As much as National Treasure lost by a nose to 2023 Horse of the Year Cody's Wish in last year's Breeders' Cup Dirt Mile (G1), the connections of the 2023 Preakness Stakes (G1) winner say it has yet to be decided if he will be running in the $1 million Dirt Mile or $7 million Breeders' Cup Classic (G1) Nov. 2.
"I don't think it's necessarily written in stone that we are going to the Dirt Mile," said Tom Ryan, managing partner of the ownership group. "We're going to go where we have the best chance of winning. It's undecided now and will probably be an open book until entry day. Everything is open until it's not. "
Trained by Hall of Famer Bob Baffert, the son of Quality Road will be running next in the 1 1/8-mile $1 million California Crown (G1) Sept. 28 at Santa Anita Park in a race that should play a key role in deciding whether the $5.3 million earner lands in the Dirt Mile or 1 1/4-mile Classic at the World Championships at Del Mar.
The 4-year-old colt is coming off a sixth as the 4-5 favorite in the 1 1/8-mile Whitney Stakes (G1) on a muddy, sealed track that may have compromised his chances.
"The Whitney probably would have tipped the scale for the Classic but things didn't work out that day and I think that had more to do with the track rather than the distance," Ryan said. "The short-term objective is the California Crown and we will decide thereafter which direction we want to go. The horse is fine and doing well. He's come out of the Whitney good and is in a good place fitness and mentally wise. A decision will be made when Bob is ready to make it."
The Classic is shaping up as international gem with a strong field of possible starters from the United States and overseas.
The American contingent includes Breeders' Cup Challenge Series qualifiers Dornoch, Highland Falls, Arthur's Ride, and Mixto. Also in the mix are Fierceness, Sierra Leone, and Senor Buscador. The possible foreign challengers are topped by City of Troy, who has a free Challenge Series berth, Derma Sotogake, Facteur Cheval, Forever Young, and Ushba Tesoro.
National Treasure, who is headed to stud at Spendthrift Farm next year, won the Metropolitan Handicap (G1) and Pegasus World Cup Invitational Stakes (G1) earlier this year. He earned a free spot in the Dirt Mile for winning the Met Mile, though those starting fees can also be applied to offset some of the larger costs of running in the Classic.
The California Crown is a Challenge Series race for the Classic.
A winner of four of 14 starts, National Treasure is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Jay Schoenfarber, Waves Edge Capital, and Catherine Donovan.
Ryan also said the Baffert-trained Reincarnate could return in the California Crown after finishing third by a length to 22-1 shot Mixto in the Aug. 31 Pacific Classic Stakes (G1) at Del Mar.
"Reincarnate keeps running 98 (Beyer Speed Figures) and one day he may step up," Ryan said about the 4-year-old son of Good Magic who is owned by the same group as National Treasure. "He doesn't seem to go backwards. He's in the picture for the California Crown."
Where National Treasure winds up should decide where Prince of Monaco is entered at the Breeders' Cup. The 3-year-old Speightstown colt is coming off narrow losses for Baffert at seven furlongs in the H. Allen Jerkens Memorial (G1) and Woody Stephens (G1) stakes, both at Saratoga Race Course. The options for him would be either the six-furlong Breeders' Cup Sprint (G1) or the Dirt Mile at two turns.
Ryan said Prince of Monaco would not run in the Dirt Mile if National Treasure starts in it.
"He's a top-class horse that was unfortunate enough not to win two grade 1s this year. He's more of a sprinter, but it wouldn't be out of his scope to stretch out to a mile. If we had to make a choice today, I'd say he's one-turn horse. In cases like these, you do the obvious," Ryan said.
A grade 1 winner at 2, Prince of Monaco is owned by SF Racing, Starlight Racing, Madaket Stables, Robert Masterson, Stonestreet Stables, Waves Edge Capital, Catherine Donovan, Dianne Bashor, and Ryan.
