Wilkes still bullish on Burnham Square after closer-than-expected win
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Visual impressions can take a racing analyst down dead-end streets. Of course, it’s important to watch races closely and take something away from those observations, but your eyes, they will deceive you. So perhaps it will prove wise to pay little heed to the mere neck that separated 1-9 favorite Burnham Square and Chapman’s Peak, the horse who almost beat him Saturday at Churchill Downs in the Chorleywood Stakes.
Chapman’s Peak is a rising 4-year-old who only in his last two starts stretched out beyond middle-distance turf racing to try what we here in North America call turf marathons. In February, he came within a half-length of Burnham Square in a Gulfstream Park allowance. In the Chorleywood, 4 3/4 lengths separated Burnham Square and the third-place finisher, Dancin in Da’nile. In the Louisville Stakes last month, which Burnham Square won in a romp, he beat Dancin in Da’nile by exactly the same 4 3/4 lengths.
Burnham Square’s Beyer Speed Figure went from a 100 in the Louisville to a 101 in the Chorleywood.
Maybe most expected another blowout win from Burnham Square, who in April won the Grade 2 Elkhorn at Keeneland by the better part of 10 lengths. Maybe the narrow margin Saturday only serves to move Burnham Square forward.
“I probably liked it better than a lot of people,” trainer Ian Wilkes said. “I’m still very high on him. I didn’t lose any faith – probably gained some, in fact.”
Chapman’s Peak took the fight to Burnham Square with a little less than three of the Chorleywood’s 11 furlongs remaining, poking his head in front and maintaining his narrow lead past the furlong grounds. Burnham Square led most of the race, a far different kind of trip than in his previous long-distance turf races. He had not been asked to do much more in his April and May starts than waltz through the park. Saturday, he came back strongly the final sixteenth, won going away, and galloped out far, far in front.
“When the waters get deeper, you’re going to get looked in the eye. I was very proud of him. He came home in 34 and change [for the last three furlongs] and galloped out really good,” Wilkes said.
Burnham Square looked fresh and happy Monday morning, Wilkes said. All systems are go for a cutback to 1 1/4 miles on Aug. 1 in the Arlington Million at Colonial Downs. The water is getting deeper. Wilkes still thinks this gelding is ready to dive in.
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