Keeneland offered a pair of “Win and You’re In” Breeders’ Cup Challenge series on the main track Saturday, and East Avenue and Zeitlos stamped their respective tickets for the Juvenile (G1) and Filly & Mare Sprint (G1) in opposite manner.
One day after winning the Alcibiades (G1) with Immersive, Godolphin swept the premier two-year-old events with East Avenue in $594,063 Breeders’ Futurity (G1). The homebred son of Medaglia d’Oro broke on top with Tyler Gaffalione and remained unbeaten in his second career outing, controlling the pace on a short lead before drawing clear to a 5 1/4-length decision in the 1 1/16-mile event.
Brendan Walsh trains the bay colt, with Brad Cox handling Immersive, and East Avenue will bring speed to the Nov. 1 Juvenile at Del Mar. The promising frontrunner also picked up 10 points winning the Road to the Kentucky Derby series qualifier, with the next four finishers earning points on a 5-3-2-1 scale.
“I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of very good horses the last two years, especially with Godolphin, and he seemed like he was right up there,” Walsh said. “I was just waiting for confirmation. I think he’s a very special horse.”
A convincing debut maiden win over six furlongs at Ellis Park in late August, East Avenue made a seamless transition to two turns, establishing splits in :23.18, :46.76, and 1:11.20 along the way to stopping the teletimer in 1:43.17. He left the starting gate as the 2.78-1 second choice among 11 runners.
“I had plenty of horse left,” Gaffalione said. “He’s pretty special. I’m really excited about him.”
Ferocious, the even-money favorite following a runner-up to Champagne (G1) winner Chancer McPatrick in the Hopeful (G1) at Saratoga, stalked a few lengths off the pace from the inside and rallied to be a clear second while never challenging the winner. It was nearly five lengths back to 29-1 outsider Filoso in third, and Dapper Moon, Mesero, Tenacious Leader, Big Boat, Handsome Pants, Saratoga Cruiser and Ready for Peace followed. Optical was pulled off and walked off the track.
Bred in Kentucky, East Avenue is the first foal from the unraced Ghostzapper mare Dance Music, a half-sister to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody’s Wish and multiple graded winner Endorsed.
Two races earlier on the program, Zeitlos joined the Filly & Mare Sprint picture with a bold last-to-first rally in the $340,125 Thoroughbred Club of America (G2), launching her move between rivals on the far turn and charging up the inside in the stretch to score by 2 3/4 lengths.
Winner of Sept. 14 Open Mind S. at Churchill Downs, the four-year-old filly made her first graded start on the main track a winning one, earning her third overall stakes victory when completing six furlongs in 1:09.52 with Jose Ortiz.
“She’s a closer, so I just wanted to wait as long as I could,” Ortiz said. “I was in good range at the quarter pole, and I felt like was sitting on a ton of horse. I saw the rail opening up and I went for it. I had a lot of horse. She was much the best today.”
Steve Asmussen conditions the chestnut daughter of Curlin for Peter Leidel and breeder Stonestreet Stables, and Zeitlos was off as the 3.73-1 third choice among six female sprinters.
“It was remarkable,” Asmussen said. “I was hesitant to wheel her back off a big race the other day so quick. She was beaten here in a maiden race (finishing second in her third start). Keeneland can be unique to itself, but she ran as good as she ever has, and what a great day to do it.”
Spirit Wind, winner of the Honorable Miss (G2) two back and the 3-1 second choice, took the lead into the stretch and held second by more than two lengths over 9-5 favorite Brightwork. Clearly Unhinged, the early pacesetter, wound up fourth, and Run for the Hills and Red Carpet Ready came next under the wire.
Out of Australian Group 2-winning sprinter Thyme for Roses, Kentucky-bred Zeitlos pushed her earnings past the $1 million mark from a 16-8-4-1 record.
