GI Pennsylvania Derby winner Saudi Crown needed every last bit of yardage to hold off last year's GI Kentucky Derby winner Mystik Dan in the Lake Ouachita Stakes on Oaklawn's closing day. Fifth to kick off the year in the GI Pegasus World Cup Invitational in January, Saudi Crown put in a good effort but wound up second behind Banishing (Ghostzapper) in the GIII Oaklawn Mile March 29. Adding the extra 1/16th Saturday, the rail-drawn grey show right to the front as the 1-2 favorite but had to deal instantly with Mystik Dan who settled right off his flank in second despite coming from the far outside gate. That pair kept things tight into the far turn through fractions of :23.72 and :47.28 before Saudi Crown looked to sneak away and opened up a small gap before Mystik Dan came right back at him to go head and head at the quarter pole. Side by side the entire length of the stretch, it took a photo to separate the pair on the wire with Saudi Crown just denying the Derby winner who put in a gusty effort in second. It was far back to Dimatic who led in the rest of the field from third.
New Narration, who sold for $850,000 to Summer Wind Equine at FTKNOV in 2023, has a yearling Nashville filly and went to Justify for 2025.
LAKE OUACHITA S., $200,000, Oaklawn, 5-3, 4yo/up, 1 1/16m, 1:42.25, ft.
1–SAUDI CROWN, 119, h, 5, Always Dreaming–New Narration,
by Tapit. ($45,000 Ylg '21 KEEJAN; $240,000 2yo '22 OBSAPR).
O-FMQ Stables; B-CHC Inc. (KY); T-Brad H. Cox; J-Abel Cedillo.
$117,000. Lifetime Record: GISW, 15-7-3-1, $3,427,385.
2–Mystik Dan, 119, c, 4, Goldencents–Ma'am, by Colonel John.
O-4 G Racing, LLC, Valley View Farm LLC, Lance Gasaway and
Daniel Hamby III; B-Lance Gasaway, Daniel Hamby & 4G Racing
LLC (KY); T-Kenneth G. McPeek. $39,000.
3–Dimatic, 119, c, 4, Gun Runner–Time to Tap, by Tapit.
O/B-Winchell Thoroughbreds LLC (KY); T-Steven M. Asmussen.
$19,500.
Margins: NO, 8, 2 3/4. Odds: 0.50, 1.60, 24.00.
Also Ran: Emmanuel, Magic Tap, Seize the Night. Scratched: Awesome Aaron, Frankie's Empire. Click for the Equibase.com chart or VIDEO, sponsored by FanDuel TV.
SAUDI CROWN ($3.00) had to dig deep to hold off the 2024 @KentuckyDerby winner Mystik Dan in the $200,000 Lake Ouachita Stakes at @OaklawnRacing. @bradcoxracing trains the 5YO horse for owners @FMQStables. Abel Cedillo was up!
Bet the finale: https://t.co/fEBb9IA5at pic.twitter.com/SUjPfC5P5D
— FanDuel Racing (@FanDuel_Racing) May 3, 2025
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