Churchill Downs Update: Burnham Square Pointed to June 8 Matt Winn Stakes Following Eventful Derby Run

May 11, 2025

Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square, a troubled sixth-place finisher in Kentucky Derby 151, is being pointed to the $400,000 Matt Winn Stakes (Grade III) on Saturday, June 8 at Churchill Downs, according to trainer Ian Wilkes.

Burnham Square, winner of the April 7 Blue Grass Stakes (GI) at Keeneland, experienced significant trouble in the Derby when Admire Daytona slowed abruptly in front of him and caused jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. to check repeatedly.

“In a 20-horse field, somebody is going to have trouble and I guess it was my turn,” Wilkes said the morning after the race. “I thought he ran a terrific race. He got stopped at the half-mile pole when everybody else was making their move and then he got going again to get sixth. Without the trouble, I think he would have been in the top three.”

A homebred gelded son of Liam’s Map, Burnham Square is out of the mare Linda, who won the 2016 Mrs. Revere Stakes (GII) at Churchill Downs.

Nominations for the Matt Winn close Wednesday, May 28.

MAMZELLE WINNER SHISOSPICY EARNS CAREER BEST 97 BRISNET SPEED RATING – Morplay Racing’s speedy 3-year-old filly Shisospicy earned a career-best 97 Brisnet Speed Rating for her victory in Saturday’s $225,000 Mamzelle Stakes (Grade III) at Churchill Downs.

A daughter of Mitole, Shisospicy covered 5 ½ furlongs in 1:01.46 over the Matt Winn Turf Course, just .17 seconds off the track record set by Queen Maxima in last week’s Unbridled Sidney Stakes (GIII).

Trainer Jose D’Angelo said Shisospicy would target races at Saratoga this summer.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Preakness Stakes (GI) contender Goal Oriented recorded his final workout before the second jewel of racing’s Triple Crown with a half-mile breeze in :47.60 Sunday morning at Churchill Downs. The Bob Baffert trainee went an opening quarter in :23.60 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:01.20, according to Churchill Downs clocker Adam Wallace. … Sunday’s 20-cent Derby City 6 Jackpot (Races 5-10) had a carryover of $55,567. … Preakness Stakes contender Heart of Honor (GB) is finishing a minimum 42-hour USDA quarantine at the Kentucky Import Center at Churchill Downs. The UAE Derby (GII) runner-up could train early Monday morning at Churchill Downs before vanning to Pimlico. … Following dark days Monday through Wednesday, live racing resumes at Churchill Downs with Thursday-Sunday cards. Thursday’s eight-race program begins at 5 p.m. for Twilight Thursday, featuring $2 domestic beer, live music and local food trucks. Saturday is Downs After Dark, with an 11-race program beginning at 6 p.m. A live simulcast of the Preakness Stakes (GI) will be shown on the Big Board and TVs throughout the facility. Post time for the Preakness is approximately 6:50 p.m. Friday and Sunday’s cards will begin at 12:45 p.m. … Happy Birthday wishes are extended to Churchill Downs clocker John Nichols, who turns 50-years-old on Tuesday. … For more information about the 2025 Spring Meet, visit www.churchilldowns.com.