Burnham Square's Pedigree Suited for Classic Distances

If Burnham Square raised the impression that he was a horse with a future when breaking his maiden over 1 1/16 miles at Gulfstream Park Dec. 28, that impression was more than confirmed in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) Feb. 1, as he rallied from last to first for a convincing 1 3/4-length victory. Burnham Square's eye-catching maiden win came in his third start. On his first, he closed well to take second over six furlongs at Keeneland, beaten a half-length, and on his second he came from 10th in a 1 1/16-mile test to miss by three-quarters of a length at Churchill Downs. The key to his improved form since those first two outings has been the addition of blinkers, which have turned Burnham Square into a far more focused individual. With four starts to his name Burnham Square is already halfway to the career total of his sire, Liam's Map, whose career falls into the "short, but sweet" category. Campaigning at 3 and 4, the son of Unbridled's Song won six of eight starts, most notably the Woodward Stakes (G1), which he took by 4 3/4 lengths, and the Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), where he scored by 2 1/2 lengths in track-record time. Retired to Lane's End Farm near Versailles, Ky., Liam's Map is sire of 27 stakes winners, 12 graded, from six crops of 3-year-olds and up, including his current crop of sophomores. Among those stakes winners are grade 1 winners Colonel Liam, Wicked Whisper, Basin, and Juju's Map, and grade 2 scorers Crazy Beautiful, Roses for Debra, Starting Over, and Rushie. Burnham Square's dam, Linda, did her best work on the turf, where her three victories included the 2016 Mrs. Revere Stakes (G2T), and she also earned four graded stakes placings. Grass was also the preferred surface for Linda's dam, Beautiful Noise, who captured the 2001 Santa Ana Handicap (G2T) on the green, and numbered a third in the 2001 Gamely Breeders' Cup Handicap (G1T) among six other placings in graded stakes. Beautiful Noise's half sister, Listening, was an even better performer, but this time on the main track, capturing the 1996 Hollywood Oaks (G1) and 1997 Milady Breeders' Cup Handicap (G1). Beautiful Noise is also half sister to Solar Echo, who filled the runner-up spot in the 2005 Gamely and 2003 Del Mar Oaks (G1T); to Theme Song, dam of stakes winner Dontblamerocket; and to Listen Now, the dam of Listen Here, successful in the 2002 Amsterdam Stakes (G2) and 2001 Nashua Stakes (G3), and granddam of La Coronel, a four-time stakes winner who most notable triumph came in the 2017 Queen Elizabeth II Challenge Cup Stakes (G1T). Burnham Square's fourth dam, the durable Margaret's Number, won a quarter of her 44 starts, including the 1974 Colonial Handicap (G3T) and Margate Handicap (G3T). She's dam of the graded stakes-winning and grade 1-placed Wistful (herself granddam of the ill-starred 2005 champion sprinter Lost in the Fog), two-time graded scorer Luminaire (granddam of the 2002 Vosburgh Stakes (G1) victor Bonapaw), and stakes winner Tank's Number. The family goes back to Pastorella, a top-class 2-year-old filly in England, who was imported to the United States in 1898 and who at various times was owned by such luminaries as James R. Keene (Castleton Stud), Col. E. R. Bradley (Idle Hour Stock Farm), and J. E. Madden (Hamburg Place). Pastorella entered the history books as dam of Colin, undefeated in 15 starts, and generally reckoned to be—along with Man o' War, Citation and Secretariat—one of the four best horses ever to race in North America. Pastorella was also granddam of the top-class Wildair; fourth dam of the 1929 Preakness Stakes captor Dr. Freeland; and fifth dam of Fascinator, who took the Kentucky Oaks in 1954. Incidentally, the combination of a grandson of Colin over a mare by WIldair (giving a 4x4 inbreeding to Pastorella) came up with another great runner in Alsab, champion at 2 and 3, and conqueror of 1941 Triple Crown laureate Whirlaway in a match at Narragansett Park. Looking at his running style, it appears that classic distances will hold no fears for Burnham Square, and this is also suggested by a look at the stallions in his female line. His dam is by Scat Daddy, who won the 2007 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) and Florida Derby (G1), and sired 2018 Triple Crown victor, Justify; the granddam is by Sunny's Halo, hero of the Kentucky Derby in 1983; and the third dam is by another Triple Crown scorer, Secretariat. The fourth dam is by Native Charger, who like Scat Daddy, made an impact on the Florida road to the Derby, winning the 1965 Flamingo Stakes and Florida Derby. Burnham Square is one of five stakes horses, and two stakes winners for Liam's Map out of mares by Scat Daddy. He's also one of nearly 60 stakes winners, 21 graded, whose pedigrees combine Unbridled (grandsire of Liam's Map) and Johannesburg (sire of Scat Daddy). Unbridled is by Fappiano, who is by Mr. Prospector out of Killaloe, and Johannesburg is out of Myth who is by Ogygian (dam a half sister to Killaloe) out of a mare by Mr. Prospector.