Unbeaten Iron Honor Outbattles Crown the Buckeye in Gotham

[Wandering Eyes]

Big-figure debut winner Iron Honor (c, 3, Nyquist–Orencia, by Blame) fought past the Ohio-bred Crown the Buckeye (Yaupon) in the stretch to make it two-for-two in Saturday's GIII Gotham S. at Aqueduct, good for 50 points on the Road to the Kentucky Derby. Right to Party (Constitution) was third.

Favored at 4-5 off the strength of a 95 Beyer Speed Figure earned sprinting first out at the Big A Dec. 13, Iron Honor battled with Crown the Buckeye through fractions of :23.09 and :46.30 here. Still locking horns a quarter of a mile from home, Iron Honor finally hit the front in deep stretch and edged clear late to win by 3/4 of a length.

The final time for the one-turn mile was 1:37.94.

Iron Honor becomes the 24th graded/39th stakes winner for Nyquist. Two-time winner Orencia brought $20,000 from Machmer Hall, agent for Glen Eden, in foal to Audible at the 2024 Keeneland January sale.

She is also responsible for the 2-year-old colt Spears (Audible). She was bred to Golden Pal and Violence for 2026.

Sales history: $230,000 yrl '24 KEEJAN; $475,000 yrl '24 KEESEP.

Lifetime Record: 2-2-0-0.

O-St. Elias Stable, Lawrence, William H. and Glassman Racing; B-Mike & Pat Freeny (KY); T-Chad C. Brown.

IRON HONOR remains unbeaten, taking the Grade 3 Gotham Stakes under @jockeyfranco for trainer Chad Brown, picking up 50 points toward the @KentuckyDerby! pic.twitter.com/uqiQ3ES3sZ

— NYRA () (@TheNYRA) February 28, 2026

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