Churchill Downs Stakes Recap and Quotes: Burnham Square Narrowly Wins Chorleywood; La Rascasse Makes Impressive Stakes Debut in Monomoy Girl

Jun 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.

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LA RASCASSE MAKES IMPRESSIVE STAKES DEBUT IN $175,000 MONOMOY GIRL

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Saturday, June 13, 2026) – La Rascasse, owned by John Stewart’s Resolute Racing, impressed in her stakes debut as she put away pacesetter Knickleandime with 2 ½ furlongs to the finish and turned back all challengers to win Saturday’s fifth running of the $175,000 Monomoy Girl Overnight Stakes (Black Type) at Churchill Downs by 2 ¼ lengths over Point of Reference. Grade I winner Percy’s Bar, the even-money favorite, finished fifth in the field of seven 3-year-old fillies.

Making her stakes debut after a debut maiden win over seven furlongs at Keeneland in April, La Rascasse remained unbeaten in two starts by clocking 1 1/16 miles in a stakes record 1:43.13. She bested Take Charge Milady’s mark of 1:43.17 from a year ago.

Axel Conception rode the winner for trainer Will Walden.

Stakes-placed Knickleandime, the longest-priced filly at 18-1, went to the front through early splits of :23.42 and :47.46 as La Rascasse, the 9-5 second betting choice, relaxed off her right hip in second and Percy’s Bar raced in fourth down the backstretch. La Rascasse was asked to move midway through the final turn, and she quickly spurted clear after clocking six furlongs in 1:11.46. Percy’s Bar challenged from second at the top of the stretch but chased to no avail and was passed by rivals in the final sixteenth of a mile.

“She’s a very nice filly,” Concepcion said. “She has a lot of maturity for her age. It was a straightforward trip. We sat just off the speed and when I asked her she had a strong kick. She got a little green late but she still ran hard.”

The triumph was worth $105,950 and boosted La Rascasse’s bankroll to $168,183.

“Axel gave her a great trip,” Walden said. “She sort of inherited the lead around the turn. She got a little green out there by herself but that will improve with more experience. On paper, we thought (Knickleandime) would be the speed and we’d get a good stalking trip. We were able to get a jump on the other fillies and Axel rode her perfectly.”

La Rascasse is a Kentucky-bred daughter of 2020 Kentucky Derby winner Authentic out of the Candy Ride (ARG) mare Hallawallah. She was bred by Bill Klisit.

La Rascasse returned $5.88, $3.72 and $4.36. Point of Reference, the 8-1 fourth betting choice under jockey Florent Geroux, returned $7.92 and $8.44. A.P.’s Girl, ridden by Danny Sheehy, was another half-length back in third and paid $7.20 at odds of 16-1.

Sneaky Good, Percy’s Bar, Knickleandime and Holly’s Holiday completed the order of finish.

The Monomoy Girl honors the stellar champion mare who was conditioned by Cox. The Kentucky-bred daughter of Tapizar won 14 of her 17 starts with three seconds for earnings of $4,776,818 from 2017-21. At Churchill Downs, she won six of seven starts including victories in 2017 Rags to Riches, 2018 Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI), 2018 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) and 2020 La Troienne (GI). Monomoy Girl also won the 2020 Breeders’ Cup Distaff (GI) at Keeneland. Her owners from the outset were Michael Dubb and Monomoy Stables LLC, and she concluded her career under the partnership of My Racehorse Stable, Spendthrift Farm LLC and Madaket Stables LLC.

Racing at Churchill Downs continues Sunday with a nine-race program that begins at 12:45 p.m. ET.

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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.”

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MONOMOY GIRL QUOTES

Axel Concepcion, jockey, La Rascasse, winner: “She’s a very nice filly. She has a lot of maturity for her age. It was a straightforward trip. We sat just off the speed and when I asked her she had a strong kick. She got a little green late but she still ran hard.”

Will Walden, trainer, La Rascasse, winner: “Axel (Concepcion) gave her a great trip. She sort of inherited the lead around the turn. She got a little green out there by herself but that will improve with more experience. On paper, we thought (Knickleandime) would be the speed and we’d get a good stalking trip. We were able to get a jump on the other fillies and Axel rode her perfectly.”

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ABOUT CHURCHILL DOWNS RACETRACK

Churchill Downs Racetrack (“CDRT”), the world’s most legendary racetrack, has been the home of The Kentucky Derby, the longest continually held annual sporting event in the United States, since 1875. Located in Louisville, CDRT features a series of themed race days during Derby Week, including the Kentucky Oaks, and conducts Thoroughbred horse racing during three race meets in the Spring, September, and the Fall. CDRT is located on 175 acres and has a one-mile dirt track, a 7/8-mile turf track, a stabling area, and provides seating for approximately 60,000 guests. The stable area has barns sufficient to accommodate 1,400 horses and a 114-room dormitory for backstretch personnel. CDRT also has a year-round simulcast wagering facility. www.ChurchillDowns.com.

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