Kentucky Derby video: Walsh says East Avenue is learning

Kentucky Derby 2025 prospect East Avenue, who missed by a nose to Burnham Square in the Grade 1 Blue Grass at Keeneland on April 8, returned to the work tab Saturday morning. He drilled a sharp four furlongs in 47.6 seconds, fifth fastest of 97 at the distance.

East Avenue's road to the Kentucky Derby has been rockier than many of the other contenders. He dazzled in a debut maiden win and the Breeders' Futurity (G1) last year. However, he was a troubled ninth in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile and then ran a flat tenth in his 3-year-old debut in the Risen Star (G2). He had been the favorite in both of those races, even being bet down to odds-on in the Risen Star.

Walsh emphasized that East Avenue is still developing as a racehorse.

"He's probably learned an awful lot the last couple of months, since the Risen Star. When you get to thinking about him, he probably didn't learn enough last year, everything came so easy to him. He never really had to knuckle down and fight at any stage.

"After the Risen Star we got quite tough on him, and I think he showed the results of that in the Blue Grass. And hopefully, if he learned from the Blue Grass and he moves forward from the Blue Grass then I think he's set to make a very big step."

As for East Avenue's expected trip in the Kentucky Derby, though Walsh thinks East Avenue will be forward because of his natural speed, he does not expect the same laser-focused intent on getting the lead as in the Blue Grass.

"I'm not sure that we need to be as aggressive with him in the Derby. We were aggressive with him in the Blue Grass because I felt we had to be," Walsh said. "He showed us what we needed to see. I don't think we need to be that aggressive in the Derby. I think the horse will go forward because he's an actual forward horse anyway. We'll try and figure out from there."