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In Rarified Company: Burnham Square Dominates Elkhorn in Breathtaking Fashion

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It’s not every day that the GI Toyota Blue Grass winner reinvents himself as a marathon turf specialist, but Burnham Square (Liam’s Map) has done just that in the GII Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland Saturday afternoon.

Last year’s victor of the aforementioned Kentucky Derby prep race, the Ian Wilkes trainee performed well enough over the main track after running sixth in the GI Kentucky Derby, but had not returned to the winner’s enclosure until this race. He hit the board in the GIII Matt Winn Stakes across town at Churchill, and finished fifth in the GI Haskell Stakes in July, but it wasn’t until his connections turned their eyes to Kentucky Downs that his path changed.

Running second in the GIII Nashville Derby in late August, and given a break until Feb. 26 this year, Burnham Square kicked off his 2026 campaign closing from the back to run second against optional claimers at Gulfstream Park over the turf. The horse who defeated him that day was Cruise the Nile (Cairo Prince)–that one returned at Laurel Park Saturday to win the Henry Clark Stakes by a neck.

Made the 6-5 favorite in the Elkhorn, Burnham Square broke well but was squeezed back off the early pace by the line of runners in front of him. Trying to weave his way into a better position, he found himself stuck along the fence as the field packed together into the first bend and he checked the first time when a rival in front hit the breaks.

Largely content to watch from near the rear as Utah Beach (English Channel) posted an opening half-mile in :50.28, Brian Hernandez Jr. finally found an opening to switch to the outside of traffic after another incident of bumper cars coming off a turn. Drifting to the back of the pack going up the backstretch, Burnham Square had all but one runner beaten heading into the far bend but Hernandez turned out to be sitting on a rocket ship. Making an eye-catching move turning for home after a mile in 1:41.78, the leaders never saw him coming.

Inhaling the battling pacesetters with a dazzling rally, he roared home with little urging and opened up a sensational margin in the stretch as Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) attempted to mount a response. It was all in vain, however, as Burnham Square had built up an insurmountable margin by the time they hit the wire. Desvio (Yoshida {Jpn}) rolled late to nail Navy Seal for the runner-up spot.

With his win in the Elkhorn, Burnham Square joins a rare group of horses to become graded winners on both turf and dirt at Keeneland.

Look at #6 BURNHAM SQUARE ($4.56) go! The Liam’s Map (@LanesEndFarms) gelding won the $400,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2) at @KeenelandRacing in breathtaking fashion. @b_hernandezjr was up for @IanWilkesRacing. pic.twitter.com/TY6S8TNi1u

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 18, 2026

Pedigree Notes:

Burnham Square is the only black-type horse for his dam, and lone Grade I victor, but is one of four multiple winners for Linda. The mare has an unraced 3-year-old named Gray Rock (Connect) to her credit as well as a juvenile named And the Runner Is (Oscar Performance). Her most recent is a yearling filly by Life Is Good. She is due to Gun Runner for 2026.

The second dam is GSW & GISP Beautiful Noise (Sunny’s Halo), herself a half-sister to MGISW Listening (Night Shift) and MGISP Solar Echo (Spinning World). This is the extended female family of GISW La Coronel (Colonel John), who also did a lot of her best work at Keeneland, and SW & GSP Dontblamerocket (Blame).

Saturday, Keeneland
VISITLEX ELKHORN S.-GII, $389,500, Keeneland, 4-18, 4yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:32.55, fm.
1–BURNHAM SQUARE, 118, g, 4, by Liam’s Map
                1st Dam: Linda (GSW, $407,310), by Scat Daddy
                2nd Dam: Beautiful Noise, by Sunny’s Halo
                3rd Dam: Listen Well, by Secretariat
O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $229,400. Lifetime Record: GISW, 12-4-4-1, $1,988,645. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Desvio, 120, g, 5, Yoshida (Jpn)–Fitzrovia, by Uncle Mo. ($60,000 Ylg ’22 KEEJAN; $70,000 Ylg ’22 FTKOCT). O-Stonelea Stable LLC and Bonnie Rye Stable; B-Eliza St George & Lee Mauberret (KY); T-Madison F. Meyers. $74,000.
3–Navy Seal (Ire), 118, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Athena (Ire), by Camelot (GB). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Wesley A. Ward. $27,750.
Margins: 9 3/4, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.28, 9.31, 34.80.
Also Ran: Tawny Port, Truly Quality, Utah Beach, Anegada, Freedom’s Way, Fleetfoot (Ire), Presider, Grand Sonata. Scratched: Dancin in Da’nile, Padiddle.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post In Rarified Company: Burnham Square Dominates Elkhorn in Breathtaking Fashion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Salute the Effort: Stars and Stripes Stands Tall in Ben Ali

