Burnham Square

Connections

Owner: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Breeders: Whitham Thoroughbreds
Trainer: Ian Wilkes
Jockey: Brian Hernandez, Jr.

Burnham Square: 2025 Kentucky Derby Contender Profile

Burnham Square, a top 2025 Kentucky Derby contender, boasts an impressive record with wins in the Holy Bull (G3) and Blue Grass (G1) Stakes. Sired by Liam’s Map and out of graded stakes winner Linda, this bay gelding leads the Derby points standings with 130 points, showcasing his closing speed and stamina. Trained by Ian Wilkes, Burnham Square’s nine-length maiden victory and 104 Equibase speed figure in the Blue Grass signal he’s peaking for Churchill Downs. Discover his pedigree and path to the Run for the Roses!

Pedigree

Burnham Square
├── Sire: Liam's Map
│   ├── Sire: Unbridled’s Song
│   └── Dam: Miss Macy Sue (by Trippi)
└── Dam: Linda
    ├── Sire: Scat Daddy
    └── Dam: Beautiful Noise (by Sunny's Halo)

1st Generation Pedigree

• Sire: Liam’s Map
  Liam’s Map is a Grade 1 winner, having won the 2015 Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile and Woodward Stakes. He’s by Unbridled’s Song, out of Miss Macy Sue by Trippi. Liam’s Map has sired successful runners across various distances, which aligns with Burnham Square’s performance in the Blue Grass Stakes (G1) at 1 1/8 miles.
• Dam: Linda
  Linda is by Scat Daddy, and her dam is Beautiful Noise, by Sunny’s Halo. This gives Burnham Square a maternal line with notable classic-winning influences.

2nd Generation Pedigree

• Liam’s Map’s Parents (Burnham Square’s Paternal Grandparents)
  As previously established, Liam’s Map’s sire is Unbridled’s Song, a leading sire known for producing versatile runners like Arrogate (2016 Travers Stakes, 2017 Dubai World Cup). His dam is Miss Macy Sue, by Trippi, a graded stakes-winning sprinter who won the 2007 Winning Colors Stakes (G3) and produced three Grade 1 winners as a broodmare. This paternal line provides Burnham Square with a mix of speed and stamina, ideal for the 1 1/4-mile Kentucky Derby distance.
• Linda’s Parents (Burnham Square’s Maternal Grandparents)
  Linda’s sire is Scat Daddy, a successful stallion by Johannesburg, who was the leading broodmare sire in North America in 2023. Scat Daddy sired Justify (2018 Triple Crown winner) and Mendelssohn (UAE Derby winner), and his daughters have produced numerous stakes winners. Linda’s dam is Beautiful Noise, by Sunny’s Halo. Sunny’s Halo, a 1983 Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes winner, was by Halo out of Mostly Sunny (by Sunny). As a broodmare sire, Sunny’s Halo adds a classic-winning influence to Burnham Square’s pedigree, though his impact in modern pedigrees is less prominent compared to more contemporary sires like Scat Daddy.

Additional Notes and Validation as Top Contender

• Paternal Line (Liam’s Map): Liam’s Map’s sire, Unbridled’s Song, is a grandson of Unbridled, the 1990 Kentucky Derby winner, giving Burnham Square a direct tie to a classic winner. Miss Macy Sue’s speed as a graded stakes-winning sprinter complements Unbridled’s Song’s stamina, creating a balanced pedigree for Burnham Square.
• Maternal Line (Linda): Scat Daddy as a broodmare sire is a significant asset—his daughters have produced numerous stakes winners, including Justify, who shares a similar classic-oriented profile. Sunny’s Halo, as Beautiful Noise’s sire, brings a direct Kentucky Derby-winning influence to the pedigree. Sunny’s Halo, foaled in 1980, won the 1983 Kentucky Derby by 2 lengths and the Preakness Stakes, though he didn’t complete the Triple Crown due to injury. His sire, Halo, was also the sire of Sunday Silence (1989 Kentucky Derby winner), making this maternal line rich with classic success.
• Pedigree Fit for the Derby: Burnham Square’s lineage combines speed (from Miss Macy Sue and Unbridled’s Song) with proven classic stamina (from Scat Daddy and Sunny’s Halo). Sunny’s Halo’s influence, while older, directly ties Burnham Square to a Derby winner, and Scat Daddy’s modern success as a broodmare sire enhances his chances at the 1 1/4-mile distance. Burnham Square’s win in the Blue Grass Stakes at 1 1/8 miles supports this pedigree’s suitability for the Derby distance.
• Historical Context: Sunny’s Halo’s impact as a broodmare sire is less documented in the web results compared to modern sires like Scat Daddy or Tapit. However, his direct Derby-winning credentials make him a notable addition to Burnham Square’s lineage, even if his influence in contemporary pedigrees is more niche due to the passage of time.

Burnham Square has a strong genetic foundation to win the 2025 Kentucky Derby. His pedigree balances speed and classic stamina.

Race Record

Race Progression

Burnham Square’s record shows improvement over time, starting with a 2nd-place finish in a maiden claiming race, a 3rd in a maiden special weight, then breaking his maiden, and progressing to win two graded stakes (Holy Bull and Blue Grass) with a 4th-place finish in the Fountain of Youth Stakes. This trajectory supports his status as a top contender for the 2025 Kentucky Derby.