Brian J, Hernandez Jr, ridding in Burnham Sq., gained the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland Tuesday afternoon.April 8, 2025
Burnham Sq. certified for the Kentucky Derby in dramatic trend on Tuesday with a riveting stretch drive to assert the Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland in Lexington, Ky.
The winner of the Holy Bull Stakes at Florida’s Gulfstream Park two months in the past was final among the many discipline of seven heading into the ultimate flip. Nonetheless, jockey Brian Fernandez guided the 3-year-old gelding towards the center of the monitor. In addition they needed to veer much more to their proper getting into the ultimate stretch to keep away from River Thames as they chased down the sector and beat East Avenue, who had dictated the tempo all through the 1 1/8-mile race, by a head in a photograph end. The ultimate time was 1:51.33.
Skilled by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Sq. went off at 4-1, paying $10.48 to win, $5.18 to position and $3.34 to indicate. East Avenue paid $6.42 and $4.26, with River Thames paying $3.24 for ending third.
Burnham Sq. wanted to complete first or second to be able to guarantee he certified for the Could 4 Run for the Roses. With the 100 factors earned for the win, the horse now vaults to the highest of the standings at 130.
East Avenue, skilled by Brenden Walsh, now has 60 because of the 50 factors awarded to the second-place finisher and is tied for twelfth within the standings with Writer. River Thames is in a four-way tie for 14th with 50 factors after getting 25 on Tuesday.
The highest 18 eligible U.S. horses by factors will earn an entry into the 1 1/4-mile Derby, with slots additionally obtainable for 3-year-olds from Europe and Japan.
The Blue Grass, pushed again from Saturday resulting from inclement climate, was the ultimate main Kentucky Derby prep race. The final race providing factors is that this Saturday’s Lexington Stakes at Keeneland, with 20 factors going to the winner.
–Area Degree Media
