Churchill Downs Update and Stakes Advance: Burnham Square Headlines Louisville Stakes on Downs After Dark Program

May 09, 2026

Whitham Thoroughbreds’ dominant Elkhorn (Grade II) winner Burnham Square returns to Churchill Downs next Saturday night to headline a compact field of six turf marathoners entered in the 89th running of the $250,000 Louisville Stakes (GIII), the featured event on the Downs After Dark program.

Run at 1 ½ miles on grass, the Louisville goes as Race 8 of 10 with a post time of 9:39 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 6 p.m.

Trained by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Square crushed 10 rivals in last month’s Elkhorn by 9 ¾ lengths under Brian Hernandez Jr. The gelded son of Liam’s Map switched to turf late last season following a successful dirt campaign that included victories in the Blue Grass Stakes (GI) and Holy Bull (GIII). Hernandez will have the mount and exit post No. 3.

The lineup for the Louisville Stakes from the rail out (with jockey and trainer):

Anegada (Edgar Morales, Mike Maker)
Echo Lane (Sonny Leon, Rohan Crichton)
Burnham Square (Hernandez, Wilkes)
Freedom’s Way (Ben Curtis, Eddie Kenneally)
Dancin in Da’nile (Florent Geroux, Gail Cox)
Vote No (Adam Beschizza, Kelsey Danner)
Saturday’s Downs After Dark theme is Bourbon, Bets & Bowties and guests are encouraged to dress in their Derby best. A live simulcast of the Preakness Stakes will be shown on TVs throughout the facility and on the Big Board between Races 3-4 at approximately 7 p.m. For tickets and more information, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – The Saturday work tab at Churchill Downs included Winchell Thoroughbreds’ Magnitude, who worked an easy half-mile in :51.20 in his first move since winning the March 28 Dubai World Cup (GI). Also on the work tab was Baoma Corp’s Grade I winner Nysos, who breezed five furlongs in 1:00.20. … Madaket Road earned a 92 Brisnet Speed Rating in his 4-year-old debut Friday when he bested five rivals by 1 ¾ lengths as the 1-9 favorite. As a 3-year-old Madaket Road finished second in the Woody Stephens (GI), Pat Day Mile (GII) and Rebel (GII). … Saturday’s 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot stood at $11,664 and spanned Races 6-11. The card also included a $14,604 carryover in the $1 Super Hi 5 in Race 1 and a $1,514 carryover in the $1 Jackpot 8 in Race 11. … TwinSpires will offer a $3,500 Stephen Foster Betting Challenge on Saturday, June 28 with $15,000 in guaranteed cash prizes, three Kentucky Derby Betting Challenge seats, two National Horseplayers Championship seats and two Breeders’ Cup Betting Challenge seats. For more information, visit www.twinspires.com/tournaments. … Sunday is Mother’s Day and tickets are available in select dining rooms and reserved seating areas. For more information and to reserve seats, visit www.churchilldowns.com.