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The Bill Mott barn was poised for a big Saturday at Oaklawn Park but Stars and Stripes (Not This Time) made sure it was equally exciting for the Keeneland division with a powerful performance in the GIII Ben Ali Stakes.

A horse with buzz about him after he dazzled in his June graduation at the Belmont Big A meet last year–a 10 1/2-length masterclass–in start number two, he followed that up with an equally sterling effort in mid-July at Saratoga. Blitzing a field of first-level allowance runners by 7 1/4 lengths, his final start on the year ended up being the Dwyer Stakes Nov. 8, where he would run fourth. Gone until Jan. 16 when he resurfaced against optional claimers at Gulfstream, Stars and Stripes ran second that afternoon, but finished ahead of stablemate Batten Down (Tapit), and was last seen posting a career-best 96 Beyer Mar. 8 at Oaklawn when he returned to winning ways with a game performance.

Making his graded debut here, and facing Batten Down once again, Stars and Stripes was in no rush after the jump as the grey stepped out to lead the procession. Tracking the action from along the rail route, he was in striking range after an opening quarter in :23.93 and a half-mile in :48.78, but there was work to do with a line of horses in front of him. Pushed for more coming off the final bend behind six panels 1:13.09, the 8-5 favorite fanned to the outside of British Isles (Justify) as that one tried to reel in the longtime leader, but was making no headway. Slowly grinding away at the margin via the overland path, Stars and Stripes locked horns with Batten Down in midstretch but had the advantage, ultimately inching away late to win by a half-length. San Siro (Classic Empire) flew late from last to claim third.

“Last time when I had the opportunity to ride this horse [winning the allowance at Oaklawn Park Mar. 8], he showed that he had a lot of talent,” said Luis Saez. “[Trainer] Mr. Bill [Mott] always does a great job with the horses. Today (Stars and Stripes) took a big step (forward). I felt very confident. I knew I had a lot of horse, and he’s a fighter. He came to the top of the stretch and he did everything I asked.”

“[Stablemate Batten Down] was a tough horse to beat, but I was pretty confident when I got close to him, because I knew we were going to get up there.”

“I had a good trip,” said Flavien Prat, who rode the defeated stablemate. “[I got] the trip that I wanted. He gave me a good run turning for home. It looked like when [winner Stars and Stripes] came at me, [Batten Down] was going to be able to hold him off. Just second best today.”

#1 STARS AND STRIPES ($5.30) beat his stablemate Batten Down to the wire in the $350,000 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at @KeenelandRacing. @luissaezpty was aboard the four-year-old Not This Time (@TMStallions) colt for trainer Bill Mott. pic.twitter.com/Cb25aZ6X86

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 18, 2026

Pedigree Notes:

Stars and Stripes is the second to earn black-type for his dam behind elder half-sister Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief), a winner of the GIII Pucker Up Stakes during her career, and who was exported to Japan last year after selling for $700,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale to Japan’s JS Company. Pearl River produced one more offspring after Stars and Stripes, an unraced 3-year-old named Ten Star Fleet (Nyquist).

This is the female line of 2009 Broodmare of the Year Sweet Life, the mother of champion juvenile filly Sweet Catomine (Storm Cat) and her full-sister GI Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic victress Life is Sweet. This is also the extended female family of MGSW Modernist, sire of GIII Stonestreet Lexington winner Trendsetter.

