GI Breeders' Futurity winner East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) (15-1); GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile winner Citizen Bull (Into Mischief) (16-1); GIII Street Sense winner Sovereignty (Into...

Fans will have their second of six opportunities to bet on the 150th running of the GI Kentucky Derby Thursday, Nov. 28 through Sunday, Dec. 1 with Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager where GISW Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) and East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) were made the 10-1 co-individual favorites with 'All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2022' not listed within the 38 individual interests listed as the heavy 4-5 favorite. Running concurrently with Pool 2 of the Kentucky Derby Future Wager is the lone Kentucky Derby Sire...

The respective winners from Friday's GI FanDuel Breeders' Cup Juvenile--Citizen Bull (Into Mischief)--and the GI NetJets Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies--Immersive (Nyquist), will look down the road to their 3-year-old seasons with the GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks the target. Trainer Bob Baffert said he knew that Citizen Bull was ready to take on the field at Del Mar, but all week he was careful to not tip his hand too much. His experience with 'TDN Rising Star' Muth (Good Magic), who skipped the Derby and scratched because of...

The opening pool for the 2025 Kentucky Derby Future Wager closed Friday in advance of the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile with "All Other Colts and Geldings" topping the list as the 4-5 favorite. 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) was the second choice at odds of 9-1. Other Breeders' Cup 'Rising Stars' included in the pool included East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) at 11-1 and Jonathan's Way (Vekoma) at 19-1. Total handle for the pool, the first of six, was $174,785, a 6.4% increase from the same pool last year. The...

Who do you like? TDN's Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack makes his picks for Breeders' Cup Friday at Del Mar. Race 7: GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies--#4 La Cara (12-1) Pocahontas winner La Cara continues to improve with experience for trainer Mark Casse, and if her pedigree is any indicator (she's bred on the same Street Sense x Bernardini cross as Maxfield), another move forward could be coming in this two-turn debut. Her versatile running style adds to her appeal. Will also be using the maiden of two starts Snowyte,...

DEL MAR, CA -- It's showtime. Featuring 14 Grade I races worth more than $34 million in purses, the Breeders' Cup World Championships, with an emphasis on World, return to the Del Mar Thoroughbred Club for a third time, beginning with the 'Future Stars Friday' program. Ideal conditions with sunny skies and temperatures in the upper 60s are expected. A total of 179 horses were entered for the two-day Championships, including a record 67 international participants from nine different countries as well as three previous winners. A stacked renewal of...

DEL MAR, CA - The 'Grizzly' is sitting on go. After a light training session on Tuesday, 'TDN Rising Star' Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) turned in her first local gallop in the pre-dawn hours at Del Mar on a brisk Wednesday morning. The GI Kentucky Oaks heroine and GI Breeders' Cup Distaff 4-5 morning-line favorite displayed her typical high energy and was an absolute handful beneath exercise rider Danny Ramsey throughout her powerful 1 1/2-mile gallop. "Good?," trainer Kenny McPeek asked Ramsey as Thorpedo Anna was heading off the track....

Despite never having raced on the dirt in his two seasons at the races, Mrs John Magnier, Michael Tabor and Derrick Smith's champion and 'TDN Rising Star' City of Troy (Justify) was assigned gate three as the 5-2 morning-line selection in a full field of 14 and will be ridden by Ryan Moore in Saturday's $7-million GI Longines Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar. Deemed by trainer Aidan O'Brien--a two-time runner-up in the Classic (Giant's Causeway, Declaration of War)--'the best he's ever trained,' the son of G1SW Together Forever (Ire)...

The first pool of the 2025 Kentucky Derby Future Wager opens Wednesday, Oct. 30 at noon and features 10-1 individual favorite in 'TDN Rising Star' and GI Breeders' Futurity winner East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro). The pool includes 38 individual betting interests as well as options for "All Fillies Foaled in 2022" and "All Other Colts and Geldings Foaled in 2022." Bettors can place $2 Win and Exacta wagers on horses in Pool 1 with betting to conclude Friday, Nov. 1 at 6 p.m. before the GI Breeders' Cup Juvenile is...