Burnham Square continued his campaign as America’s top long-distance grass horse with a comfortable 4 ¾-length win over Dancin in Da’nile in Saturday night’s 89th running of the $235,000 Louisville Stakes (Grade 3) at Churchill Downs in 2:26.80 for the 1 ½-mile marathon over a Matt Winn Turf Course rated “good” following early evening showers.
Ridden by Brian Hernandez Jr., Burnham Square relaxed in the clear in fifth early on as pacesetter Freedom’s Way led the field of six older horses through early fractions of :48.80, 1:14.68, and 1:40.26. Burnham Square tugged his way into fourth midway down the backstretch, rolled into third around the final turn with a three-wide move, and then powered past his overmatched rivals with ease with three-sixteenths of a mile to the finish.
Geared down at the wire, Burnham Square’s final time of 2:26.80 was just 0.10 off Utah Beach’s stakes record from a year ago and 0.30 off Tikkanen’s final clocking while winning the Breeders’ Cup Turf (G1) at Churchill Downs in 1994…