Grade 1 winner Burnham Square has completed his 2025 campaign with a runner-up finish in the Nashville Derby (G3T), trainer Ian Wilkes told Kentucky Downs publicity Aug. 31.
Wilkes said the Liam's Map gelding will get the rest of the year off and point to a 2026 turf campaign. Burnham Square battled Wimbledon Hawkeye in the final furlong of the Nashville Derby before losing on a head bob.
"He came out of the race well, but he'll have a break now," Wilkes said. "He's had a long year. I need to give him a break and bring him back next year. We'll keep him on the grass."
He said he believes Burnham Square, already a grade 1 winner on dirt with his performance in Keeneland's Blue Grass Stakes (G1), can be a grade 1 winner on turf as well. Kentucky Downs will definitely be a target.
"He's a gelding, I've got to take care of him," Wilkes said. "I'd like to have him here as an 8-year-old."
Burnham Square was bred in Kentucky by his owners, Whitham Thoroughbreds.
The 3-year-old started the season with a victory in the Holy Bull Stakes (G3) before finishing fourth behind Sovereignty in the Fountain of Youth Stakes (G2). Moving to Kentucky for the spring, he won the Blue Grass Stakes before finishing a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He was then second in the Matt Winn Stakes (G3) before finishing fifth in the Haskell Stakes (G1) ahead of the Nashville Derby.
