Updated profiles, with post positions and track odds for the 20 3-year-olds entered for the 151st running of the $5 million Kentucky Derby (G1) at Churchill Downs is Saturday (May 3).
Late developer "Burnham Square" seems to be peaking at the right time. He didn’t break his maiden until his third start for patient trainer Ian Wilkes, who doesn’t push young horses hard. Wilkes described him as “very green” in his first two races, where he finished second and third. However, lightly raced 3-year-olds can improve dramatically, and his last-to-first surge to win the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass Stakes by a nose with Brian Hernandez, Jr., made the gelding a serious Kentucky Derby contender.
“For a 3-year-old to make such a long run like he did today and be able to run down Grade 1 winners – he’s an exciting horse to move forward with,” said Hernandez, who replaced Edgard Zayas. “He looks like the further he goes, the better he’ll be.”
The breakthrough came after "Burnham Square" ran a dull fourth in the Fountain of Youth Stakes following an impressive win in the Holy Bull Stakes. Two strong workouts suggested he was back in good form.
“The Fountain of Youth, I wasn’t as hard on him as I needed to be,” Wilkes said. “Then I trained him a little harder here because I needed the points.”
Not anymore. The Blue Grass’ 100 points put "Burnham Square" atop the list of Kentucky Derby qualifiers, and Wilkes is upbeat about his chances on May 3.
“He doesn’t get tired,” he said. “He gets stronger at the finish.”
"Burnham Square" gives every sign that he can handle 1¼ miles, the No. 1 prerequisite for a Kentucky Derby contender. He should be an overlay with Journalism and Sovereignty, taking lots of money.
The writing team at US Racing is comprised of both full-time and part-time contributors with expertise in various aspects of the Sport of Kings.
