Crown the Buckeye

Crown the Buckeye began his career as a 2-year-old in a $75,000 stakes race at Belterra Park on July 18, 2025, and finished second. He was right back in a stakes race for his second start in the $100,000 Cleveland Kindergarten Stakes going six furlongs at Thistledown on Aug. 14, and Crown the Buckeye's 12 1/4-length victory in that race qualified as his maiden win.

Crown the Buckeye stretched out to 1 1/16 miles for his third lifetime race and won again in the $100,000 Best of Ohio Juvenile Stakes at Mahoning Valley on Oct. 25. His 4 1/4-length Best of Ohio win at a route distance was enough to convince his connections to try him in open company in his subsequent race. He shipped to Fair Grounds to run in the $100,000 Gun Runner Stakes going 1 1/16 miles on Dec. 20 and finished third when beaten less than a length. The Gun Runner was a points race on the Road to the 2025 Kentucky Derby, and with his show finish, Crown the Buckeye earned three qualifying points.

Following an eighth-place finish in the Grade 3 Lecomte Stakes Jan. 17 at Fair Grounds, Crown the Buckeye was back on the hunt for Kentucky Derby points again in his next start in the Grade 3 $300,000 Gotham Stakes at Aqueduct on Feb. 28. The Gotham Stakes is a run at a mile around one turn, and the favorable layout allowed Brown the Buckeye to improve with a strong front running effort for second in an eight-horse field, beaten just a length by favored Iron Honor. The runner-up finish earned Crown the Buckeye another 25 Derby qualifying points for a total of 28.

Crown the Buckeye is trained by Mike Maker. He was bred in Ohio by the sire Yaupon out of the dam Feisty Tomboy by Unbridled's Song.