Hustled to the lead by jockey Florent Geroux, Saudi Crown controlled the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) from start to finish, outlasting a late-running Dreamlike by a half-length to prevail.
The winner raced 1 1/8 miles on a sloppy track at Parx Racing in 1:50.62, following comfortable, uncontested fractions of :23.16, :47.27, and 1:12.17. Though Dreamlike was cutting into his lead late, Saudi Crown appeared to have plenty left.
“He started looking around the last eighth of a mile,” Geroux said. “His ears were flopping a little bit—a little bit too much for my liking, but it was great.”
Saudi Crown outlasts Dreamlike in the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing
Six lengths behind the runner-up, Il Miracolo edged Magic Tap by a neck in a show photo.
A claim of foul was lodged by Tyler Gaffalione, the rider of Magic Tap, alleging interference by Mychel Sanchez on Il Miracolo after the two horses made contact. Stewards dismissed the claim after a short examination. Fifth-place Crupi , who steadied when trying to advance between the two under Paco Lopez, lost the most momentum from the incident.
Weakening to sixth in the 11-horse field after chasing the pace was Reincarnate , trained by four-time Pennsylvania Derby winner Bob Baffert.
Though he had never won a stakes race before Saturday, horseplayers were attracted to Saudi Crown, betting him down from his 7-2 morning line to start at odds just above even money. He paid $4.20 to win as the favorite.
In his last effort on a sloppy track, he nearly outlasted Forte in the July 29 Jim Dandy Stakes (G2) before being caught by a nose on the wire by the reigning champion 2-year-old male. That race had followed another runner-up finish and nose defeat to Fort Bragg when beaten in the July 1 Dwyer Stakes (G3) at a mile at Belmont Park. Before those starts, he had won a maiden and allowance in fast times when sprinting in his initial two starts.
Rather than pursue the 1 1/4-mile Travers Stakes (G1) Aug. 26 with FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown, after the Jim Dandy trainer Brad Cox opted to await the Pennsylvania Derby, the easier of the two grade 1s and over a shorter distance.
Saudi Crown after winning the Pennsylvania Derby at Parx Racing
What They’re Saying
- Asked if he felt Saudi Crown is among the best horses in the division, Cox responded: “I think so. He has been there. He needed a breakthrough performance, and I think he is one of the top 3-year-olds in the country.”
- Geroux: “This year it’s just too bad because he came very late to the party. He’s just two noses away from being undefeated.”
CHC Inc. bred Saudi Crown, a son of Always Dreaming out of the unraced Tapit mare New Narration . He is one of two winners from as many foals of racing age from his dam, the other being Westphal (Exaggerator ), an earner of $74,096.
Though not part of the Breeders’ Cup Challenge Series: Win and You’re In, the Pennsylvania Derby can propel horses toward the Breeders’ Cup.
Last year, Zedan Racing Stables’ Taiba won the Pennsylvania Derby before running third in the $6 million Breeders’ Cup Classic (G1) for Baffert, who in 2014 captured both the Pennsylvania Derby and Breeders’ Cup Classic with Bayern .
Other Pennslyvania Derby competitors through the years have cut back to pursue the shorter, $1 million Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (G1), though Cox appears to favor the longer 1 1/4-mile Classic. Both races are Nov. 4 at Santa Anita Park.
“Based off the pedigree, by a Derby winner out of a Tapit mare, with his physical deal, he could handle the mile and a quarter,” Cox said. “Obviously, you have to get the right setup. I am not sure he has to have the lead in order to win. He is a pretty kind horse who breaks well.
“I will tell you this—with his Saudi-based ownership group, great guys to work with and for, I think the (2024) Saudi Cup (G1) is one race that is definitely on the target as well.”
“It would either be the Classic or the Mile…”
Winning trainer @bradcoxracing talks @BreedersCup plans with @bernier_matt after the victory by Saudi Crown in the Pennsylvania Derby. pic.twitter.com/NsSnqwvbLH
— TVG (@TVG) September 23, 2023
Saudi Crown has twice been through auction, most recently at the 2022 Ocala Breeders’ Sales Company’s Spring Sale of 2-Year-Olds in Training. Pedro Lanz, agent for Faisal Mohammed Alqahtani of FMQ Stables, acquired him there for $240,000 when consigned by Top Line Sales.
Saudi Crown’s owner Mohammed Faisel hoists the Pennsylvania Derby Trophy
Alqahtani was on-site at Parx Racing for Saturday’s Pennsylvania Derby after coming to the United States to attend the September Yearling Sale at Keeneland. He called the Pennsylvania Derby a “historic race.”
“Saudi Crown is all about speed,” he said. “He’s a winner as a sprinter; he’s a winner as a two-turn horse. That’s just fabulous. He showed his class today. And he has more to do.”
Always Dreaming, the 2017 Kentucky Derby (G1) winner, entered stud in 2019 and has two crops of racing age. Saudi Crown is the 9-year-old stallion’s first graded winner. His other top earners are Grand Isle ($120,480), D’ont Lose Cruz ($134,450), and Always Angels ($105,342). Always Dreaming stood the 2023 season for an advertised fee of $10,000 at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Ky.
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