Burnham Square

Daniel Alonso's Skippylongstocking (Exaggerator), who acted up badly on the plane that was meant to transport him to California for Saturday's GI Santa Anita Handicap and was subsequently scratched, is possible for one of two races over the coming weeks. "I always look at it as everything happens for a reason. No regrets," said trainer Saffie Joseph, Jr., who saddles three horses in Saturday's Barbados Gold Cup in his native country. "He'll probably run at Oaklawn in the Essex, or he'll run at Gulfstream in the Ghostzapper. I'm going to...

The Gredley Family's Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) made what appeared to be a winning, sweeping move past the quarter pole of Saturday's GIII Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs, but he was seriously tested in the final furlong by Triple Crown alum Burnham Square (Liam's Map) and dug deep in the final stages to hold that stiff challenge by a head. Though he would be eligible to contest a second-level allowance in this county, Wimbledon Hawkeye's form at two and three reads very strong. Winner of last year's G2 Royal Lodge...

Saturday's card at Monmouth Park features a 14-race card which is highlighted by six stakes--five of them graded--including the Oceanport oval's sophomore showpiece, the GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes. This year's renewal of the race has drawn this season's GI Preakness winner Journalism (Curlin), who is campaigned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm and Don Alberto Stable. A mighty good horse before he ever embarked on the Triple Crown, the $825,000 Fasig-Tipton Saratoga yearling purchase won four of five starts heading to the Run for the Roses, including the GI...

The only horse to run in all three Triple Crown races this season, GI Preakness hero Journalism (Curlin) was tabbed the 4-5 favorite for Saturday's $1-million GI NYRA Bets Haskell Stakes during Monmouth Park's press conference and post-position draw Tuesday. Co-owned by Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables Five, and the Coolmore partners of Mrs. John Magnier, Michael Tabor, & Derrick Smith, Journalism was assigned post 2 in the nine-furlong 'Win and You're In' event for the GI Breeders' Cup Classic at Del Mar....

Last week in this new series, we put the spotlight on some of the trends--or lack thereof--among the mares that make up the Grade I-producing ranks of 2025 and spent time with multiple Grade I winner and 'TDN Rising Star' Locked (Gun Runner)'s dam, Luna Rosa (Malibu Moon). We asked her connections about her story and the thoughts behind her matings. This week, we do the same with the dams of two Grade I-winning 3-year-olds of 2025: GI Curlin Florida Derby star Tappan Street (Into Mischief) and GI Toyota Blue...

Whitham Thoroughbreds' Burnham Square (Liam's Map), coming off a troubled sixth-place effort in the GI Kentucky Derby, is now being aimed at the June 8 GIII Matt Winn Stakes at Churchill Downs, trainer Ian Wilkes confirmed. Jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. had to check repeatedly aboard Burnham Square in the Derby when when Admire Daytona (Jpn) (Drefong) slowed abruptly in front of him. "In a 20-horse field, somebody is going to have trouble and I guess it was my turn," Wilkes said the morning after the race. "I thought he ran...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Journalism (Curlin) has gotten plenty of ink--and rightfully so--ahead of the 151st running of the GI Kentucky Derby. But here's something that you may not know about the 3-1 morning-line favorite. How did Journalism--campaigned in partnership by the powerhouse partnership of Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Bridlewood Farm, breeder Don Alberto Stable, Robert LaPenta, Elayne Stables 5 and the Coolmore partners (Mrs. John Magnier, Michael B. Tabor and Derrick Smith)--get his name? "We have always tried to mimic the Claiborne tradition of naming horses with one-word names with a...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Who's been making the best physical impression in the mornings heading into the GI Kentucky Derby? Our boots on the ground and Senior Racing Editor Steve Sherack reveals his top three favorite workouts recorded from the scratched-down field of 19 beneath the Twin Spires. 1) JOURNALISM April 27, 2025 | 5F | 1:01.40 (18/22) Not only does Journalism (Curlin) have the best form heading into the first Saturday in May. The physically imposing 3-1 morning-line favorite also posted the most visually impressive local breeze of the field,...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - With the legendary D. Wayne Lukas, white cowboy hat, shades and all, leading the charge aboard his stable pony, Thursday's exclusive 15-minute training session for GI Kentucky Derby and GI Kentucky Oaks entrants was off and running on another partly cloudy and warm, humid morning at Churchill Downs. The 89-year-old, four-time Kentucky Derby-winning trainer was accompanying Virginia Derby hero American Promise (Justify), who will become his 51st starter in Saturday's Run for the Roses. Doesn't get much better than that. Flying Mohawk (Karakontie {Jpn}), an enticing 30-1...

LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- A year after recording a historic double with Thorpedo Anna (Fast Anna) in the GI Kentucky Oaks and Mystik Dan (Goldencents) in the GI Kentucky Derby, jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr. is coming back for more. The native of Lafayette, Louisiana will pilot the stretch-running GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes winner Burnham Square (Liam's Map), a live contender for trainer Ian Wilkes in Saturday's Kentucky Derby, and the Kenny McPeek-trained GI Central Bank Ashland Stakes runner-up Take Charge Milady (Take Charge Indy) in Friday's Kentucky Oaks. The aforementioned...

The field for the GI Kentucky Derby, ranked in "likeliest winner" order. 1) JOURNALISM (c, Curlin--Mopotism, by Uncle Mo). O-Bridlewood Farm, Don Alberto Stable, Eclipse Thoroughbred Partners, Elayne Stables 5 LLC, LaPenta, Robert V., Magnier, Mrs. John, Smith, Derrick and Tabor, Michael B.; B-Don Alberto Corporation (KY); T-Michael W. McCarthy. Sales history: $825,000 Ylg '23 FTSAUG. Lifetime record: GISW, 5-4-0-1, $638,880. Last start: WON Apr. 5 GI Santa Anita Derby. Journalism is the legitimate and deserving favorite. He checks many of the Derby desirability boxes by being a big, long-striding...

Five Kentucky Derby hopefuls were on track Saturday morning during the special training period for Oaks and Derby horses at Churchill Downs, but one, GISW Tappan Street (Into Mischief), has been withdrawn from the big race with an injury. As reported early Saturday morning, the son of Into Mischief had just completed a five furlong breeze when regular rider Luis Saez felt that 'something was off' afterwards. X-rays back at the barn revealed a condylar fracture, and while trainer Brad Cox reports it is not a major injury, it will...