Burnham Square Back at Churchill Downs After Blue Grass

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 04/09/2025 - 10:50
Link: 
Burnham Square Back at Churchill Downs After Blue Grass
Image: 
Description: 

Photo: Anne M. Eberhardt
Burnham Square after his victory in the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland

Keeneland presented two grade 1 races April 8, and trainer Ian Wilkes won them both, sending out Burnham Square  to win the $1,225,625 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) two races after Positano Sunset  took the $623,338 Madison Stakes (G1).

"Both horses got back last night to Churchill," Wilkes said April 9 from his main base in Louisville, Ky. "Everything is all good. It was a really exciting day for everyone involved."

Whitham Thoroughbreds' homebred Burnham Square got up in the last stride to edge East Avenue  by a nose in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass.

"I joked with Carl (Nafzger) and said I'm one up on him in the Blue Grass," said Wilkes, who worked for Nafzger when he won the Kentucky Derby (G1) with Unbridled and Street Sense. Both horses were defeated in the Blue Grass in their final preps before the Derby.

Burnham Square, earning 100 Road to the Kentucky Derby points in the Blue Grass, now sits atop the Derby leaderboard with 130 points. The Liam's Map   gelding also captured the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) in January at Gulfstream Park.

Sign up for

Wilkes indicated that Positano Sunset could also make her next start May 3 at Churchill Downs in the $1 million Derby City Distaff Stakes (G1) on the Kentucky Derby undercard.

WALSH PLEASED WITH EAST AVENUE'S BLUE GRASS SHOWING

Although he did not bring home the top prize, trainer Brendan Walsh was thrilled with the runner-up effort turned in by Godolphin's East Avenue in Tuesday's Blue Grass.

The Blue Grass was a redeeming effort for East Avenue, who finished 10th in his season debut as the favorite in the Feb. 15 Risen Star Stakes (G2) at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots.

"He's doing good this morning," Walsh said of East Avenue, who was caught in the final jump by Burnham Square. "He ran a great race. Those horses came to him and he fought back, and that's what we wanted to see."

The runner-up finish was worth 50 qualifying points toward the Kentucky Derby and a guaranteed spot in the starting gate for the Run for the Roses. East Avenue sits in the 13th slot on the Derby leaderboard with 60 points, having collected 10 points as a 2-year-old for his victory in the 2024 Breeder's Futurity (G1) at Keeneland.