A less-than-ideal break from the gate compelled jockey Edgard Zayas to alter his plan of assault with Whitham Thoroughbreds‘ homebred Burnham Sq., however the gelding persevered and rallied to seize the $265,000 Grade 3 Holy Bull Stakes Feb. 1 at Gulfstream Park.
The victory over 1 1/16 miles on a quick monitor earned Burnham Sq. 20 qualifying factors for the Could 3 working of the Kentucky Derby introduced by Woodford Reserve.
“I really feel like he was just a little labored up earlier than the race, and he was sort of just a little nervous,” Zayas stated. “He sort of broke out of there just a little gradual. I had to enter plan B. I dropped into the rail and simply let him do his factor. He does not get drained. As soon as I used to be closing across the quarter pole, I knew I had a very good shot of successful.”
Despatched off at 4.30-1 within the seven-horse subject, Burnham Sq. settled off the tempo and made progress on the rail down the backstretch as Kinetic Management led by way of a gap quarter in :23.42. Weapons Loaded then took over for splits of :47.60 and 1.11.69 by way of the primary half and three-quarters of a mile.
After bumping He is Not Joking close to the half-mile pole and making progress two large across the far flip, Burnham Sq. angled exterior as favored Tappan Avenue made his transfer to the lead heading into the stretch.
Burnham Sq. ($10.60) overtook the chief and pulled away to complete 1 3/4 lengths forward of Tappan Avenue in a successful time of 1:43.60.
Tappan Avenue, ridden by Luis Saez, earned 10 qualifying factors on the Highway to the Kentucky Derby. He completed 9 1/4 lengths forward of third-place Burning Glory, who earned six factors.
Burnham Sq. made it 2-for-2 since coach Ian Wilkes added blinkers. He gained a maiden particular weight race by 9 lengths at Gulfstream Dec. 28 after ending second and third, respectively, in his first two profession begins.
“That is night time and day. With out the blinkers, he does not run,” Wilkes stated.
Wilkes additionally skilled Burnham Sq.’s dam, graded stakes winner Linda, for Whitham Thoroughbreds.
“He overcame numerous adversity right this moment,” Wilkes stated. “He did not break as sharp. I assumed he might need been actually near the lead right this moment, however he broke just a little bit tardy. Obtained just a little sizzling within the submit parade. There have been some issues he did flawed right this moment I have to appropriate, however the benefit of it, he overcame the adversity, and he does not get drained.”
Burnham Sq.’s subsequent begin figures to be within the March 1 Grade 2 Fountain of Youth Stakes or the March 29 Grade 1 Florida Derby. — Charlie McCarthy
