Whitham Thoroughbreds’ dominant Elkhorn (G2) winner Burnham Square returns to Churchill Downs next Saturday night to headline a compact field of six turf runners entered in the 89th running of the $250,000 Louisville Stakes (G2) going 1 1/2 miles.
Trained by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Square crushed 10 rivals by 9¾ lengths going the same distance at Keeneland in last month’s Elkhorn under Brian Hernandez Jr. The Liam’s Map gelding was switched to turf late last season following a successful dirt campaign that included victories in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) and Holy Bull (G3). He was subsequently sixth in the Kentucky Derby (G1). He showed promise when trying turf in the Nashville Derby Invitational (G3) Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs, finishing a head second in the 1 5/16-mile grass event.
Hernandez will have the mount on Burnham Square in the Louisville and exit post No. 3.
The complete field for the Louisville Stakes from the rail out with (jockey, trainer):
Anegada (Edgar Morales, Mike Maker)
Echo Lane (Sonny Leon, Rohan Crichton)
Burnham Square (Hernandez, Wilkes)
Freedom’s Way (Ben Curtis, Eddie Kenneally)
Dancin in Da’nile (Florent Geroux, Gail Cox)
Vote No (Adam Beschizza, Kelsey Danner)
This story was originally published by Paulick Report on May 9, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Paulick Report as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
