Burnham Square Wins 101st Blue Grass Stakes

Burnham Square, trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., triumphed in the 101st Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, securing his place in the Kentucky Derby with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over East Avenue. The race, delayed due to severe weather, saw Burnham Square cover the 1 1/8 mile in 1:51.33, earning 100 points and topping the Derby leaderboard with 130 points. East Avenue, who led most of the race, finished second, earning 50 Derby points, while River Thames, the favorite, came third. This victory marks Burnham Square's third win in six career starts, reinforcing his potential as a strong Derby contender. The race's purse was a record $1.25 million, matching the Coolmore Turf Mile as one of Keeneland's richest events.