Among the 13 horses entered in the Elkhorn Stakes on Saturday at Keeneland, there are four 7-year-olds, five 6-year-olds, and two 5-year-olds. As one would imagine, this group includes the race’s most accomplished participants. Grand Sonata, one of the 7-year-olds, has banked $2.63 million, while fellow 7-year-old Tawny Port has earned $2.17 million. Utah Beach, 6, won the 2025 Elkhorn, part of the $800,000 in purses he’s brought home. Desvio, a mere babe in arms at 5, won the Grade 2 Sycamore last fall, the autumn companion to the Elkhorn. Two 4-year-olds went into the Grade 2, $400,000 Elkhorn, a 1 1/2-mile grass race that can accommodate a dozen runners. Anegada won the Connally Turf Cup while facing older rivals for the first time in his first start over 1 1/2 miles, and then there is Burnham Square. Through 11 outings, Burnham Square already has amassed $1.75 million in earnings. He won the Grade 1 Blue Grass about a year ago before checking in a troubled sixth in the Kentucky Derby. But after finishing fifth July 19 in the Haskell Stakes, Ian Wilkes, who trains Burnham Square for his breeder, Whitham Thoroughbreds, changed course. :: Keeneland Spring Meet! Get DRF Past Performances, picks, news, and more. Burnham Square is by Liam’s Map and out of Linda, a graded stakes winner on turf whom Wilkes trained. As much good as Burnham Square had done on dirt, Wilkes saw a turf horse in the making. Burnham Square made his grass debut in the $2.6 million Nashville Derby on Aug. 30 at Kentucky Downs. He followed on the heels of the favorite, Wimbledon Hawkeye, a serious England-based colt; made a run at him and missed by a head. Wilkes saw what he had hoped to see – and promptly put Burnham Square away for the year. As much as Burnham Square did at age 3, Wilkes felt certain his best races would come later. Saturday, Burnham Square can validate that idea. “I think he’s stronger, a little more mature now,” Wilkes said. “Now is the time to step up and do it. I got him at the distance I think he’ll thrive at.” Wilkes prepped Burnham Square on Feb. 28 in a Gulfstream Park turf allowance over 1 1/16 miles. Burnham Square made a good run, finished a closing second, and proceeded to gallop out a mile in front. “The rider didn’t ask him to do that. That’s just him,” Wilkes said. “I just wanted to get a race into him. I was very pleased with the effort and even more pleased with how he came out of it.” The three-turn Elkhorn could turn messy given the race’s lack of real pace. Navy Seal, Presider, and Freedom’s Way – all drawn outside with a short run to the first bend – figure to go forward. Burnham Square, with regular rider Brian Hernandez Jr. back in the irons, should have enough gas to obtain decent position from post 6. Four springs ago, Grand Sonata finished second in his first Keeneland start, the Transylvania Stakes, but last season checked in sixth in the Elkorn and the Sycamore. Making his 7-year-old bow, Grand Sonata won the 1 3/8-mile Mac Diarmida, but that might not be a good thing. Grand Sonata hasn’t knocked out consecutive wins since his first two races of 2022. Utah Beach stays 1 1/2 miles and has done most of his best work on Keeneland grass, but he turned in a dull performance March 21 over a Turfway Tapeta surface where he’d run decently before and was making his first start since the retirement of his longtime trainer, Ignacio Correas. Desvio improved steadily through the second part of his 4-year-old campaign last year, upsetting the Sycamore at 34-1, but comes out for the first time since finishing third Nov. 2 in the Red Smith. Desvio might need a race before getting back to his best. Burnham Square already had his prep. The Elkhorn could mark the beginning of a very productive season. :: Want to learn more about handicapping and wagering? Check out DRF's Handicapping 101 and Wagering 101 pages.