Donegal Racing

Des Moines attorney Jerry Crawford (pictured) and nine partners formed Donegal Racing in 2008 with the goal of buying a colt that might make it to the Kentucky Derby. They put up $500,000 to purchase eight colts at auction and got to the Derby with their first swing. The most expensive of the original group was Paddy O'Prado, who finished third in the 2010 Kentucky Derby and won five graded turf stakes before an injury forced him into retirement with earnings of $1.7 million. He is standing at Spendthrift Farm.

Donegal is perhaps best known for campaigning Keen Ice, winner of the 2015 Travers Stakes and the only horse to defeat American Pharoah during his Triple Crown season. Keen Ice also finished third in the Belmont Stakes and second in the Haskell Invitational Stakes.

In 2012 Donegal was back in the Kentucky Derby with dual Grade 1 winner Dullahan, who also finished third in the Derby. Later that year Dullahan won the Grade 1 Pacific Classic against older horses. Donegal also owns multiple graded stakes winner Finnegans Wake in partnership and has campaigned graded stakes winners Cleburne and O'Prado Again.