Churchill Downs Update: Wilkes Maintains Long-Term Approach with Burnham Square Ahead of Saturday Night's $250,000 Louisville Stakes

May 14, 2026

Whitham Thoroughbreds’ Burnham Square returns to Churchill Downs on Saturday night as the 2-5 morning-line favorite in the 89th running of the $250,000 Louisville Stakes (GIII), and trainer Ian Wilkes believes the multiple graded stakes winner has found his true calling on the turf.

“I did think he was going to be a successful long-distance turf horse,” Wilkes said. “What he was able to accomplish on the dirt was really remarkable because that’s not really what his pedigree says he should be.”

Burnham Square enters the Louisville Stakes off a dominant 9 ¾-length victory in last month’s Elkhorn Stakes (GII) at Keeneland 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 Stakes (GIII).

“With him being a gelding, it doesn’t force us to run in every Grade I to try to boost a resumé,” Wilkes said. “Our goal at the end of the year is the Breeders’ Cup. We also know how much he appreciated Kentucky Downs last year so that’s another target as well. Those are the types of races we’ve had on our radar and we’ve been working backwards from there.”

Hernandez will have the return mount aboard Burnham Square on Saturday night from post No. 3.

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

Anegada (Edgar Morales, Mike Maker, 6-1)
Echo Lane (Sonny Leon, Rohan Crichton, 4-1)
Burnham Square (Brian Hernandez Jr., Ian Wilkes, 2-5)
Freedom’s Way (Ben Curtis, Eddie Kenneally, 30-1)
Dancin in Da’nile (Florent Geroux, Gail Cox, 12-1)
Vote No (Adam Beschizza, Kelsey Danner, 20-1)
SATURDAY’S DOWNS AFTER DARK THEME IS BOURBON, BETS & BOWTIES – Saturday night’s Downs After Dark theme at Churchill Downs is Bourbon, Bets & Bowties, featuring live music from DJ Junior and country group Murphy 500 on the Paddock Terrace Stage. Meanwhile, rising country artist and American Idol alum Alex Miller will perform the national anthem.

Guests are encouraged to dress in bowties and Derby-inspired attire while enjoying specialty bourbon cocktails, themed entertainment and a simulcast of the Preakness Stakes, which will air on the Big Board and throughout the facility between Races 3-4 at approximately 7 p.m.

For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.

DOWN THE STRETCH – Longines Kentucky Oaks (GI) runners Explora and Prom Queen returned to the Churchill Downs work tab Thursday morning. Explora, who finished fourth in the Oaks for owners Mike Pegram, Karl Watson and Paul Weitman and trainer Bob Baffert, worked a half-mile in :47.60 while Gary and Mary West’s fifth-place finisher Prom Queen breezed a half-mile in :48.60 for trainer Brad Cox. … Twilight Thursday kicks off the four-day racing week with an eight-race card and first post of 5 p.m. The evening includes $2 domestic draft beer, live music by Haley Bundy and local food trucks All Thai’d Up, Burger World, Hurrikanes, Ramiro’s Cantina and Spinelli’s Pizza. … For the latest information about the Churchill Downs Spring Meet and to purchase tickets, visit www.churchilldowns.com.