Saturday, Keeneland
BEN ALI S.-GIII, $350,000, Keeneland, 4-18, 4yo/up, 1 3/16m, 1:58.34, ft.
1–STARS AND STRIPES, 118, c, 4, by Not This Time
              1st Dam: Pearl River, by Quality Road
              2nd Dam: Ain’t She Sweet, by Storm Cat
              3rd Dam: Sweet Life, by Kris S.
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($100,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). O-Frassetto Stables LLC; B-Pam & Martin Wygod (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Luis Saez. $208,863. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, $429,533. *1/2 to Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief), GSW, $644,130. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Batten Down, 118, r, 5, Tapit–Close Hatches, by First Defence. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-William I. Mott. $67,375.
3–San Siro, 118, g, 5, Classic Empire–Catenaria, by Bernardini. ($80,000 Ylg ’22 KEEJAN; $150,000 Ylg ’22 KEESEP). O-Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm, Ocean Reef Racing, White Mountain Stables and Stonecrest Farm; B-Frankfort Park Farm, Bemart, Equinow, Valle Falcone & K. Byrne (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $33,688.
Margins: HF, 1, 1. Odds: 1.65, 3.00, 9.80.
Also Ran: Awesome Aaron, Rattle N Roll, British Isles, Tennessee Lamb, Guns and Glory. Scratched: Honor Marie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Salute the Effort: Stars and Stripes Stands Tall in Ben Ali appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

In Rarified Company: Burnham Square Dominates Elkhorn in Breathtaking Fashion

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It’s not every day that the GI Toyota Blue Grass winner reinvents himself as a marathon turf specialist, but Burnham Square (Liam’s Map) has done just that in the GII Elkhorn Stakes at Keeneland Saturday afternoon.

Last year’s victor of the aforementioned Kentucky Derby prep race, the Ian Wilkes trainee performed well enough over the main track after running sixth in the GI Kentucky Derby, but had not returned to the winner’s enclosure until this race. He hit the board in the GIII Matt Winn Stakes across town at Churchill, and finished fifth in the GI Haskell Stakes in July, but it wasn’t until his connections turned their eyes to Kentucky Downs that his path changed.

Running second in the GIII Nashville Derby in late August, and given a break until Feb. 26 this year, Burnham Square kicked off his 2026 campaign closing from the back to run second against optional claimers at Gulfstream Park over the turf. The horse who defeated him that day was Cruise the Nile (Cairo Prince)–that one returned at Laurel Park Saturday to win the Henry Clark Stakes by a neck.

Made the 6-5 favorite in the Elkhorn, Burnham Square broke well but was squeezed back off the early pace by the line of runners in front of him. Trying to weave his way into a better position, he found himself stuck along the fence as the field packed together into the first bend and he checked the first time when a rival in front hit the breaks.

Largely content to watch from near the rear as Utah Beach (English Channel) posted an opening half-mile in :50.28, Brian Hernandez Jr. finally found an opening to switch to the outside of traffic after another incident of bumper cars coming off a turn. Drifting to the back of the pack going up the backstretch, Burnham Square had all but one runner beaten heading into the far bend but Hernandez turned out to be sitting on a rocket ship. Making an eye-catching move turning for home after a mile in 1:41.78, the leaders never saw him coming.

Inhaling the battling pacesetters with a dazzling rally, he roared home with little urging and opened up a sensational margin in the stretch as Navy Seal (Ire) (Dubawi {Ire}) attempted to mount a response. It was all in vain, however, as Burnham Square had built up an insurmountable margin by the time they hit the wire. Desvio (Yoshida {Jpn}) rolled late to nail Navy Seal for the runner-up spot.

With his win in the Elkhorn, Burnham Square joins a rare group of horses to become graded winners on both turf and dirt at Keeneland.

