Burnham Square Wins Blue Grass Stakes, Qualifies for Kentucky Derby

In a thrilling finish at the rescheduled Toyota Blue Grass Stakes on April 8, Burnham Square rallied from last to first to win by a nose over East Avenue, securing his place in the upcoming Kentucky Derby. The 3-year-old gelding, trained by Ian Wilkes and ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., clocked 1:51.33 for the 1 1/8-mile race, earning 100 qualifying points that brought his total to 130. East Avenue, who led for much of the race, finished second and also qualified for the Derby with 50 points, while River Thames took third with 25 points. This victory follows Burnham Square's earlier win in the Holy Bull Stakes, marking his emergence as a strong contender for the Derby. The race was delayed due to severe weather, demonstrating the resilience of the competitors and the event's organizers. With the Lexington Stakes as the final prep, four horses from the Blue Grass Stakes are poised to compete at Churchill Downs on May 3.