Undoubtedly, numerous trainers are vying for the prestigious Kentucky Derby title, yet Bob Baffert stands out as one who seeks to restore his former glory at Churchill Downs. The 72-year-old experienced a suspension for several years, and now that he has returned, he is eager for a chance at redemption. He has already entered several horses in the prep races, yet the performance has not unfolded as anticipated for him.

Indeed, even an individual of Baffert’s stature is encountering significant hurdles in the lead-up to the Kentucky Derby prep races. It appears that the trainer is set to face a fresh contender. Who might that be? The horse under consideration is Brendan Walsh’s East Avenue. What’s the reason for that?

According to the official website of Godolphin, the three-year-old colt is set to return to Keeneland for the Blue Grass Stakes. The Grade 1 race is set to distribute essential points for the Kentucky Derby, with allocations of 100, 50, 25, 15, and 10 points up for grabs. The twist? East Avenue has previously competed at Keeneland and boasts a solid performance history at this venue. In the 2024 Grade 1 Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity at Keeneland, East Avenue showcased an impressive gate-to-wire triumph.

Quickly breaking from post 5 with jockey Tyler Gaffalione aboard, he established the lead with splits of :23.18 and :46.76 on a track that favored speed. In a decisive ruling, the stewards dismissed the foul claim made by Ferocious’ jockey, who alleged interference during the first turn, ultimately affirming East Avenue’s impressive 5 1/4-length victory. The win earned the colt a place in the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and contributed vital 10 points toward the Kentucky Derby.

Nevertheless, his subsequent two races did not meet expectations, as many had anticipated. What statements has the director of Bloodstock at Godolphin made regarding the horse? “East Avenue has trained beautifully since the Risen Star. Brendan has looked under every stone and nothing untoward has turned up for his poor performance that day. We are drawing a line through it and looking forward to him redeeming himself in the Bluegrass, where he is going to run in a set of French cup blinkers,” stated Michael Banahan.

The horse presently holds a mere 10 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Should East Avenue clinch that Grade 1 race victory, it would undoubtedly elevate him to a prominent position among the leading contenders for the Run for the Roses. Are you aware, however, that Bob Baffert will also be entering two of his horses in a significant Grade 1 race?

Bob Baffert is putting his hopes on his two colts

Citizen Bull and Barnes are set to compete in the prestigious Grade 1 Santa Anita Derby. Citizen Bull is making his long-awaited comeback to the racing scene after weeks away. This is a significant moment for what many consider to be Bob Baffert’s most thrilling horse. A brief look at the three-year-old colt’s background shows that he is presently on a three-race winning streak.

The winning streak commenced with Citizen Bull’s victory in the American Pharoah Stakes, and the horse went on to reinforce his supremacy in both the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile and the Robert B. Lewis Stakes. Will he manage to reach four this Saturday? Ultimately, the passage of time will reveal the truth. Coming to Barnes, the San Felipe Stakes was the horse’s most recent race. Despite his best efforts, Barnes had to accept second place to Journalism, who claimed victory in the race.

The horse’s jockey, Juan Hernandez, exudes confidence as he prepares for the Grade 1 race, remarking, “It was his first time going long. I think he’ll get a lot of benefit from that race. He didn’t have the experience going two turns and he still ran great.” Hernandez conveys a firm belief in riding Barnes, asserting that the three-year-old has learned important lessons from the mistakes encountered in his last performance at Santa Anita. Ultimately, it remains to be seen how these two horses will fare under their trainer’s guidance.