Burnham Square Wins Blue Grass Stakes on the Road to the Kentucky Derby

The 2024 Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, via Scott Utterback, Imagn Images

The Toyota Blue Grass Stakes is 1 1/8 miles. Burnham Square needed every single inch to secure a victory at Keeneland.

East Avenue was a 2-year-old star who returned to form in Kentucky. The early speed held, and for a moment, it looked like East Avenue might just run away and win it wire-to-wire. In the final sixteenth, River Thames and Burnham Square came screaming down the center of the track. Brian Hernandez saved just enough in the tank for the colt to win by a nose in a photo finish.

A $2 win bet paid out $10.48, while Burnham Square’s connections collected a significant chunk of change from the $1.25 million purse and punched a ticket to the Kentucky Derby. Trainer Ian Wilkes joked after the race that he’s not worried about the extra distance in next month’s race at Churchill Downs.

“He’s maturing. He came up here and worked really good at Churchill. I was very happy with him. He’s a much more confident horse today,” said Wilkes.

#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

It was an excellent bounce-back for the colt by Liam’s Map. Burnham Square finished fourth last time out in Florida after previously securing a win in the Holy Bull. The two wins put him atop the Road to Kentucky Derby Leaderboard and will make this horse one of the top five choices on the first Saturday in May.

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Today’s winner is expected to be joined by three others from the Blue Grass Stakes in the Kentucky Derby field. East Avenue’s big run secured a spot, along with River Thames, while Owen Almighty previously qualified with a victory in the Tampa Bay Derby.

Chancer McPatrick was the post-time favorite at 2-1. The closer didn’t fire until there was too much traffic to maneuver down the stretch. This performance will force the former 2-year-old star to miss the Kentucky Derby.

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