Wilkes planning to run Burnham Square in Chorleywood next

Burnham Square appears to be in great shape following his easy win in the Louisville Stakes on Saturday night at Churchill Downs. The 4-year-old gelding now has put up triple-digit Beyer Speed Figures winning the first two 1 1/2-mile grass races of his career – the Elkhorn at Keeneland preceded the Louisville – by 14 1/2 combined lengths.

For an encore, trainer Ian Wilkes plans to run this blossoming grass star June 13 at Churchill in the $225,000 Chorleywood, a listed race over 1 3/8 miles on grass.

“I’m sure I’m going to take some heat for that,” said Wilkes, who trains Burnham Square for his breeder, Whitham Thoroughbreds.

Hold onto the slings and arrows, folks. Wilkes has a long-term plan for this gelding – as in a long, long-term plan.

“I’d like to see him racing when he’s 8 or 9,” Wilkes said.

Wilkes wants these early-season races to form a strong foundation for a more ambitious late season campaign that, all being well, includes the Grade 1 Arlington Million, the $2 million Turf Cup at Kentucky Downs, and the Breeders’ Cup Turf.

“He’s now relaxing, getting into a nice little routine. Last year, on race day, all day he’d run his stall and wash out. He’s getting better and better,” Wilkes said. “Trying to chase an Eclipse Award, I’m not interested in that. He’s a fun horse how and he’s becoming an exciting horse.”

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