Saudi Crown gallops at Churchill Downs (Courtney Snow/Past The Wire)
Churchill Downs Press Release
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – FMQ Stables’ Saudi Crown, a multi-millionaire and Grade I-winning 5-year-old, returns to action Sunday at Churchill Downs with trainer Brad Cox confident he can add another victory to his resumé in the 72nd running of the $300,000 Hanshin presented by JRA (Listed).
“I’m very happy with the way he’s been training at Churchill going into this race,” Cox said. “I think the race sets up well for him and should be able to handle the one-turn mile. He has a win over this track a couple years ago and we’re looking forward to getting him back to his home track on Sunday.”
Saudi Crown, listed as the 9-5 favorite in Sunday’s race, has banked more than $3.4 million through 15 starts with seven victories including the 2023 Pennsylvania Derby (GI). As a 4-year-old, Saudi Crown’s campaign sent him to both Saudi Arabia for the Saudi Cup (GI) and Dubai for the Godolphin Mile (GI). Following unsuccessful efforts in both races, he returned stateside and finished 13th in the Breeders’ Cup Dirt Mile (GI). In his last start, the son of Always Dreaming bounced back to the winner’s circle with a hard-fought, gate-to-wire victory over Kentucky Derby 150 hero Mystik Dan in the Lake Ouachita Stakes at Oaklawn.
“I think it just depends on the horse on how they bounce back after shipping overseas,” Cox said. “We sent Knicks Go over to Saudi Arabia and his first start back in the Met Mile (GI) didn’t go well but went on to win the Cornhusker (GIII), Whitney (GI), Lukas Classic (GII) and Breeders’ Cup Classic (GI). With Saudi Crown, he competed in both Saudi Arabia and Dubai. He came back to Kentucky and was able to win his first start in the Cowboy Jones at Ellis.”
The Hanshin, run as Race 8 of 11, will share the Sunday spotlight with the $250,000 Maxfield (Listed); $225,000 Bashford Manor (Listed); $225,000 Debutante (Listed); and $175,000 Anchorage Overnight Stakes.
Post time for the Hanshin is 4:23 p.m. (all times Eastern). First post is 12:45 p.m.
The field for the Hanshin from the rail out (with jockey, trainer and morning line odds):
- Banishing (Jose Ortiz, David Jacobson, 2-1)
- Judge Miller (Antonio Fresu, Mark Glatt, 6-1)
- Best Actor (Mario Gutierrez, Ed Moger Jr., 20-1)
- Saudi Crown (Geroux, Cox, 9-5)
- Tumbarumba (Luis Saez, Brian Lynch, 10-1)
- Extra Anejo (Flavien Prat, Steve Asmussen, 6-1)
- Will Take It (Brian Hernandez Jr., Dallas Stewart, 10-1)
- Cagliostro (Irad Ortiz Jr., Cherie DeVaux)
