Burnham Square to Target Blue Grass Stakes

Burnham Square came up short of winning his third straight victory of the 2024-25 Championship Meet when finishing fourth in the $401,650 Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2) at Gulfstream Park March 1, but trainer Ian Wilkes is forging ahead with the Liam's Map gelding on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. After breaking his maiden, winning the Holy Bull Stakes (G3), and being beaten less than three lengths by Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth, Burnham Square is likely to bypass the $1 million Florida Derby (G1) March 29 at Gulfstream and return in the April 5 Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at Keeneland. "He'll probably go to the Blue Grass. I've got to ship sometime," said Wilkes, noting that the extra week between the Florida Derby and Blue Grass "won't hurt him." Burnham Square, who was last of six after the first quarter-mile in the 1 1/16-mile Fountain of Youth, ran in spots before finishing with energy to miss third by a neck. "He made some mistakes in the race, but he did some good things too," said Wilkes. "He came running down the lane and galloped out good."