Saudi Crown
HorsenameSaudi Crown
SireAlways Dreaming
GrandsireBodemeister
DamNew Narration
DamsireTapit
SexColt
FoaledFebruary 20, 2020[1]
CountryUnited States
ColorGray or roan colt
BreederChina Horse Club
OwnerFMQ Stables
TrainerBrad H. Cox
Record18: 9 - 3 - 1
EarningsUS$$3,686,508[2]
RacePennsylvania Derby (2023)
Louisiana Stakes (2024)
Commonwealth Stakes (2026)
UpdatedApril 14, 2026

Saudi Crown (foaled February 20, 2020) is an American Thoroughbred racehorse who won the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby as a three-year-old in 2023.[2]

Background

Saudi Crown is a gray or roan colt that was bred in Kentucky by China Horse Club. Saudi Crown is the progeny of Always Dreaming, the 2017 Kentucky Derby who entered stud in 2019 and has two crops of racing age. Saudi Crown is Always Dreaming's first graded winner. In 2023 Always Dreaming was standing for $10,000 at WinStar Farm in Versailles, Kentucky.[3] Saudi Crown is out from an 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).[3]

Saudi Crown has twice been through auctions. As a yearling he was sold at the 2021 Keeneland January Mixed Sale for $45,000.[2] At the 2022 Ocala Breeders' Sales Company's Spring Sale of Two-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.[3]

Saudi Crown is trained by Brad H. Cox.[2]

Career highlights

Saudi Crown did not race as a two-year-old and had his first start as a three-year-old in April at Keeneland winning a Maiden Special Weight event over six furlongs.[4] Due to his late development Saudi Crown did not start in any of the Triple Crown events.

On July 1, 2023, Saudi Crown was a nose short in a defeat to Fort Bragg in the G3 Dwyer Stakes over a mile at Belmont Park.[5]

On July 29, 2023, on a sloppy track, Saudi Crown was defeated by a nose by Forte in the G2 Jim Dandy Stakes at Saratoga Race Course.[3]

On September 23, 2023, Saudi Crown led throughout on a sloppy track at Parx Racing to win the Grade I Pennsylvania Derby by 1⁄2 length defeating Dreamlike with Il Miracolo in third place.[3]

Statistics

DateDistanceRaceGrade /
Group		TrackOddsFieldFinishWinning
Time		Winning
(Losing)
Margin		JockeyRef
2023 – three-year-old season
Apr 16, 20236 furlongsMaiden Special WeightKeeneland5.881011:10.014 1⁄4 lengthsFlorent Geroux[4]
May 21, 20236 1⁄2 furlongsAllowanceChurchill Downs0.56*811:15.881 3⁄4 lengthsFlorent Geroux[6]
Jul 1, 20231 mileDwyer StakesIIIBelmont Park1.60621:35.37(nose)Javier Castellano[5]
Jul 29, 20231 1⁄8 milesJim Dandy StakesIISaratoga3.50521:49.61(nose)Florent Geroux[7]
Sep 23, 20231 1⁄8 milesPennsylvania DerbyIParx1.10*1111:50.621⁄2 lengthFlorent Geroux[8]
Nov 4, 20231 1⁄4 milesBreeders' Cup ClassicISanta Anita7.3012102:02.87(12 3⁄4 lengths)Florent Geroux[9]
2023 – four-year-old season
Jan 20, 20241 1⁄16 milesLouisiana StakesIIIFair Grounds0.70*611:43.205 3⁄4 lengthsFlorent Geroux[10]
Feb 24, 20241800 metresSaudi CupIKing Abdulaziz RacetrackN/A[a]1431:49.50(1 length)Florent Geroux[11]
Mar 30, 20241600 metresGodolphin MileIIMeydanN/A[b]13121:49.50(21 3⁄4 lengths)Florent Geroux[12]
Aug 11, 20241 mileR.A. "Cowboy" Jones StakesEllis Park0.68*1011:36.571 3⁄4 lengthsFlorent Geroux[13]
Nov 2, 20241 mileBreeders' Cup Dirt MileIDel Mar7.1013131:35.48(58 lengths)Florent Geroux[14]
Dec 21, 20241 1⁄16 milesTenacious StakesListedFair Grounds1.10*811:42.352 lengthsFlorent Geroux[15]
2025 – five-year-old season
Jan 25, 20251 1⁄8 milesPegasus World CupIGulfstream Park4.001151:48.05(8 3⁄4 lengths)Florent Geroux[16]
Mar 29, 20251 mileOaklawn Mile StakesIIIOaklawn Park1.00*621:36.77(1 length)Florent Geroux[17]
May 3, 20251 1⁄16 milesLake Ouachita StakesOaklawn Park0.50*611:42.25noseAbel Cedillo[18]
Jun 29, 20251 mileHanshin StakesListedChurchill Downs1.59*871:34.10(10 1⁄4 lengths)Florent Geroux[19]
2026 – six-year-old season
Mar 5, 20261 1⁄16 milesRatings HandicapOaklawn Park0.40*411:42.881 lengthLuis Saez[20]
Apr 16, 20267 furlongsCommonwealth StakesIIIKeeneland1.01*611:22.562 3⁄4 lengthsFlavien Prat[21]


