(Burnham Square, and jockey Brian Hernandez, Jr / Photos by Holly M. Smith)

From the Churchill Downs Media Team / Darren Rogers:

BURNHAM SQUARE WINS AGAIN, NARROWLY SCORES IN $217,500 CHORLEYWOOD

 LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 13, 2026) – Grade I winner Burnham Square continued his raid of turf marathons in Kentucky with a hard-fought neck triumph over Chapman’s Peak in Saturday’s fourth running of the $217,500 Chorleywood Stakes (Listed) at Churchill Downs.

          Trained by Ian Wilkes, 4-year-old gelding Burnham Square ran 1 3/8 miles over firm turf in a stakes record 2:13.96 under jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. for owner/breeder Janis R. Whitham’s Whitham Thoroughbreds LLC. The time bested Webslinger’s 2:14.58 in the 2024 Chorleywood.

          It was Burnham Square’s third consecutive stakes win in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. The winner of last year’s $1.25 million Blue Grass Stakes (GI) won a pair of 1 ½-mile grass routes in April and May, the $400,000 Elkhorn (GII) at Keeneland and $250,000 Louisville (GIII) at Churchill Downs.

          This was not an easy victory for Burnham Square, who was sent to post as the odds-on 1-9 favorite.Chapman’s Peak led the field of eight older horses out of the gate through an opening quarter mile in :25.41 but Burnham Square quickly assumed command the first time the field crossed the wire and clipped off fractions of :50.40, 1:15.62 and 1:39.74. Chapman’s Peak tested Burnham Square into the final turn and drew even with the heavy favorite from the outside. The two raced even down the stretch with Chapman’s Peak in the three-path and Burnham Square hugging – and bumping – the rail, but Burnham Square surged at the finish for the determined neck victory.

“They made him run today,” Hernandez Jr. said. “It was a different strategy than normal. He got a little aggressive going into the turn but he traveled nicely once we got on the lead. He really had to sprint home to put (Chapman’s Peak) away. Once he saw that horse, he really took off again. His class really showed today.”

          Burnham Square returned $2 mutuel of $2.24, $2.10 and $2.10. Chapman’s Peak, the Godolphin homebred and 10-1 third choice under jockey Axel Concepcion, returned $3.98 and $2.76. Dancin in Da’nile, ridden by Florent Geroux, was another 4 ½ lengths back in third and paid $3.26 at odds of 8-1.

          Echo Lane was fourth and was followed by Clyde’s Got a Gun, The Hidden Chamber, Spoiler and Timeout. Parchment Party was scratched.

          The $135,239 Chorleywood first prize pushed Burnham Square’s bankroll to $2,276,644 with a record of 6-4-1 in 14 starts.

“It was a totally different run race today than his others,” Wilkes said. “They were really crawling up front but I was really happy with his position. He had to really dig in and fight today. He still has to get better and he will get better.”

          Future engagements for Burnham Square could include the Arlington Million (GI) at Colonial Downs in August, the Kentucky Downs Turf Cup (GII) in September and Breeders’ Cup Turf (GI) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

Burnham Square is a Kentucky-bred son of Liam’s Map out of the Scat Daddy mare Linda.

          The Chorleywood is named in honor of the Thoroughbred retirement farm located in nearby Prospect, Ky. in Oldham County. The 25.1-acre property was originally a Thoroughbred farm owned by George and Janet Falk, dubbed Sunny Acres Farm. The property is now owned by Churchill Downs Incorporated CEO Bill Carstanjen, who partnered with the Thoroughbred transition program Second Stride to provide rehabilitation, retraining and committed adoptive homes to retired racehorses, broodmares and young Thoroughbreds not suited to the track. Chorleywood generally houses 16 transitioning Thoroughbreds at any one time and may serve 80 horses over a year.

CHORLEYWOOD QUOTES

 

Brian Henandez Jr., jockey, Burnham Square, winner: “They made him run today. It was a different strategy than normal. He got a little aggressive going into the turn but he traveled nicely once we got on the lead. He really had to sprint home to put (Chapman’s Peak) away. Once he saw that horse, he really took off again. His class really showed today.”

Ian Wilkes, trainer, Burnham Square, winner: “It was a totally different run race today than his others. They were really crawling up front but I was really happy with his position. He had to really dig in and fight today. He still has to get better and he will get better.”