A class drop and an opportunity to race a shorter distance suggest FMQ Stables' Saudi Crown will be a force in the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile Stakes (G3) March 29 at Oaklawn Park.
The $3.2 million earner and grade 1 winner competed against some of the country's best runners when fifth in the 1 1/8-mile Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. In front for more than six furlongs, the speedster fell back to second with a furlong remaining and weakened late to check in fifth, beaten 8 3/4 lengths by White Abarrio.
Reflective of the quality of the Pegasus World Cup, runner-up Locked subsequently romped in the Santa Anita Handicap (G1) and third-place Skippylongstocking three-peated in the Challenger Stakes (G3).
A gray and/or roan horse who has often alternated off-the-board efforts with winning performances, Saudi Crown shows past performances that, if repeated, point to a top-level effort Saturday. Before his race in the Pegasus World Cup, the son of Always Dreaming won the Tenacious Stakes at Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots in fast time.
Florent Geroux rides the Brad Cox-trained Saudi Crown, a four-time stakes winner whose top victory came two years ago as a 3-year-old in the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1). Saudi Crown is favored at 7-5 odds on the morning line.
Other contenders among his seven rivals include recent Fifth Season Stakes winner The Wine Steward and last-out Razorback Handicap (G3) runner-up Banishing.
Entries: Oaklawn Mile S. (G3)
Oaklawn Park, Saturday, March 29, 2025, Race 8
- Grade III
- 1m
- Dirt
- $500,000
- 4 yo's & up
- 3:17 PM (local)
| PP | Horse | Jockey | Wgt | Trainer | M/L |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1The Wine Steward (NY) | Jose L. Ortiz | 124 | Michael J. Maker | 4/1 |
| 2 | 2I'm McDreamy (KY) | Ramon A. Vazquez | 124 | John Alexander Ortiz | 20/1 |
| 3 | 3Banishing (KY) | Flavien Prat | 124 | David Jacobson | 9/5 |
| 4 | 4Just Steel (KY) | Nik Juarez | 117 | D. Wayne Lukas | 15/1 |
| 5 | 5Dimatic (KY) | Keith J. Asmussen | 117 | Steven M. Asmussen | 20/1 |
| 6 | 6Emmanuel (KY) | Ricardo Santana, Jr. | 117 | Michael J. Maker | 10/1 |
| 7 | 7Payne (KY) | Cristian A. Torres | 117 | David Jacobson | 15/1 |
| 8 | 8Saudi Crown (KY) | Florent Geroux | 119 | Brad H. Cox | 7/5 |
