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