Saudi Crown gets the nose for the win against 2024 Kentucky Derby champ. (Coady Media)
Robert Yates/Oaklawn Park
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. – The photo went against Mystik Dan this time.
Almost exactly a year after winning the Kentucky Derby by a nose, Mystik Dan was beaten by the same margin in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes for older horses at 1 1/16 miles Saturday afternoon at Oaklawn.
Before an estimated crowd of 30,000, it was multi-millionaire Grade 1 winner Saudi Crown, the 1-2 favorite, who edged Mystik Dan in a match race that highlighted the final day of Oaklawn’s 2024-2025 live season.
Mystik Dan, in his first start since late January, finished eight lengths ahead of third-place finisher Dimatic, who was followed, in order, by Emmanuel, Magic Tap and Seize the Night. Awesome Aaron and Frankie’s Empire were scratched, reducing the starting field to six.
As expected, Saudi Crown went straight to the front under Abel Cedillo and set comfortable fractions of :23.72 for the opening quarter and :47.28 for a half-mile. Mystik Dan, the 8-5 second choice, tracked Saudi Crown on the outside from the start. The tempo quickened late as Mystik Dan began turning up the pressure approaching the quarter pole. Saudi Crown led by 1 ½ lengths through six furlongs in 1:11.43, but the advantage was only a head in midstretch and razor-thin at the finish. Saudi Crown passed the mile in 1:36.05 and his winning time over a fast track was a sharp 1:42.25. The top two finishers each carried 119 pounds.
Saudi Crown was making his first start since finishing second, beaten a length, in the $500,000 Oaklawn Mile (G3) March 29. Brad Cox trains Saudi Crown, a 5-year-old gray son of Kentucky Derby winner Always Dreaming, for FMQ Stables (Faisal Alqahtani). Saudi Crown collected $117,000 for the victory, his seventh in 15 lifetime starts. Saudi Crown has earned $3,427,385. He recorded his biggest career victory to date in the $1 million Pennsylvania Derby (G1) in 2023 at Parx.
The Lake Ouachita was the fifth consecutive loss for Mystik Dan, who hasn’t won since the Kentucky Derby. Trained by Kenny McPeek, Mystik Dan hadn’t started since finishing ninth in the $3 million Pegasus World Cup Invitational (G1) at 1 1/8 miles Jan. 25 at Gulfstream Park. It was his first start against older horses.
Mystik Dan raced three times last season at Oaklawn, finishing fifth in the $300,000 Smarty Jones Stakes, winning the $800,000 Southwest Stakes and running third in the $1.5 million Arkansas Derby (G1).
Oaklawn is scheduled to race 64 days next season (Dec. 12-May 2).
Lake Ouachita Quotes
Winning Jockey Abel Cedillo (Saudi Crown): “He broke on top, my horse. I just took it from there. And when we got to the quarter pole, I knew it was Mystik Dan following me. As soon as we hit the eighth pole, he (Mystik Dan) was on top of me, but my horse responded really well.”
Winning Assistant Trainer Jorgito Abrego (Saudi Crown): “Honestly, I expected the horse would win easier, but he still ran really good. I liked his fight today. No quit. I hope he comes back really good. We’ll ship him Tuesday morning to Churchill Downs.”
Second-Place Jockey Francisco Arrieta (Mystik Dan): “He ran well. The other horse (Saudi Crown) battled, too. He fought for it. I thought I had him, for sure. We went pretty fast, 1:36 (for a mile), 1:42 (final time for 1 1/16 miles). He fought for it. I never got in front. I just got up to him, but the other horse fought. He (Mystik Dan) will be all right.”
Second-Place Co-Owner Lance Gasaway (Mystik Dan): “Ran big. Tickled with him. Runs :47 for the half. I was a little concerned there. When I look up there, 1:11 (for 6 furlongs), and he still holds on and fights them, I couldn’t ask for anything else. We wanted to see if he’s back. I think he’s back.”
