Kentucky Derby trail: 13 horses are entered for Risen Star

East Avenue will have his first chance as a 3-year-old next Saturday to show he is more like the horse who won the Breeders’ Futurity (G1) than the one who lost at the start in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile.

The Godolphin homebred colt by Medaglia d’Oro is the 9-5 morning-line favorite in the field of 13 3-year-olds entered for the 53rd running of the Grade 2, $500,000 Risen Star Stakes.

Click here for Fair Grounds entries and results.

The 1 1/8-mile finale on the 14-race card will be the first virtual win-and-you’re-in qualifier for Kentucky Derby 2025.

Trained by Brendan Walsh, East Avenue impressed in his first try at two turns. That was when he led at every call on the way to a 5 1/4-length triumph in the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Futurity on Oct. 5 at Keeneland.

East Avenue took his 2-for-2 record to Del Mar the following month and was the 9-5 favorite for the 1 1/16-mile Breeders’ Cup Juvenile. Carrying jockey Tyler Gaffalione from post 1 in the field of 10, he stumbled badly and never recovered, finishing ninth to eventual Eclipse Award winner Citizen Bull.

Gaffalione keeps the ride on East Avenue, who drew post 4.

Jonathan’s Way (4-1), winner of the Iroquois (G3), the first Derby points prep, comes back from his runner-up finish in the Kentucky Jockey Club (G2) to go from post 2.

Built (5-1), the Gun Runner victor who was second last month in the Lecomte (G3) at Fair Grounds, got post 9 for the Risen Star.

Vassimo (8-1), who is 2-for-2 for trainer Todd Pletcher, graduates to stakes company and starts form post 3.

The long-range forecast indicates afternoon and evening thunderstorms are a 51% possibility for next Saturday in New Orleans. The Weather Channel predicted a high of 78 degrees.

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