Kentucky-bred Saudi Crown led every step of the way to score a determined win in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) at PARX on Saturday, Sept. 23.

In winning the initial stakes race of his career, Saudi Crown covered 1 1/8 miles in 1:50.62 over a sloppy track under jockey Florent Geroux. He grabbed the lead in the 1 1/8-mile fixture at the start. He rated comfortably on the lead for Geroux, clearing his rivals by two lengths down the backstretch. He dug in gamely in the lane to fend off a late run from Dreamlike to win by a half-length at the finish. In his previous outing, Saudi Crown finished second—beaten just a nose by Forte in the Jim Dandy S. (G2) at Saratoga. Prior to that, he was second, again losing by a nose to Fort Bragg in the Dwyer S. (G3) at Belmont Park.

Bred in Kentucky by CHC Inc., Saudi Crown races for FMQ Stables and is trained by Brad Cox. A son of Kentucky Derby (G1) winner Always Dreaming, Saudi Crown is a $240,000 graduate of the 2022 OBS Spring Sale where he was consigned by Top Line Sales. The gray colt is produced from the unraced Tapit mare New Narration.

With his victory in the Pennsylvania Derby, Saudi Crown is now a winner in three of five career starts. The win improved his bankroll to $817,085. Saudi Crown broke his maiden on debut, winning a Keeneland maiden special weight event by 4 3/4 lengths in April. He followed that effort with a 1 3/4-length score in an allowance race at 6 1/2 furlongs at Churchill Downs in May. Fellow Kentucky-bred Dreamlike finished a game second in the Pennsylvania Derby, a half-length behind Saudi Crown, for owners St. Elias Stable and Repole Stables and trainer Todd Pletcher. Dreamlike, a son of Gun Runner finished third in the Wood Memorial (G2) back in April.