In 2019, trainer Brendan Walsh picked up his first Keeneland stakes victory when Maxfield won the Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity (G1).

Maxfield came into the 1 1/16th-mile Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity off only one race. On Saturday, Walsh has another Godolphin runner on the same path in East Avenue.

“He’s a nice horse; we’ll find out how nice he is Saturday,” Walsh said of East Avenue, an 8-length winner going 6 furlongs at Ellis Park on Aug. 24. “It is his first time going two turns, and we’ll see how he stands the test.”

The Claiborne Breeders’ Futurity is a “Win and You’re In” Challenge race for the $2 million FanDuel Breeders’ Cup Juvenile (G1) Presented by Thoroughbred Aftercare Alliance to be run Nov. 1 at Del Mar.

On Friday, another Challenge race is the 1 1/16-mile Jessamine (G2) Presented by Keeneland Sales for 2-year-old fillies. Walsh has another undefeated runner in there in Isle of Capri.

“She only ran the 6½ furlongs at Kentucky Downs, but she was not stopping,” Walsh said of the 4-length victory.

The Jessamine winner earns a fees-paid berth into the $1 million John Deere Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Fillies Turf (G1) on Nov. 1 at Del Mar.