Look at #6 BURNHAM SQUARE ($4.56) go! The Liam’s Map (@LanesEndFarms) gelding won the $400,000 Elkhorn Stakes (G2) at @KeenelandRacing in breathtaking fashion. @b_hernandezjr was up for @IanWilkesRacing. pic.twitter.com/TY6S8TNi1u

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 18, 2026

Pedigree Notes:

Burnham Square is the only black-type horse for his dam, and lone Grade I victor, but is one of four multiple winners for Linda. The mare has an unraced 3-year-old named Gray Rock (Connect) to her credit as well as a juvenile named And the Runner Is (Oscar Performance). Her most recent is a yearling filly by Life Is Good. She is due to Gun Runner for 2026.

The second dam is GSW & GISP Beautiful Noise (Sunny’s Halo), herself a half-sister to MGISW Listening (Night Shift) and MGISP Solar Echo (Spinning World). This is the extended female family of GISW La Coronel (Colonel John), who also did a lot of her best work at Keeneland, and SW & GSP Dontblamerocket (Blame).

Saturday, Keeneland
VISITLEX ELKHORN S.-GII, $389,500, Keeneland, 4-18, 4yo/up, 1 1/2mT, 2:32.55, fm.
1–BURNHAM SQUARE, 118, g, 4, by Liam’s Map
                1st Dam: Linda (GSW, $407,310), by Scat Daddy
                2nd Dam: Beautiful Noise, by Sunny’s Halo
                3rd Dam: Listen Well, by Secretariat
O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes; J-Brian Joseph Hernandez, Jr. $229,400. Lifetime Record: GISW, 12-4-4-1, $1,988,645. Werk Nick Rating: A+++. *Triple Plus* Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Desvio, 120, g, 5, Yoshida (Jpn)–Fitzrovia, by Uncle Mo. ($60,000 Ylg ’22 KEEJAN; $70,000 Ylg ’22 FTKOCT). O-Stonelea Stable LLC and Bonnie Rye Stable; B-Eliza St George & Lee Mauberret (KY); T-Madison F. Meyers. $74,000.
3–Navy Seal (Ire), 118, g, 5, Dubawi (Ire)–Athena (Ire), by Camelot (GB). 1ST GRADED BLACK TYPE. O-Mrs. Fitriani Hay; B-Coolmore (IRE); T-Wesley A. Ward. $27,750.
Margins: 9 3/4, 3/4, 1 1/4. Odds: 1.28, 9.31, 34.80.
Also Ran: Tawny Port, Truly Quality, Utah Beach, Anegada, Freedom’s Way, Fleetfoot (Ire), Presider, Grand Sonata. Scratched: Dancin in Da’nile, Padiddle.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post In Rarified Company: Burnham Square Dominates Elkhorn in Breathtaking Fashion appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.

Salute the Effort: Stars and Stripes Stands Tall in Ben Ali

---

The Bill Mott barn was poised for a big Saturday at Oaklawn Park but Stars and Stripes (Not This Time) made sure it was equally exciting for the Keeneland division with a powerful performance in the GIII Ben Ali Stakes.

A horse with buzz about him after he dazzled in his June graduation at the Belmont Big A meet last year–a 10 1/2-length masterclass–in start number two, he followed that up with an equally sterling effort in mid-July at Saratoga. Blitzing a field of first-level allowance runners by 7 1/4 lengths, his final start on the year ended up being the Dwyer Stakes Nov. 8, where he would run fourth. Gone until Jan. 16 when he resurfaced against optional claimers at Gulfstream, Stars and Stripes ran second that afternoon, but finished ahead of stablemate Batten Down (Tapit), and was last seen posting a career-best 96 Beyer Mar. 8 at Oaklawn when he returned to winning ways with a game performance.

Making his graded debut here, and facing Batten Down once again, Stars and Stripes was in no rush after the jump as the grey stepped out to lead the procession. Tracking the action from along the rail route, he was in striking range after an opening quarter in :23.93 and a half-mile in :48.78, but there was work to do with a line of horses in front of him. Pushed for more coming off the final bend behind six panels 1:13.09, the 8-5 favorite fanned to the outside of British Isles (Justify) as that one tried to reel in the longtime leader, but was making no headway. Slowly grinding away at the margin via the overland path, Stars and Stripes locked horns with Batten Down in midstretch but had the advantage, ultimately inching away late to win by a half-length. San Siro (Classic Empire) flew late from last to claim third.

