Burnham Square bound for Arlington Million after Chorleywood nailbiter

Trainer Ian Wilkes has circled the Aug. 1 Arlington Million (G1) at Colonial Downs as the next target for Burnham Square, who surprisingly had to pull out all the stops to secure the win in the $217,500 Chorleywood S. at Churchill Downs on Saturday.

Favored at 12 cents on the dollar in the 1 3/8-mile grass test, Burnham Square unexpectedly found himself taking the lead from Chapmans Peak after a few furlongs in what was a slowly-run race.

"It was a different strategy than normal," jockey Brian Hernandez Jr. said. "He got a little aggressive going into the turn but he traveled nicely once we got on the lead."

Chapmans Peak battled back in upper stretch to retake the lead by a head with a furlong to go, but the odds-on choice re-rallied up the inside to land the spoils by a neck.

"He really had to sprint home to put (Chapman's Peak) away. Once he saw that horse, he really took off again," Hernandez said.

Burnham Square finished up in 2:13.96 over firm ground and paid $2.24.

The tight finish of the Chorleywood was a significant contrast to Burnham Square's earlier wins this season, a 9 3/4-length procession in the Elkhorn (G2) at Keeneland and a 4 3/4-length success in the Louisville (G3) at Churchill Downs. Both races were at 1 1/2 miles, the same distance as the Breeders' Cup Turf (G1) at Keeneland on Oct. 31.

"He still has to get better and he will get better," Wilkes said.

The 1 1/4-mile Arlington Million will be a step down in trip for Burnham Square, who earned his signature win last season in the 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G1) on dirt. After the Million, Burnham Square is expected to take in the 12-furlong Kentucky Turf Cup (G2) at Kentucky Downs before returning to Keeneland for the Breeders' Cup.

A homebred racing for Whitham Thoroughbreds, Burnham Square is a four-year-old gelded son of Liam's Map. And arguably still America's premier turf performer over a distance of ground.