Keeneland announced Tuesday that Whitham Thoroughbred’s homebred Burnham Square captured the postponed GI Toyota Blue Grass Stakes with a dramatic last-to-first victory, securing 100 points on the road to the Kentucky Derby.
The 3-year-old gelding by Liam’s Map edged out ‘TDN Rising Star’ East Avenue by a nose in Tuesday’s $1.25 million race, which was rescheduled from Saturday due to severe weather and significant rainfall in Central Kentucky.
River Thames finished third, three-quarters of a length behind the top pair, while heavily favored ‘TDN Rising Star’ Chancer McPatrick failed to fire, dead-heating for sixth place.
“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 after the race.
Burnham Square, sent off at 4-1 odds, trailed the field early as East Avenue set blistering fractions of :22.95 and :46.95 while racing with blinkers removed. The winner began his rally with a sweeping four-wide move on the far turn before angling six-wide at the top of the stretch to wear down the pacesetter in the final strides.
“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,” Hernandez added. “Right at the wire I had an idea that we got our neck in front of him.”
The victory marked a significant rebound for Burnham Square, who had disappointed as the 9-5 favorite when finishing fourth in the GII Coolmore Fountain of Youth Stakes at Gulfstream Park on March 1. He had previously won the GIII Holy Bull Stakes at Gulfstream on February 1, defeating subsequent GI Curlin Florida Derby winner Tappan Street.
Winning trainer Ian Wilkes, who also saddled Positano Sunset to victory in the GI Resolute Racing Madison Stakes on Tuesday’s undercard, credited adjustments in training approach for the turnaround.
“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,” Wilkes explained. “Then I trained him a little more for here because I needed Kentucky Derby points, so I couldn’t mess around.”
The Blue Grass marked Burnham Square’s first attempt at nine furlongs, having previously raced at distances up to 1 1/16 miles. His career record now stands at three wins from six starts with earnings of $977,755.
Burnham Square becomes the fifth Grade I winner for his sire Liam’s Map. He is bred on the same Liam’s Map x Johannesburg cross as 2019 GI Hopeful Stakes winner Basin.
His dam, Linda, is a Whitham homebred daughter of Scat Daddy who won the 2016 GII Mrs. Revere Stakes on turf at Churchill Downs. She has also produced a 2-year-old colt by Connect named Gray Rock and a yearling colt by Oscar Performance. Linda was bred to Life Is Good for 2025 and sold for $55,000 to Springwood at the 2024 Keeneland January sale.
Looking ahead to the Kentucky Derby, Wilkes acknowledged the challenge: “We’ve 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.”
#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)
#3 BURNHAM SQUARE ($10.48) from last to first to win the $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at April 8, 2025
