By Steve Sherack
Whitham Thoroughbred's homebred Burnham Square (g, 3, Liam's Map–Linda, by Scat Daddy), a disappointing fourth as the 9-5 favorite in the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth S. at Gulfstream Park last out Mar. 1, bounced back in a big way with a well-timed, last-to-first, nose victory over 'TDN Rising Star' East Avenue (Medaglia d'Oro) in Tuesday's postponed GI Toyota Blue Grass S. at Keeneland.
It was another 3/4 of a length back to 'TDN Rising Star' River Thames (Maclean's Music) in third. Favored MGISW and 'TDN Rising Star' Chancer McPatrick (McKinzie) never fired and trailed them home, dead-heating for sixth.
Burnham Square, a visually impressive winner of the GIII Holy Bull S. at Gulfstream Feb. 1, earned 100 points on the road to the GI Kentucky Derby for the victory.
The entire Blue Grass program was rescheduled from Saturday because of severe weather and significant rainfall in Central Kentucky.
“For a 3-year-old to make such a long run like he did today and be able to run down Grade I winners like he did–he's an exciting horse to move forward with,” winning rider Brian Hernandez, Jr. said.
“When we turned for home my horse had a full head of steam, and I was pretty confident we were going to able to run (East Avenue) down. So, right at the wire I had an idea that we got our neck in front of him.”
Off at odds of 4-1, Burnham Square caboosed the field as last year's jaw-dropping GI Claiborne Breeders' Futurity winner East Avenue, racing with first-time blinkers off a pair of head-scratching efforts, sped off through fractions of :22.95 and :46.95. Burnham Square began to roll with a sweeping, four-wide move on the far turn, was hung out in the six path at the top of the stretch and came over the top with a sustained rally to wear the pacesetter down in dramatic fashion.
A debut second at 30-1 in a $150,000 seller at the Keeneland fall meeting, Burnham Square earned his diploma in style two starts later by nine lengths racing with first-time blinkers at Gulfstream Dec. 28. He defeated subsequent GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Tappan Street (Into Mischief) by 1 3/4 lengths in the Holy Bull prior to his flat fourth in the Fountain of Youth. The nine-furlong Blue Grass was his first attempt beyond 1 1/16 miles.
“You know, the horse has taken me everywhere I've wanted to go,” said winning trainer Ian Wilkes, who also saddled Positano Sunset (Goldencents) to an upset victory in the GI Resolute Racing Madison S. on the undercard. “I've just got to try and stay out of his way. The only thing I had to do to help him was put blinkers on him.”
Wilkes continued, “He's not a big, robust horse, and I was probably a little kind on him coming into (the Fountain of Youth), wasn't as hard on him as what I wanted to be. Then I trained him a little more for here because I needed (Kentucky Derby) points, so I couldn't mess around. We had to step up and get a little more serious now.
He'll tell me what I need to do. But we have to keep the foot on the gas–got to keep the foot down on the pedal–because we've got to get a little better again. It's going to be very deep waters, and we've got to get a lot better.”
Pedigree Notes:
Burnham Square is one of 12 graded winners for Liam's Map. He becomes his fifth winner at the top level. Burnham Square is bred on the same Liam's Map x Johannesburg cross as 2019 GI Hopeful S. winner Basin. Whitham homebred Linda (Scat Daddy), a daughter of GSW & GISP Beautiful Noise (Sunny's Halo) and a winner of the 2016 GII Mrs. Revere S. over the Churchill Downs turf, has also produced the 2-year-old colt Gray Rock (Connect) and a yearling colt by Oscar Performance. Linda was bred to Life Is Good for 2025. Linda brought $55,000 from Springwood at the 2024 KEEJAN sale.
Tuesday, Keeneland
TOYOTA BLUE GRASS S.-GI, $1,225,625, Keeneland, 4-8, 3yo, 1 1/8m, 1:51.33, ft.
1–BURNHAM SQUARE, 123, g, 3, by Liam's Map
1st Dam: Linda (GSW, $407,310), by Scat Daddy
2nd Dam: Beautiful Noise, by Sunny's Halo
3rd Dam: Listen Well, by Secretariat
1ST GRADE I WIN. O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY);
T-Ian R. Wilkes; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $755,625.
Lifetime Record: 6-3-1-1, $977,755. Werk Nick Rating: A++.
Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree.
Click for the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–East Avenue, 123, c, 3, Medaglia d'Oro–Dance Music, by
Ghostzapper. 'TDN Rising Star' O/B-Godolphin (KY); T-Brendan Walsh. $243,750.
3–River Thames, 123, c, 3, Maclean's Music–Proportionality, by
Discreet Cat. 1ST G1 BLACK TYPE. 'TDN Rising Star' ($200,000
Ylg '23 SARAUG). O-WinStar Farm LLC, CHC, Inc., Pantofel
Stable LLC and Wachtel Stable; B-CTR Stables, LLC (NY); T-Todd Pletcher. $97,500.
Margins: NO, 3/4, 2 1/4. Odds: 4.24, 4.98, 3.08.
Also Ran: Admiral Dennis, Render Judgment, Chancer McPatrick-(DH), Owen Almighty-(DH). Click for the Equibase.com chart and the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
#3 BURNHAM SQUARE ($10.48) from last to first to win the $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at @keenelandracing and secure his spot in the Kentucky Derby. The son of Liam's Map (@LanesEndFarms) was ridden by @b_hernandezjr and is trained by @IanwilkesRacing. pic.twitter.com/oIZghBdl5S
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 8, 2025
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