Saudi Crown took charge at the start and was never headed en route to his first stakes victory in the $1-million betParx Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Saturday at Parx Racing.
Florent Geroux was aboard the favorite, a gray or roan son of Always Dreaming who scored by a half length from Dreamlike. Il Miracolo was six lengths back in third in the field of 11 3-year-olds.
Saudi Crown came in off a close runner-up finishes in the Dwyer (G3) (a nose behind Fort Bragg) July 1 and Jim Dandy (G2) (a nose behind champion Forte) July 29 but was in complete control Saturday in a career-defining performance. Unraced at 2, he has a 3-2-0 record from five starts this year for trainer Brad Cox and owner FMQ Stables and with Saturday's win stamped himself as a horse to watch for the Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita.
Saudi Crown returned $4.20 after covering 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.62 on a sloppy (sealed) track. He clocked early fractions of :23.16, :47.27, 1:12.17, and 1:37.99.
Dreamlike, who was well off the early pace under Irad Ortiz Jr., angled wide while moving up on the final turn, and rallied stoutly but could not overtake the winner.
Saudi Prince, who was bred in Kentucky by CHC Inc., earned the $546,000 winner's share of the Pennsylvania Derby purse, which increased his career purse earnings to $817,085.
Out of the Tapit mare New Narration, Saudi Crown was a $240,000 purchase from Top Line Sales at the 2022 OBS Spring Sale of Two-Year-Olds in Training.
Pennsylvania Derby Quotes:
Winning trainer Brad Cox: “Right before he straightened up, I saw his ears going back and forth and I thought this horse is looking around a little bit. He kind of got a little lost. Florent said he was looking around a little bit when he came back to the winner's circle. He is still lightly raced and he had re-engage a bit and push him along.”
Is Saudi Crown among the top 3-year-olds now? “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.”
What was the difference today after losing last two (Dwyer, Jim Dandy) by a nose? “Just progression. In the Dwyer, he had come off a 6 1/2-furlong race (a win) and was stretching out to a mile. He went up the backstretch a little quick that day but overall finished up well. He was passed, he came back and lost the bob. The last time out (Jim Dandy), he got beat a nose by a champion (Forte) in his first run around two turns. We have asked a lot out of him in last two runs and I think he gained a lot of experience and has been battle-tested in his last two runs.”
“Based on what we saw throughout the day, I thought we had to be aggressive. Sometimes, you see that and everyone has the same idea. He has enough natural speed to break clear off and he did and Flo did a great job.”
How far has he come since the Jim Dandy? “You know, he has always been a good horse. We thought a lot of him last year at Saratoga as a 2-year-old. He had a setback and the owners were all good with giving him as much time as he needed. And he rehabbed well. We kept him in Louisville all through the winter and targeted Keeneland with him and it worked out. He is two noses from being undefeated. Very proud of what he did.”
Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile or Classic? “He could be in the Classic. Based off the pedigree, by a Derby winner (Always Dreaming) out of a Tapit mare (New Narration), with his physical deal, he could handle the mile and a quarter. 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 Saudi Cup is one race that is definitely on the target as well.”
Winning owner Faisal M. Alqahtani of FMQ Stables: “It is a historic race. Saudi Crown is all about speed. 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. He lost the Dwyer to Fort Bragg by a nose and in the Jim Dandy he almost got Forte (when second by a nose). Today he showed the world what class he is.”
On a potential start in the Breeders' Cup Classic: “I cannot answer that question. We are professional people. We will regroup with our trainer, Brad H. Cox, who is one of the best trainers. We are here to assist him. The decision is for him.”
Background: FMQ Stables has been involved in U.S. racing for one year. Alqahtani came to the U.S. for the Keeneland September yearling sale and stayed for the Pennsylvania Derby.
Winning jockey Florent Geroux: Surprised at how easy you made the lead? Yes and no. He broke super sharp. I broke and I was almost like a good length and a half in front, so when you break that sharp it allows you to take a better position instead of breaking flat-footed or a step slow. He broke like a rocket and from there I thought I was in a great spot. Reincarnate, being so far outside, I thought it gave me an extra second and a half to slow it down in the beginning. I didn't see the fraction, what was it, :47? (the half-mile fraction was :47.27)… Pretty good huh?”
“Last time he was a little bit keen first time around two turns. I thought I could go a little bit quicker to get him to go a little more relaxed, and that's what I did today. Just to have a two-turn race under his belt, I think from now on he's going to be very dangerous. He's a horse we always had very high hopes on. We always had faith in him and I'm glad the owner made the trip from Saudi today. They seem very happy and very proud of the horse.”
“It's great, especially winning a Grade 1 race. He's a 3-year-old. This year it's just too bad because he came very late to the party. He's just two noses away from being undefeated.”
“He started looking around the last eighth of a mile. His ears were flopping a little bit; a little bit too much for my liking, but it was great.”
Jockey Irad Ortiz Jr. (Dreamlike, second): “Beautiful trip. I saved ground, started moving great by the half-mile, three-eighths pole. Going into the stretch he wanted to be in the clear and he was responding. He was closing. For a second I thought if that horse (Saudi Crown) would just come back a little I could get there.”
“Last time I tried to stay close and he didn't really fire, so that was our plan. Help him out of there and let him find his stride. I didn't care where I was. Then try to make a run. Going by the five-eighths pole he started picking it up really good. I was close enough that I could make up that ground. He was doing it easy and comfortable.”
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