Burnham Square Brings Graded Credentials to Chorleywood

Whitham Thoroughbreds' dominant turf long-distance runner Burnham Square  returns to the spotlight June 13 when he faces eight rivals in the fourth running of the $225,000 Chorleywood Stakes at Churchill Downs. 

Run at 1 3/8 miles on the Matt Winn Turf Course, the Chorleywood is part of a stakes doubleheader with the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes. First post is 12:45 p.m. ET with the Monomoy Girl being the ninth race at 4:56 p.m. and the Chorleywood as the 10th at 5:28 p.m.

Trained by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Square has emerged as one of North America's top turf distance runners after winning the Elkhorn Stakes (G2T) by 9 3/4 lengths at Keeneland and last month's Louisville Stakes (G3T) by 4 3/4 lengths at Churchill Downs. He has been installed as the 2-5 morning-line favorite.

The 4-year-old gelded son of Liam's Map   began his career on dirt and won last year's Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland before finishing sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs. 

Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. has the mount from the rail.

Other accomplished horses entered in the Chorleywood include Isaac Murphy Marathon Stakes winner Parchment Party , along with Louisville Stakes runner-up Dancin in Da'nile  and third-place finisher Echo Lane . 

Percy's Bar Returns in Monomoy Girl

Hat Creek Racing's Ashland Stakes (G1) winner Percy's Bar  returns to action Saturday at Churchill Downs where she faces six fellow 3-year-old fillies in the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes at 1 1/16 miles on the main track.

Trained by Ben Colebrook, Percy's Bar emerged as one of the top 2-year-old fillies in her division last season after dominating the Debutante Stakes at Churchill Downs and crossing the wire first in the Alcibiades Stakes (G1) before being disqualified for interference in the stretch. 

After ending her 2025 campaign with a troubled third-place finish in the Breeders' Cup Juvenile Fillies (G1) at Del Mar, Percy's Bar returned in the April 3 Ashland at Keeneland and cut the corner en route to a 2 1/4-length victory. She most recently finished seventh, beaten 8 lengths by Always a Runner , in the May 1 Kentucky Oaks (G1) at Churchill Downs. 

"The Oaks was disappointing because we know she's better than that," jockey Luan Machado said. "She didn't have quite enough early kick to stay with the first group of horses, and we ended up a little wide around both turns. It just wasn't the trip we were hoping for. Even so, it was a great experience to ride in my first Oaks, and I'm grateful for the opportunity."

Machado, who has been aboard Percy's Bar for all seven of her career starts, said the Upstart   filly has trained forwardly since the Oaks and remains capable of adding to her accomplishments.

"She's a very talented filly, and she's done everything right since that race," Machado said. "I'm lucky to be riding her. She's already won some important races, but I think there's still a lot left for her to accomplish this season."

Percy's Bar, drawn in post 5, is the 7-5 morning-line favorite.

The Monomoy Girl field also includes NK Racing and LNJ Foxwoods' multiple graded stakes-placed Sneaky Good , who is cross-entered in Saturday's Delaware Oaks (G3); C R K Stable's George E. Mitchell Black-Eyed Susan Stakes (G2) third-place finisher A. P.'s Girl ; and Klaravich Stables' recent allowance winner Point of Reference .