Burnham Square trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse

USA Today

03-05-2025

Burnham Square trainer, jockey, owner and more to know about 2025 Kentucky Derby horse
Show Caption
Hide Caption
Kentucky Derby 2025 contender Burnham Square trains at Churchill Downs
Kentucky Derby 2025 contender Burnham Square is trained by Ian Wilkes. Horse is 3-1-1 in six starts. Jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. is slated to ride.
Burnham Square will enter the Kentucky Derby off a win in the Blue Grass on April 8
Burnham Square will look to become the first gelding to win the Kentucky Derby since Mine That Bird in 2009
Burnham Square is one of 20 horses expected to enter the 2025 Kentucky Derby on May 3 at Churchill Downs.
Spots for the Run for the Roses are earned by gaining points through a series of Kentucky Derby prep races that began last September.
The post-position draw for the Kentucky Derby is set for Saturday, April 26. Post time for the Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
Burnham Square will enter the Kentucky Derby off a victory in the Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland. He currently ranks first on the Kentucky Derby points leaderboard with 130.
Color: Bay.
Bred in: Kentucky.
Sire: Liam's Map.
Dam: Linda, by Scat Daddy.
Price tag: Homebred.
Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds (Janis Whitham). She's 0 for 1 in the Derby, finishing eighth with McCraken in 2017.
Trainer: Ian Wilkes. He's 0 for 1 in the Derby, finishing eighth with McCraken in 2017.
Jockey: Brian Hernandez Jr. He's 1 for 5 in the Derby, winning with Mystik Dan in 2024.
Record: 3-1-1 in six starts.
Career earnings: $977,755.
Road to the Kentucky Derby points: 130 (No. 1).
Last race: Won Grade 1 Blue Grass on April 8 at Keeneland by a nose over East Avenue.
Running style: Closer.
Notes: Burnham Square's first two races came at Keeneland (second) and Churchill Downs (third) last fall before he broke his maiden Dec. 28 in his third start at Gulfstream Park. He won the Grade 3 Holy Bull on Feb. 1 before finishing fourth in the Grade 2 Fountain of Youth. … The Blue Grass marked Hernandez's first ride on Burnham Square. Edgard Zayas had ridden the three previous races. 'I feel bad for Edgard; he did nothing wrong with this horse,' Wilkes said. 'If Edgard was a Kentucky rider, he wouldn't have been taken off. The history with Brian goes back with the Whithams and me, and we all decided (on the change). When Brian was open, we just couldn't pass up that opportunity.' … Burnham Square will look to become the 10th gelding to win the Kentucky Derby and first since Mine That Bird in 2009.
What they're saying: 'The waters get deeper,' Wilkes said after the Blue Grass. 'We have to still step up and get a little better yet and keep improving. … Another extra furlong (in the Kentucky Derby) won't hurt him. I'll be happy to see that.'
Last May, NBC Sports announced a partnership with Churchill Downs to present the Kentucky Derby on NBC and Peacock through 2032.
The extension includes multiplatform rights to the Kentucky Derby, Kentucky Oaks and Derby and Oaks Day programming, which will be presented on NBC, Peacock, USA Network and additional NBCU platforms.
You can stream the 2025 Kentucky Derby on Fubo and Peacock.
Post time for the 151st Kentucky Derby is set for 6:57 p.m. on Saturday, May 3.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; [e-mail]. Follow on X @KentuckyDerbyCJ.
More horse racing: Which horses are in or on bubble for May 3 Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs?
This story was updated to add a gallery.