On Saturday, October 4, 2025, Crown Chaser returned to the winner’s circle at Caymanas Park—not with the fire of his Derby days, but with the quiet strength of a horse that had endured. Trainer Anthony “Baba” Nunes watched the seven-length victory unfold with a mix of pride and pragmatism.
The four-year-old colt, once hailed as a rising star after his Jamaica Derby 2024 triumph, had spent the past year battling persistent leg injuries. His brilliance dimmed, his training routine reshaped, Crown Chaser’s path back to form was anything but conventional.
“He’s not the same horse,” Nunes admitted. “That injury changed everything. We’re not chasing old shadows—we’re just trying to keep him sound and competitive.”
Ridden by seasoned jockey Dane Dawkins, Crown Chaser dominated the Restricted Allowance IV event for native-bred four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of three) and imported four-year-olds and upward (non-winners of two). He clocked 1:34.4 over 7½ furlongs, with splits of 24.1, 47.4, 1:14.3, and 1:28.0.
The win marked his third from ten starts, but it was the first since returning to racing on August 2. It took four outings to find his stride again—a testament to the patience and persistence of his connections.
Training had been unconventional. With his size and weight making traditional workouts risky, Crown Chaser spent most of his conditioning time swimming in the sea. Only twice a week did he touch the track.
“He’s a big, heavy horse,” Nunes explained. “Sea work helped, but it wasn’t enough. We had to test him on the track again. It was a gamble, but he held up.”
The race itself was a tactical masterclass. Dawkins allowed Crown Chaser to settle early behind Bushfire, then watched as Hit N Run and Monster Vigorous surged ahead. But as the field rounded the half-mile turn, Crown Chaser began to roll. By the top of the stretch, he was in full flight, sweeping past the leaders and powering home with ease. Wicked Cassie closed late for second, Bushfire held on for third.
Despite the dominant performance, Nunes remained grounded.
“He’ll move on to non-winners of four, and I think he’ll win that too,” he said. “But the Derby version of Crown Chaser? That horse isn’t coming back. This is a different chapter.”
It was a win, yes—but one written in the ink of resilience, not resurgence.
