By Alan Carasso
The Gredley Family's Wimbledon Hawkeye (GB) (Kameko) made what appeared to be a winning, sweeping move past the quarter pole of Saturday's GIII Nashville Derby at Kentucky Downs, but he was seriously tested in the final furlong by Triple Crown alum Burnham Square (Liam's Map) and dug deep in the final stages to hold that stiff challenge by a head.
Though he would be eligible to contest a second-level allowance in this county, Wimbledon Hawkeye's form at two and three reads very strong. Winner of last year's G2 Royal Lodge Stakes–going one better than his sire (by Kitten's Joy) in 2019–the bay was a good third in the G1 Futurity Trophy at Doncaster in October–a race won by Kameko–before going on holiday.
Runner-up to the sensational Field of Gold (Ire) (Kingman {GB}) in Newmarket's G3 Craven Stakes in April, a trial for the G1 2000 Guineas, he was fifth behind the sadly departed Ruling Court (Justify) in that one-mile contest and has been campaigned over longer trips since. Third in the G2 Dante Stakes, a lead-up to the G1 Epsom Derby, over the extended 10-furlong distance at York May 15, he ran future GI Sword Dancer Invitational Stakes hero El Cordobes (GB) (Frankel {GB}) to two lengths when trying older horses for the first time in the G2 Princess of Wales's Stakes at British headquarters two back on July 10 and most recently missed by a nose in the G3 Gordon Stakes at Goodwood July 31.
While he wouldn't be completely out of his depth in a race like the G1 St Leger in a few weeks' time, he made the trans-Atlantic journey for the Nashville Derby despite racing for a fraction of the prize money.
Drawn widest in a field of 12, Wimbledon Hawkeye was consigned to a wide run into the first tight turn and was off the track some five deep early on as King of Ashes (Street Sense) set a strong pace in advance of Tomasello (Authentic) through a half in :48.04.
Traveling from fifth and with some cover on the back of Noble Confessor (Quality Road) down the back straight and into the final four furlongs, Wimbledon Hawkeye was full of run down the side of the track and when he was pulled out into the clear by Frankie Dettori, whooshed to the front in a matter of strides.
Burnham Square, a spot or two behind Wimbledon Hawkeye and in some traffic in upper stretch, also angled out and accelerated sharply to join the battle a furlong from home. The two exchanged blows racing side by side, with the European invader proving just the superior horse on the afternoon. 'TDN Rising Star' Hill Road (Quality Road) came with a run at the inside in the final sixteenth of a mile and took a three-way photo for third from GI Belmont Derby hero Test Score (Lookin at Lucky) and GI Kentucky Derby fourth Final Gambit (Not This Time).
“The horse is improving,” said winning trainer James Owen, who was also starting a horse in America for the first time. “He's not the biggest, but he's getting stronger all the time, and he's a very consistent horse. I'm privileged to train him. I haven't been training long. It's my third season training and to win this prize is unreal.”
Added Dettori, who won the 2024 renewal with Bellum Justum (Ire) (Sea The Stars {Ire}): “He's proven at the distance. He's proven on the grass. The only thing I was afraid of was that he's danced every dance. He's been going since April … then traveling across the pond.
“I was hoping that he would come here with his 'A' game. But the team did a good job. He was in full form. He jumped decent. I managed to get him in a good spot. Half the field had only run on the dirt, so I knew I had a little bit of an advantage on them.”
Brian Hernandez, Jr. was extremely pleased with the effort from Burnham Square in his grass debut.
“When we started surging, I thought we were going to beat him for fun,” he said. “But he kept coming. I wasn't sure at the wire, because I was in front of him right before the wire. But then right at the wire, he ended up getting a really good bob. It kind of looked like he got his head right in front of us. You're proud of the horse for running so well, but at the same time you want to win these kinds of races.”
Winning owners The Gredley Family have bred and raced the likes of Group 1 winner Environment Friendly (GB) and User Friendly (GB), who beat the boys in the 1992 St Leger. More recently, they have campaigned Big Orange (GB), winner of a thrilling renewal of the G1 Ascot Gold Cup in 2017, and the privately acquired Ambiente Friendly (Ire), second to City of Troy (Justify) in the 2024 Epsom Derby.
Pedigree Notes:
The Gredleys offered Wimbledon Hawkeye's dam Eva Maria at the 2017 Tattersalls October Sale, but elected to retain her when bidding stalled out at 260,000gns ($361,425). The mare is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Warning Symbol (Ire) (Mohaather {GB}), most recently third in a novice over the Chelmsford all-weather on Aug. 28.
Second dam Whazzat, winner of the Listed Chesham Stakes at Royal Ascot in 2004, has produced 12 winners from 14 starters, chief among them the Gredleys' English Group 2 winner and French Group 1-placed sprinter James Garfield (Ire) (Exceed and Excel {Aus}). She is also the dam of the multiple stakes-placed The Shrew (GB) (Dansili {GB}), whose 5-year-old gelded son Jm Jungle (Ire) (Bungle Inthejungle {GB}) upset Goodwood's G2 Qatar Stakes earlier this month. Third dam Wosaita is a half-sister to 1990 G1 Prix de Diane victress Rafha (GB) (Kris {GB}), herself the dam of perennial leading sire Invincible Spirit (Ire) (Green Desert).
Wimbledon Hawkeye holds off Burnham Square in the G3 Nashville Derby at @kydownsracing under @frankiedettori for trainer James Owen! 🏆
🎥 #TwinSpiresReplay pic.twitter.com/pCqWfulfKs
— TwinSpires Racing 🏇 (@TwinSpires) August 30, 2025
Saturday, Kentucky Downs
DK HORSE NASHVILLE DERBY INVITATIONAL S.-GIII, $2,780,000, Kentucky Downs, 8-30, 3yo, 1 5/16mT, 2:03.74, fm.
1–WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (GB), 122, c, 3, by Kameko
1st Dam: Eva Maria (GB), by Sea The Stars (Ire)
2nd Dam: Whazzat (GB), by Daylami (Ire)
3rd Dam: Wosaita (GB), by Generous (Ire)
O-The Gredley Family; B-Stetchworth & Middle Park Studs Ltd (GB); T-James Owen; J-Lanfranco Dettori. $1,109,800. Lifetime Record: 12-3-4-3, $1,479,762. Werk Nick Rating: A+. Click for the eNicks report & 5-cross pedigree or free Equineline.com catalogue-style pedigree.
2–Burnham Square, 120, g, 3, Liam's Map–Linda, by Scat Daddy. O/B-Whitham Thoroughbreds, LLC (KY); T-Ian R. Wilkes. $658,000.
3–Hill Road, 120, c, 3, Quality Road–Exotic Notion, by Lemon Drop Kid. ($350,000 Ylg '23 KEESEP). 'TDN Rising Star'. O-Amo Racing USA; B-Lynch Bages LTD & Camas Park Stud (KY); T-Chad C. Brown. $329,000.
Margins: HD, 3 3/4, HD. Odds: 2.27, 13.54, 13.46.
Also Ran: Test Score, Final Gambit, Noble Confessor, Simulate, Maximum Promise, Sandman, Tiztastic, King of Ashes, Tomasello. Scratched: Iron Hand, Native Runner.
Click for the Equibase.com chart or the TJCIS.com PPs. VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
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