“Last time when I had the opportunity to ride this horse [winning the allowance at Oaklawn Park Mar. 8], he showed that he had a lot of talent,” said Luis Saez. “[Trainer] Mr. Bill [Mott] always does a great job with the horses. Today (Stars and Stripes) took a big step (forward). I felt very confident. I knew I had a lot of horse, and he’s a fighter. He came to the top of the stretch and he did everything I asked.”

“[Stablemate Batten Down] was a tough horse to beat, but I was pretty confident when I got close to him, because I knew we were going to get up there.”

“I had a good trip,” said Flavien Prat, who rode the defeated stablemate. “[I got] the trip that I wanted. He gave me a good run turning for home. It looked like when [winner Stars and Stripes] came at me, [Batten Down] was going to be able to hold him off. Just second best today.”

#1 STARS AND STRIPES ($5.30) beat his stablemate Batten Down to the wire in the $350,000 Ben Ali Stakes (G3) at @KeenelandRacing. @luissaezpty was aboard the four-year-old Not This Time (@TMStallions) colt for trainer Bill Mott. pic.twitter.com/Cb25aZ6X86

— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) April 18, 2026

Pedigree Notes:

Stars and Stripes is the second to earn black-type for his dam behind elder half-sister Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief), a winner of the GIII Pucker Up Stakes during her career, and who was exported to Japan last year after selling for $700,000 at the Fasig-Tipton November Sale to Japan’s JS Company. Pearl River produced one more offspring after Stars and Stripes, an unraced 3-year-old named Ten Star Fleet (Nyquist).

This is the female line of 2009 Broodmare of the Year Sweet Life, the mother of champion juvenile filly Sweet Catomine (Storm Cat) and her full-sister GI Breeders’ Cup Ladies Classic victress Life is Sweet. This is also the extended female family of MGSW Modernist, sire of GIII Stonestreet Lexington winner Trendsetter.

Saturday, Keeneland
BEN ALI S.-GIII, $350,000, Keeneland, 4-18, 4yo/up, 1 3/16m, 1:58.34, ft.
1–STARS AND STRIPES, 118, c, 4, by Not This Time
              1st Dam: Pearl River, by Quality Road
              2nd Dam: Ain’t She Sweet, by Storm Cat
              3rd Dam: Sweet Life, by Kris S.
1ST BLACK TYPE WIN, 1ST GRADED STAKES WIN. ($100,000 Ylg ’23 KEESEP). O-Frassetto Stables LLC; B-Pam & Martin Wygod (KY); T-William I. Mott; J-Luis Saez. $208,863. Lifetime Record: 7-4-1-1, $429,533. *1/2 to Waves of Mischief (Into Mischief), GSW, $644,130. Werk Nick Rating: C+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or the free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Batten Down, 118, r, 5, Tapit–Close Hatches, by First Defence. O/B-Juddmonte (KY); T-William I. Mott. $67,375.
3–San Siro, 118, g, 5, Classic Empire–Catenaria, by Bernardini. ($80,000 Ylg ’22 KEEJAN; $150,000 Ylg ’22 KEESEP). O-Andrew Farm, Mountmellick Farm, Ocean Reef Racing, White Mountain Stables and Stonecrest Farm; B-Frankfort Park Farm, Bemart, Equinow, Valle Falcone & K. Byrne (KY); T-Brendan P. Walsh. $33,688.
Margins: HF, 1, 1. Odds: 1.65, 3.00, 9.80.
Also Ran: Awesome Aaron, Rattle N Roll, British Isles, Tennessee Lamb, Guns and Glory. Scratched: Honor Marie.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.

The post Salute the Effort: Stars and Stripes Stands Tall in Ben Ali appeared first on TDN | Thoroughbred Daily News | Horse Racing News, Results and Video | Thoroughbred Breeding and Auctions.