Saudi Crown emerged in good order from his tour-de-force triumph in the betParx Pennsylvania Derby (G1) Saturday at Parx Racing, trainer Brad Cox told Dave Grening of Daily Racing Form on Sunday, and the colt's connections are now tasked with charting the course for his next start, whether it be a Breeders' Cup race or the $20-million Saudi Cup (G1) in February, or perhaps both.
Ridden by Florent Geroux, Saudi Crown led out of the gate in the 1 1/8-mile Pennsylvania Derby, made all the pace, and won by a half length from Dreamlike while earning his first stakes victory. In his two previous starts, he came tantalizingly close: the Dwyer (G3) (a nose behind Fort Bragg) July 1 at Belmont and Jim Dandy (G2) (a nose behind champion Forte) July 29 at Saratoga but would not be denied Saturday in a smashing performance. He was expected back to Cox's Churchill Downs barn Sunday night.
The $6-million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) and the $1-million Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1) Nov. 4 at Santa Anita are both under consideration for Saudi Crown, who was unraced at age 2, but before making a decision Cox said wants to see how those races are shaping up before making a decision.
“I would like to find out who's running where and see how big the fields are going to be, pace projections, and stuff like that would go into what I think,” Cox told the Form.
Should the Saudi Cup at about 1 1/8 miles at King Abdulaziz Racetrack be targeted, Cox said a Breeders' Cup race could still be in play.
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