In just his second start in 10 months, multimillionaire Saudi Crown put his class on display, winning the $340,125 Commonwealth Stakes (G3) at Keeneland.
Running off the lead from the start, Saudi Crown stalked the early leader National Identity from the far outside through the opening quarter-mile in :22.68. A surging Dr. Saikali came up along the rail to procure the lead by a length, reduced to a head after a half-mile in :45.73.
As the field moved around the far turn, Dr. Saikali, National Identity, and Saudi Crown bunched together with the latter coming forward toward the top of the stretch. Widening his lead to 2 lengths with a furlong left to the wire, Saudi Crown proved too strong, completing the 7 furlongs in 1:22.56 on a fast main track.
When coming into the fight with a heavyweight such as the son of Always Dreaming, the expectation is to win. Mission accomplished. But with the horse preferring extra time between starts, trainer Brad Cox said he doesn't know when and where the next start will be, but that over the last two to three months, Saudi Crown has "really been touting himself, that he's doing well."
The trainer said he anticipates Saudi Crown will get pretty good race figures out of Saturday's effort, which would "push me toward giving ... maybe seven, eight weeks between now and his next run."
"It'd be cool to obviously try to win another grade 1 with him," Cox said of the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (G1) victor. "I'm not certain which one that would be and, and, you know, there's some in Saratoga that might make sense."
The win moves Saudi Crown's lifetime record to 9-3-1 from 18 starts and $3,686,508. He is owned by FMQ Stables and was ridden by Flavien Prat, who won last year's Commonwealth aboard Extra Anejo.
Crazy Mason rallied from last to get second and National Identity was third. Saudi Crown paid $4.02 for the win.
Video: Commonwealth S. (G3)
A First for Storm's Wake
William Werner's homebred Storm's Wake conducted a furious rally down the stretch after racing toward the back of the field for almost the entirety of race to conquer the $490,625 Appalachian Stakes (G2T). It is the first graded stakes win for the daughter of Oscar Performance .
Despite being more than 6 lengths back, jockey Joel Rosario exhibited patience as he kept the 3-year-old filly engaged. Hitting the top of the stretch, Rosario swung her out seven wide. Five rivals were vying for the lead and another two were less than a length back.
But Storm's Wake ($45.36) came out of the turbulence, powering ahead to edge Imaginationthelady by a neck in a final time of 1:35.51 for the mile on firm turf. The runner-up was a head in front of Lion Lake, who was third.
"I thought she would appreciate the long stretch here and she got her chance," trainer Brian Lynch said. "There was a bit of pace in front of her and it really set up well for a filly who could close from out of it. I think she appreciated every step of the ground coming down the lane. We've always had a good feeling about this filly, and she's getting older and stronger and just maturing into racing."
Lynch also trained favored Sister Troienne, who finished fifth. Last time out in the Herecomesthebride Stakes (G3T), Lion Lake came out on top, with Sister Troienne second, and Storm's Wake third.
"I thought she was in the perfect spot, and she made the lead. And (jockey Irad Ortiz Jr.) said that when she did (take) the lead, she lollygagged there a little bit. Everybody was running, and she just got beat," Lynch said of Sister Troienne.
Lynch said the May 1 Edgewood Stakes (G2T) at Churchill Downs is the likely target for Storm's Wake.
She is 3-0-2 from seven starts with $461,925 in lifetime earnings.
Video: Appalachian S. Presented by Japan Racing Association (G2T)
My Boy Prince Breaks Through
Ten times Ontario-bred My Boy Prince attempted to achieve graded glory. Four times he finished second, including being beaten by a neck in the 2025 Highlander Stakes (G2T) and 2 lengths in the Jaipur Stakes (G1T) in the start before that.
In his 11th try, the Cairo Prince gelding wasn't going to be denied.
Rallying down the stretch, My Boy Prince pulled ahead late for a 1 1/4-length win to capture the Shakertown Stakes (G2T) Saturday in a time of 1:02.11 for the 5 1/2 furlongs on the firm turf.
Saturday's victory was the payoff for trainer Mark Casse, who last year moved My Boy Prince to turf sprints.
"Last year, we started him at turf sprints in New York and he ran pretty good," Casse said. "We tried different things with him, but this year I gave him a break, brought him back, and that's what was presented to us. We tried it at Gulfstream, then we took him to Tampa, and I always felt this course would really suit him."
Jockey Jose Ortiz moved My Boy Prince to the center of the course as they entered the stretch to reel in leaders Joe Shiesty and Yellow Card. After catching Joe Shiesty, My Boy Prince matched him for five strides before turning on the jets.
"I was able to put him into a good position going into the turn," Ortiz said. "I just was waiting for the right time to take him outside and let him go, and when I did he was there for me."
Bred by Murray Graham Smith and owned by Gary Barber, My Boy Prince is now 9-6-2 from 23 starts with $1,454,650 in career earnings.
He paid $12.12 for the win. Yellow Card was second and Mondogetsbuckets completed the trifecta.
