Kentucky Derby Roundup: Burnham Square wins the Blue Grass

The 2025 Kentucky Derby (G1) is 19 days away. Catch up on the latest news and notes as the Road to the Kentucky Derby unfolds:

Burnham Square rebounds in Blue Grass

Burnham Square got back to his best in Tuesday’s 1 1/8-mile Blue Grass (G1) at Keeneland, surging in the final strides to defeat pacesetting Breeders’ Futurity (G1) winner East Avenue by a nose in 1:51.33.

During the winter, Burnham Square won the Holy Bull (G3) over future Florida Derby (G1) winner Tappan Street, but he subsequently ran below expectations in the Fountain of Youth (G2), finishing fourth. A sharp series of workouts leading up to the Blue Grass helped Burnham Square rebound, as did the hot pace fractions of :22.95, :46.95, and 1:11.96 set by East Avenue.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby pedigree profile: Burnham Square

The top two finishers are expected to start in the Kentucky Derby, as is Fountain of Youth runner-up River Thames, who closed to finish third by three-quarters of a length in the Blue Grass. However, Tampa Bay Derby (G3) winner Owen Almighty is no longer under Kentucky Derby consideration after finishing in a dead-heat for last place in the Blue Grass. He’ll instead aim for the Pat Day Mile (G2) on Kentucky Derby day at Churchill Downs.

RELATED: Kentucky Derby News and Notes

Gosger wins the Lexington

The final 2024-25 Road to the Kentucky Derby prep race went to Gosger, who comfortably defeated a promising field in Saturday’s 1 1/16-mile Lexington (G3) at Keeneland.

The Brendan Walsh trainee saved ground right behind fractions of :23.73, :47.62, and 1:12.27 before shifting outside to run down the pacesetters and prevail by two lengths in 1:44.15. Bracket Buster, Praetor, Hypnus, and Bullard rounded out the top five.

The Lexington awarded points on a 20-10-6-4-2 basis to the top five finishers. Since Gosger entered the Lexington off a maiden win and hadn’t previously earned any points, the 20 points he earned in the Lexington will likely prove insufficient to gain entry into the Kentucky Derby, though races like the Preakness (G1) or Belmont (G1) could be in the cards.

Admire Daytona, Luxor Cafe accept international Derby berths

Admire Daytona is bound for the Kentucky Derby after winning the UAE Derby (G2) in Dubai and topping the European/Middle East Road to the Kentucky Derby leaderboard.

Though based in Japan, Admire Daytona didn’t return home to prepare for the Kentucky Derby. Instead, he traveled from Dubai to the United States, arriving at Churchill Downs on Wednesday and visiting the track for the first time on Sunday.

Admire Daytona’s compatriot, Luxor Cafe, winner of the Hyacinth S. and Fukuryu S. on the Japan Road to the Kentucky Derby, is also aiming for the Run for the Roses. However, he’s not expected to arrive at Churchill Downs until April 23.

Three defections from prospective Kentucky Derby field

Three horses have been removed from Kentucky Derby consideration in recent days.

In addition to Owen Almighty, Gotham (G3) winner Flood Zone is skipping the Derby after finishing a subpar seventh in the UAE Derby behind Admire Daytona. UAE Derby runner-up Heart of Honor is also passing on the Run for the Roses, though the Preakness and Belmont remain under consideration.

The latest list of Kentucky Derby contenders, in order of qualification, is as follows:

Florida Derby (G1) fourth-place finisher Madaket Road is the latest horse to gain a starting berth. Next on the bubble is Gun Runner S. winner Built, though he isn’t definite to pursue the Kentucky Derby after finishing fifth in the Louisiana Derby (G2). The Pat Day Mile is an alternate target.

Kentucky Derby contender workouts

Here are some of the latest workouts recorded by Kentucky Derby contenders:

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American Promise: Since Virginia Derby winner American Promise is entering the Kentucky Derby off a seven-week layoff, he’s training strongly to compensate. On Wednesday at Oaklawn Park, he clocked five furlongs in a bullet :59.40, his third straight :59-and-change exercise dating back to March 25.

Built: In his first workout since shipping north from Fair Grounds, Built traveled half a mile in :49.20 over a muddy track at Churchill Downs last Monday.

Chunk of Gold: Even though he’s been competing at Fair Grounds, Chunk of Gold has spent the winter training over the synthetic Tapeta track at Turfway Park, where he breezed five furlongs in a bullet :59.40 on Saturday. According to trainer Ethan West, Chunk of Gold went “47-and-change” for the half-mile and galloped out six furlongs in 1:12.

Citizen Bull: Only eight days after finishing a disappointing fourth in the Santa Anita Derby (G1), reigning champion two-year-old male Citizen Bull returned to the work tab on Sunday with five furlongs in 1:01.00 at Santa Anita. He went in company with maiden winner Dothraki.

Coal Battle: Following his third-place finish in the Arkansas Derby (G1), Coal Battle shipped to Churchill Downs and worked four furlongs in :48.40 on Tuesday. He started off with a quarter-mile in :24 and galloped out five furlongs in 1:02.40.

Final Gambit: On Wednesday at Churchill Downs, Jeff Ruby Steaks (G3) winner Final Gambit went five furlongs in 1:00.80, getting the opening quarter-mile in an easy :25.40 before galloping out six furlongs in 1:13.60 and seven furlongs in 1:27.

Flying Mohawk: Working in company with 2024 Kentucky Derby starter Honor Marie, Jeff Ruby Steaks runner-up Flying Mohawk clocked four furlongs in :50.80 on Saturday at Churchill Downs. They started off with a slow quarter-mile in :26 before picking up the pace and galloping out five furlongs in 1:03.40.

Madaket Road: Back at Santa Anita following his fourth in the Florida Derby, Madaket Road sped a bullet half-mile in :47.00 on Saturday. It was the fastest of 56 morning workouts at the distance.

Publisher and Tiztastic: Stablemates Publisher and Tiztastic, respectively runner-up in the Arkansas Derby (G1) and winner of the Louisiana Derby (G2), worked together on Saturday at Churchill Downs. The Steve Asmussen trainees went five furlongs in 1:00.80 off splits of :13, :24.80, and :36.60, and they galloped out six furlongs in 1:13.40 and seven furlongs in 1:26.60.

Sovereignty: In his first timed exercise since finishing second in the Florida Derby, Sovereignty breezed a quick half-mile in :48.40 over the slow track at Payson Park on Friday.

Tappan Street: Matching the time posted by Sovereignty, Florida Derby winner Tappan Street clocked four furlongs in :48.40 on Friday at Payson Park, conducting the exercise in company with Virginia Derby participant Rapture.