Notes:
An (*) asterisk after the odds means Saudi Crown was the post-time favorite.

Pedigree

Notes

  1. ^ Wagering is not allowed in Saudi Arabia. In British wagering, Saudi Crown started at 25/1 odds
  2. ^ Wagering is not allowed in the United Arab Emirates. In British wagering, Saudi Crown started at 5/6 odds-on

References

  1. ^ "Always Dreaming's Pedigree". Equiineline. Retrieved September 23, 2023.[dead link]
  2. ^ "Profile of Saudi Crown". Equibase. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  3. ^ King, Byron (23 September 2023). "Saudi Crown Leads Gate to Wire in Pennsylvania Derby Dreamlike rallied strongly on the outside but could not catch the winner.". bloodhorse.com. Retrieved 24 September 2023.
  4. ^ "Keeneland: Chart of Maiden Special Weight (race 6)". Equibase. April 16, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  5. ^ "Dwyer Stakes Grade 3 (race 6)". Equibase. July 1, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  6. ^ "CChurchill Downs: Chart of Allowance (race 8)". Equibase. May 21, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  7. ^ "Jim Dandy S. Presented by DK Horse Grade 2 (race 10)". Equibase. 29 July 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Pennsylvania Derby Grade 1 (race 13)". www.equibase.com. September 23, 2023. Retrieved September 24, 2023.
  9. ^ "Longines Breeders' Cup Classic Grade 1 - (race 9)". Equibase. 4 November 2023. Retrieved 6 November 2023.
  10. ^ "Louisiana Stakes Presented by Relyne GI By Hagyard Grade 3 (race 12)". www.equibase.com. January 20, 2024. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
  11. ^ "Saudi Cup (Group 1) (race 8)". Racing Post. 24 February 2024. Retrieved 26 February 2024.
  12. ^ "Godolphin Mile Sponsored by EMAAR (Group 2) (race 2)". Racing Post. 30 March 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
  13. ^ "R.A. "Cowboy" Jones S. Black Type - (race 5)". www.equibase.com. August 11, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  14. ^ "ig Ass Fans Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile Grade 1 - (race 12)". Equibase. 2 November 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  15. ^ "Tenacious Stakes Listed (race 12)". www.equibase.com. December 21, 2024. Retrieved December 28, 2024.
  16. ^ "2025 Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes Grade 1 (race 13)". www.equibase.com. 25 January 2025. Retrieved 4 May 2025.
  17. ^ "Oaklawn Mile Stakes (Grade 3) – (race 8)". March 29, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  18. ^ "Lake Ouachita Stakes (Black Type) – (race 1)". May 3, 2025. Retrieved May 4, 2025.
  19. ^ "Hanshin Stakes esented by JRA (Listed) – (race 8)". June 29, 2025. Retrieved July 1, 2025.
  20. ^ "Ratings Handicap – (race 7)". March 5, 2026. Retrieved April 14, 2026.
  21. ^ "2026 Commonwealth Stakes Grade 3 - (Race 7)". Equibase. 4 April 2026. Retrieved 5 April 2026.